Absolutely, financial costs are a major consequence of corporate scandals. Here’s how they can hit a company:

• Fines and settlements: Regulatory bodies often impose hefty fines for violations. Additionally, companies may have to settle lawsuits with investors or customers who were harmed by the scandal. These settlements can run into billions of dollars. (For example, Volkswagen’s emissions scandal resulted in over €30 billion in fines and settlements [Source: The Independent]).
• Stock price decline: When a scandal breaks, investor confidence plummets. This leads to a significant drop in the company’s stock price, causing major losses for shareholders.
• Legal fees: Scandals often trigger a flurry of lawsuits. The company incurs legal costs to defend itself in court, adding to the financial burden.
• Repairing brand reputation: Scandals damage a company’s reputation. Rebuilding trust with customers requires significant investment in public relations campaigns and marketing efforts.

These are just some of the ways financial costs can cripple a company after a scandal. The severity of the impact depends on the nature of the scandal, the size of the company, and the effectiveness of their damage control efforts.