Ignorance is no excuse
in the eyes of the law, as many find out know when dealing with the IRS.
The very few times it can be used, is when there are extenuating circumstances. In a business environment saying "I didn't know", or "GEE shucks I wasn't aware of that", won't wash and only provokes deeper digging. The pinky scum, and you know who I mean, if matters are pursued beyond where it concerns QASP "common shareholders losses" could become very, very serious.
One only has to look at the economic situation and just a few of the reasons it is where it is to realize that the term "THROW THE BOOK AT THEM" is becoming the in vogue pattern.
B.