The Insider- Legal and Ethical Issues, Movie Review Example

The Insider – the movie is based on real events and is aiming to feature how the tobacco company uses its power and influence to keep unethical practices a secret. The film also features an ethical dilemma of the whistle-blower: he is threatened, he loses his family, financial background, reputation and more.

The film features the case of a 60 Minutes CBS reporter, Bergman approaching Jeffrey Wigand, who recently got fired from his job as a corporate executive of a large tobacco company to assist him with investigating the effects of tobacco and interpreting an industry report. While Wigand is initially hesitant, he becomes determined to fight against the corporation after they threaten him and make him sign a confidentiality agreement.

The legal background of the case is based on the conflict of a bounding confidentiality agreement between the former employee and the corporation and the channel’s responsibility to inform the public. He has a deposition at a state court giving a testimony about the practices used by tobacco companies to increase the effect of nicotine. After consulting with a legal team, CBS decides not to air the interview featuring Wigand, as they would potentially face charges for toutious interference, based on the fact that CBS leadership knew about the confidentiality agreement. If a case was started by the corporate lawyers of Brown and Williamson, the company Wigand used to work for, the damages to be paid for airing the information would have ruined the channel.

Eventually, to go around the legal boundaries, Bergman contacts The New York Times, and the next day they feature an article accusing CBS with the betrayal of the truth. While Bergman put his job and reputation on the line, he achieves his goal: CBS finally airs the interview, getting the public on Wigand’s side. The lawsuit is completed and major tobacco companies are made to pay a settlement for US states for holding back crucial information from the public.

References

The Insider (Motion picture). Touchstone Pictures. 1999.