He had argued that the market was being distorted because school holidays are set through public policy, and parents cannot pick and choose holiday dates as freely as other groups.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Education | Parents 'ignore holiday fines'

Such charges were sweeping Silicon Valley at the time after professor Erik Lie of the University of Iowa released a paper in 2005 suggesting that a number of companies may have changed dates on stock options to richly compensate employees (pick a date with the lowest stock price).

FORBES: Former Broadcom CFO Bill Ruehle's Fight For Justice And His Victory (Book)