The reasoning is partly, that a company is not (usually) a single person, nor is that single person responsible for all the actions of the other parts of the co

The reasoning is partly, that a company is not (usually) a single person, nor is that single person responsible for all the actions of the other parts of the company. In reality, most company decisions (especially sensitive or controversial ones) are controlled by a small group of people. That being said, it's clearly used as a flexible mithril armor for the rich and culpable. This is modern America.