MEMO

TO: Dr. Swanson

FROM: Samantha Lacerna
Student, COMM 362- Public Relations Writing

SUBJECT: Martinez vs. Piney Woods Lumber Company

DATE: July 17, 2014

Former employee Matt Martinez filed suit against Piney Woods Lumber company,
its personnel director Jim Haskins and its public relations specialist Bob Burruss, on
the grounds of violation of privacy- specifically, publication of private facts.

Martinez argues that while he did provide a written consent to have an employee
profile published based on him, he did not agree to have certain personal
information about himself revealed in the company newspaper. His past regarding
his alcohol addiction and manslaughter conviction was something that he was not
particularly comfortable in sharing openly with everyone in the company.

I do think that Martinez had just cause to sue, because Haskins and Burruss
assured all employees that any information that they share would be confidential.
Martinez had openly shared personal details to the communications specialists
under the premise that it would not be expressed to anyone else. Upon publishing
such details, it became a violation of privacy.

In order to avoid legal problems with Martinez, Burruss and Haskins should have
been more cognizant of the fact that publishing certain information about this
individual may damage his image. Haskins was particularly made aware of the fact
that Martinez had not told his co-workers about his being a former alcoholic and ex-
convict, due to feelings of shame. Burruss and Haskins should have been more
careful in this matter.

I do think that Burruss and Haskins should be liable as individuals, because they
violated the trust of their employee and was not responsible in handling sensitive
information.

If I had been the PR specialist for Piney Woods, I would have given much careful
thought (ethically and legally) in proceeding with Martinez profile for the company
newspaper.

I would have considered Martinez feelings in the matter. Aside from a written
permission about the public profile, I would have also asked if he was comfortable
with having his background with alcoholism and criminal conviction published in the
newspaper. I would have also offered to him the option to have his name changed
in the article in order to protect his privacy.
If he agrees, a legal document stating his agreement for us to publish specific
personal details would have been appropriate. In doing so, I could have protected
the company and myself from a potentially troublesome lawsuit.

As a future PR person, I have learned that I should always be aware of any ethical
and legal issues that may arise from anything that I do. There is always a risk
involved, but the best thing that I can do is to be responsible and proceed with
decisions that are going to be the least harmful to myself and everyone else.