In January 2010, a devastating earthquake struck Haiti about 15 miles west of the capital city of Port-au-Prince. The earthquake killed over 200,000 people and displaced over 1 million from their homes. Many of these people had nowhere to go other than displacement camps and shantytowns, where the sanitary conditions were less than ideal. It was not only private homes that were destroyed; hospitals, communication networks, land and air transport, and other important infrastructure were damaged.

In October 2010, a cholera epidemic was reported in the Artibonite Department (Haitian departments are analogous to states). This was the first cholera epidemic in Haiti in over a century. Within 10 weeks, cholera had spread to all Haitian departments. By the end of the epidemic, more than 470,000 cases had been reported, and more than 6500 people were dead.

Both during and after the epidemic, epidemiologists, doctors, and scientists were working to determine the source of the outbreak and its transmission patterns, identify the causative strains, and care for the infected.

1. Given that cholera had never been officially reported in Haiti, what are some possible sources of the pathogen? List and briefly describe at least two possible sources.

2. Imagine you are an epidemiologist sent to investigate the cholera outbreak in Haiti. List four types of data that you would want to collect and briefly describe how the data are useful.

3. Formulate a hypothesis about how the cholera epidemic could have been initiated in Haiti.

4. What evidence would you look for to support this hypothesis? How would you test this hypothesis?

5. In August 2016, the United Nations discussed the origins of the 2010 cholera outbreak in Haiti. What was ultimately determined to have been the likely cause of the initial outbreak in 2010?

6. Propose three epidemic control measures for cholera in Haiti.

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After graduating from college with a horticulture degree, LilyCalla began a small business providing plant consulting and designservices for hotels, office buildings and malls. One of her clientswas an attorney who suggested that she incorporate her business.She followed his advice and became the sole shareholder, directorand officer of Calla Lily, Inc. The main assets of the corporationwere Lilyâs consulting accounts. The business had little need foradditional capital.

Lily realized early on that she could make more money if shealso grew the plants that she recommended to her clients. Sheenlisted the help of one of her former botany professors, SusanBlackeye, and together they began a small greenhouse operation.Lily and Susan formed a separate corporation for the greenhousebusiness, L&S Greenhouses, Inc. They needed additional capitalfor the greenhouse business, so Lily contacted some of her formerclassmates. Five of her friends each paid $1000 and Calla Lily,Inc. and Susan each contributed $1000, and their services asincorporators and consultants. Calla Lily, Inc. owned 51% of theshares in L&S, Susan owned 39% and each of the friends owned2%. Lily and Susan were the sole directors and Lily was thePresident and CEO. L&S borrowed $15,000 from the Last LocalBank (LLB) giving it sufficient funds to rent a small plot of land,install two large greenhouses, and purchase necessaryequipment.

L&S Greenhouses, Inc. was unable to keep up with the demandfor plants for Lilyâs consulting jobs, so L&S contracted withanother small greenhouse to start plants for it. That greenhousewas owned by Jacob Sladder. Jacob entered into a contract withL&S to provide a certain number of each of about twenty typesof plants. Payment would be made as the plants were delivered toL&S. Assuming Jacob successfully grew all of the plants in thecontract, he would be paid $13000. This was a big account for Jacoband he terminated several of his smaller customers in order to meethis obligations to L&S. Before the L&S contract, Jacob had$10,000 annual income from those customers.

Meanwhile, Lily, acting as CEO of Calla Lily, Inc. and CEO ofL&S, caused L&S to enter into a contract with it, wherebyL&S would sell its plants to Calla Lily, Inc. at a price farbelow fair market value. Susan was in charge of the greenhouseoperation. Because she was a scientist and had no interest in thebusiness side of things, Lily acted on behalf of L&S in itsbusiness dealings. Susan was completely unaware of the pricearrangement between Calla Lily, Inc., and L&S regarding theplants.

Another reason Susan may have been unaware of the deal is thatshe was using a section of the greenhouse to grow marijuana and shewas regularly testing her plants for quality control purposes.Susan was certain that her state was going to pass a marijuana lawin the next couple of months and she thought L&S should beready to fill the need that was going to be created by the law assoon as it came into effect. She fully researched the markets inColorado and Washington in order to best position L&S for entryinto the new pot market.

It was not too long, however, before the fortunes of thesecompanies changed dramatically. The new governor and majority inthe state legislature not only killed the marijuana bill, theypassed a substitute measure funding a major anti-drug initiativeand hiring additional drug enforcement agents. According to aprominent state senator, the program was designed to âroot outthose who plant that wicked weedâ and reverse the increasing socialacceptance of the drug. It wasnât long before L&Sâs greenhouseswere raided by the state narcotics squad. The state confiscated thepot plants and the greenhouse equipment that was used in the potcultivation. This was basically all of the greenhouseequipment.

The local newspaper ran the story about L&S on the frontpage. Jacob Sladder realized he might have a financial interest inthese events. He tried to contact L&S without success. Hefinally found Lily and asked whether L&S was going to honor theremaining 8 months of his contract. She said she did not knowwhether L&S was going to be able to stay in business. WhenL&S failed to make a payment to Jacob, he sued L&S, CallaLily, Inc., Susan and Lily,Lilyâs former classmates were also veryupset. As shareholders of L&S, they sued Susan for her decisionto grow pot. Susan defended herself, claiming that she did it witha good faith belief that it would greatly benefit the business ofL&S as soon as the new law passed. In fact, Susan argued,L&S should indemnify her for any fines or penalties that mightbe imposed on her personally as a result of her running this aspectof the business.

Evaluate the claims presented by these facts. Discuss all issuesfully.

1. Can Jacob seek payment from anyone besides L&S? If so, onwhat basis? If not, why not?

2.Do the L&S shareholders have a claim against Susan and/orthe corporation regarding the marijuana?

3. Does Susan have a valid defense? Why or why not?

4. Is Susan entitled to indemnification from L&S for anylosses she suffers as a result of the drug arrest?

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