I will admit right now that this is a weak posting, but....

When I attended University we were taught that Corporations had attained the status of individuals due to some Supreme Court case from 1895 (?) where a Railroad Barron needed his company to be treated as an individual.

The lesson for that day was 'Money Talks'.

I don't remember much more than that, but then it has been about 50 years since I heard this.