Wendy's 'finger' fiasco deserves penalty

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Anna Ayala claimed she bit down on a severed finger while eating chili at a Wendy's restaurant in San Jose, CA. But on April 21, after an exhaustive investigation by police and the Wendy's organization, she was arrested for allegedly placing the finger in the food in an attempt to extort money. The charge was larceny.

In today's litigious society, companies are often sued, and sometimes for just cause. But all too often, it's a shakedown. And also too often, a business settles a claim quickly to avoid hurtful publicity. Only, such settlements encourage more bogus claims.

If Ayala is guilty, she should be prosecuted and punished. She hurt Wendy's reputation and drove sales down in Northern California by 40 percent, resulting in layoffs of some employees and reduced hours for others.

Both the chain and its employees suffered real damages.

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Ayala, previously involved in suits against others, backed off of this one as the investigation unfolded. Instead of running, Wendy's aggressively posted a $100,000 reward for information leading to where the finger originated, and launched an internal investigation, including lab reports, to determine the finger did not enter its chili somewhere up the line of preparation.

The only puzzle left was: Whose finger is it?

The Lord spoke to Ezekiel, saying, "People accuse others falsely and send them to their death" (Ezekiel 22:9 NLT). False allegations ruin lives and reputations and need to be punished. Hats off to Wendy's for standing its ground, investigating and launching an aggressive defense, rather then trying to sweep it under the rug.

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Steve Marr is the former CEO of the fourth largest import-export firm in the U.S., a company which facilitated international trade for many of the largest companies in America. Currently, Steve consults with with businesses and ministries utilizing ancient Biblical principles for success in today's marketplace. Clickhere

to contact Steve, or visit his website atwww.businessproverbs.com.