The following is a list of potential violations of the AICPA’s Code of Professional Conduct.
a. Stapleton, CPA, is unable to perform a service requested by a client. Therefore, Stapleton refers the client to Edith, who pays Stapleton $200 for referring the business. Neither Stapleton nor Edith tells the client about the referral fee.
b. Reiner’s wife owns 100 shares of common stock in an audit client of Reiner’s CPA firm, in which he is a partner.
c. Struthers personally visits potential clients without invitation for the purpose of obtaining business from them
d. O’Connor, a CPA sole practitioner, serves as legal counsel to his audit client.
e. A public accounting firm places a full page, four color advertisement in Business Week that describes some of the services it provides.
REQUIRED: For each of the above situations, indicate the following. (1) Is the CPA in violation of the AICPA’s Code? Explain your answer. (2) The specific rule, principle, or interpretation that applies to the situation.