Ethical Dilemmas of Right-vs.-Right

It is often not hard to resolve an argument between two people when the choice is right versus wrong or good versus evil. But what happens when the choice is right versus right? When two “rights” converge, as often happens in family businesses, the dilemma can become a serious bone of contention and permanently harm the people and company involved.

Consider the case of Dick Lee and his son, Rick. In 1958 Dick founded a successful distribution business, Affiliated Steam Equipment Co., in Alsip, Illinois. Rick has two sisters, but as of 1993 he was the only active or interested sibling in the business. He had worked in the company for 15 years, and for all practical purposes had been running it for the last six. Rick, 44, was ready to take over full control and ownership, but Dick, at 81, wasn’t ready to turn it over without some assurances.

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