Opinion ID: 766103
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Aramony's Misconduct

Text: 13 From at least as early as September 1982 onward, Aramony engaged in a pattern of financial misconduct and fraud at the expense not only of United Way and its local chapters, but also of those charity-giving members of the general public whose trust he thereby betrayed. During this period, Aramony routinely billed United Way for an array of unauthorized personal expenses, including personal air travel, car rentals, hotels, and meals. Aramony also regularly falsified expense reports throughout this period in an effort to conceal his wrongdoing, at times directing other United Way employees to assist him in doing so. 1 14 In late 1991, United Way learned that members of the press were looking into a possible story about United Way including, inter alia, allegations of wrongdoing by Aramony and another United Way officer. United Way responded by retaining the services of investigators at The Investigative Group, Inc. (IGI) and of the public relations firm Hill & Knowlton. Later, United Way hired the law firm Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson, and Hand (Verner Liipfert) to assist and expand IGI's investigation, and the accounting firm Coopers & Lybrand to perform various audits in connection with the investigation. 15 In February 1992, IGI and Verner Liipfert's investigation began to focus on Aramony's misconduct. At the same time, reports of the allegations of Aramony's misconduct began to appear in the media. Eventually, United Way forced Aramony out. 2