ST. GREGORY’S UNIVERSITY

COURSE SYLLABUS for Fall 2001

 

Course

BU 3053, Legal Environment of Business

Time/Location

Section 01, MWF 9:00, Room 301

Section 02, MWF 2:00, Room 406a

Prerequisite

BU 2123, Managerial Accounting

Instructor

Mayda Shorney, Ph.D., CPA

Office / Hours

Room 442a, MWF 1000-1100 & 1300-1400, TR 0900-1000 & 1400-1500

Phone

Office 405-878-5159, Home 405-214-6449

E-Mail

mshorney@sgc.edu

Web site

http://intranet.sgc.edu/people/faculty/mshorney/

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION FROM OFFICIAL CATALOG

An overview designed to acquaint the student with the legal aspects of commercial relations and transactions including discussions of the general laws under which businesses operate, such as contracts, sales, agency, employment, negotiable instruments, real estate, etc.  Problems and case analyses will look at traditional legal matters and the conflict and confusion associated with e-commerce and cross-border legal issues. 

 

Purpose of the course

The course is to enable you to read legal cases intelligently and critically, and then to do analysis and assessment of legal situations on your own.

 

OBJECTIVES of the course

·         To acquaint students with the American legal system, processes and institutions and their relationship to business.

·         To develop an understanding of fundamental legal principles and policies in the areas of contracts & remedies, torts & product liability, criminal law, and consumer law.

·         To understand the function and effect of the law on their business lives.

·         To develop the ability to recognize legal issues in business and to develop strategies for resolving those issues.

·         To encourage the development of critical reading and writing skills.

·         To encourage creative problem solving skills and the ability to argue various points of view effectively.

 

ACADEMIC HONESTY

Students are advised that cheating and plagiarism are not tolerated at St. Gregory’s University.  Students are expected to abide by the University's academic regulations and policy and are responsible for awareness of the University's definition of these activities. The consequences of violating the academic honesty standard may include a grade of "0" on the assignment/exam, a grade of "F" in the course, and, possibly, expulsion from the University.

 

MISSION OF THE DIVISION OF BUSINESS SCIENCE

The goal of the Division of Business Science at St. Gregory's University is to convey the business skills necessary to survive in the 21st Century while encouraging personal integrity, charity, and growth.

 

REQUIRED TEXT TO BE PURCHASED BY STUDENT

Clarkson, Kenneth W., Roger LeRoy Miller, Gaylord A. Jentz, and Frank B. Cross, West’s Business Law: Text, Cases, Legal Ethical, International, and E-Commerce Environment, 8th Edition, West Legal Studies in Business, 2001.  ISBN 0-324-01661-1.

 

INTERNET RESOURCES

Textbook’s Web Site

http://www.westbuslaw.com/wbl/wbl_8e/wbl8e.html

Inside the back covers of the textbook have Web sites to help you with your legal studies.

 

METHODS OF ASSESSMENT AND STUDENT EVALUATION

Exam 1

Chapters 2, 4, 5, 6, 7

20%

Exam 2

Chapters 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17

20%

Exam 3

Chapters 41, 42, 43, 44, 45

20%

Homework/Quizzes/Discussion

Daily

20%

Case Brief and Presentation

Capstone to course

 20%

Total

 

100%

 

EXAMINATIONS, REPORTS, AND PRESENTATIONS

·         If any exam question is left unattempted, the value of that question will be subtracted from the exam score.

·         Being prepared and present for the exams and presentations is your responsibility. The exam and presentation will be given on schedule. Mark your calendars now.

·         If the exam is missed, your total points possible will be adjusted accordingly.

 

CASE BRIEF

·         As we study the material from the text and current court cases and decisions, you should select a case that is of particular interest to you and do a full case brief following the instructions in Appendix A.

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

·         Attendance and participation are crucial.

·         Attendance is recorded and reported. However, attendance does not add points to the grade. Students should be aware that research shows a strong correlation between attendance and course grade. Absence will not be considered an excuse for submitting assignments late.

·         Lack of attendance will not automatically drop or withdraw a student from class. Students have the responsibility of processing a "Drop" from any class. Note: Most F's result from students ceasing to attend the class without processing a "Drop" slip.

 

COURSE OUTLINE

The schedule is flexible. Much material is required. It is not possible for an instructor to cover all the course material without student independent study. As students are interested in a particular topic, more time will be spent on a topic as may be required.  No homework is accepted after the test over the material.

 

Date

Ch

Topics

Assignments

08/22/01

 

Introduction to course and Review syllabus

 

08/24/01

A

How to Brief Cases and Analyze Case Problems

Brief case in Handout 01 

08/27/01

1

Introduction to Law and Legal Reasoning

1-2, 1-3, 1-5, 1-9

08/29/01

2

Courts and Alternate Dispute Resolution

 2-2, 2-4, 2-5, 2-9

09/03/01

 

Labor Day

 

09/05/01

4

Constitutional Authority to Regulate Business

 4-4, 4-6, 4-7, 4-8

09/07/01

5

Torts

 5-4, 5-5, 5-6, 5-7, 5-8

09/12/01

6

Strict Liability and Product Liability

 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, 6-6, 6-8

09/17/01

7

Intellectual Property

 7-1, 7-3, 7-4, 7-6

09/28/01

 

Chapters 2, 4, 5, 6 7

Exam 01

10/01/01

10 

Contracts: Nature and Terminology

 10-6, 10-8, 10-9

10/08/01

11

Contracts: Agreement

 11-5, 11-6, 11-7

10/12/01

12

Contracts: Consideration

 12-5, 12-6, 12-7, 12-9

10/17/01

13

Contracts: Capacity and Legality

 13-4, 13-5, 13-6, 13-7

10/19/01

 

Fall Break

 

10/24/01

14

Contracts: Genuineness of Assent

 14-5, 14-6, 14-7, 14-8, 14-9

10/29/01

15

Contracts: The Statute of Frauds

 15-6, 15-7, 15-8, 15-9

11/02/01

17

Contracts: Performance and Discharge

 17-6, 17-7, 17-8, 17-9

11/09/01

 

Chapters 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17

Exam 02

11/12/01

41

Labor and Employment Law

 41-5, 41-6, 41-7, 41-8, 41-9

11/19/01

42

Employment Discrimination

 42-4, 42-5, 42-7, 42-8, 42-9

11/23/01

 

Thanksgiving

 

11/26/01

43

Administrative Law

 43-3, 43-4, 43-5, 43-6, 43-7, 43-8

11/28/01

44

Consumer and Environmental Law

 44-5, 44-6, 44-7, 44-8, 44-9

11/30/01

45

Antitrust Law

 45-6, 45-7, 45-8, 45-9

12/05/01

45

Chapters 41, 42, 43, 44, 45

Exam 03

12/10-13

 

Finals Week

Case Brief