Business Finance 3500: The Legal Environment of Business
Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University
Autumn 2015, First Session
Professor John David Blackburn
Office: 236 Fisher Hall (phone: 292-5204; email: blackburn.3@osu.edu). Office Hours: MWF 3-4p.m.
Required Book: The Essentials of the Legal Environment of Business eText (Pearson Learning Solutions 2015) by
Blackburn and Klayman (hereinafter, B&K eText). Access to the B&K eText is sold online direct from the
publisher to students via credit card or Pay Pal account at
http://www.pearsoncustom.com/oh/osu_business_law, where you can also redeem an access code
purchased from the OSU Bookstore (the bookstore’s price may vary) as well as sign in for your B&K eText.
Course Objectives: This course surveys the fundamental fields of the legal environment of business with a
goal of helping you become an executive who is knowledgeable of the legal context in which the business
organization operates. The course provides an introduction to American legal institutions, including the
sources of law and an analysis of basic concepts of public and private law related to business decisions.
Learning Goals: In addition to providing you with the foundational knowledge of law applicable to business,
this course helps you develop the following skills identified by the Fisher College BSBA program:
1. Students possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify and critically assess problems facing
contemporary business.
2. Students can identify and assess ethical issues surrounding business decisions.
3. Students demonstrate professional deportment and effective communication skills.
Workload Expectation: The university and college expectation is that students spend two hours outside of
class for every hour spent in class. Since this course meets three hours per week, you should expect to spend
six hours per week outside of class on course-related work.
Instruction Method: Class will be conducted by a combination of lecture and discussion. It is important
that you read the assigned material before coming to class. Please feel free to ask any questions that you may
have. It is better to ask your questions during class so that others may benefit from the answer to your
question. Also, be prepared to answer when called on in class. Our time together each class will be much
more interesting if we are all conversant with the assigned reading material, and are all willing to speak our
minds. Bring your smart phone, i-pad, laptop, Kindle, Nook, etc., whatever you use to access the B&K eText,
to class so that you can refer to the B&K eText during lecture/discussion.
Evaluation: Two non-cumulative midterm exams, each worth 50% of your grade, will be given during the
session, according to the schedule below. In addition, an optional comprehensive final exam will be given on
October 14th at the same time and place where the class meets. Your score on the optional final exam will
substitute for any and all lower midterm exam scores. In addition, the professor may raise or lower a
student’s grade by a plus/minus for either class participation that is outstanding (plus) or
unprofessional/unprepared (minus).
Grading Scale: A = 93-100%; A- = 90-92%; B+ = 87-89; B = 83-86; B- = 80-82; C+ = 77-79; C = 73-76;
C- = 70-72; D+ = 67-69; D = 60-66; E = 0-59.
Attendance Policy: Any student who fails to attend without giving prior notification to the instructor will
be dis-enrolled after the third instructional day of the term, the first Friday of the term, or the second
scheduled class meeting of the course, whichever occurs first.
Examination Policy: In addition to the instructions that appear on the exams and on the screen or
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whiteboard in the classroom: (1) No communication of any kind is permitted between students during the
examination. This includes all forms of verbal and nonverbal communication, written communication, and
electronic communication. In addition, the sharing of books, notes and other written documents is expressly
prohibited. (2) Collaboration with other persons during the examination is expressly prohibited. (3) Students
are not permitted to take their exams, papers or other materials from the examination room. In general, there
are no make-up exams. The optional comprehensive final examination serves as the make-up for any
midterm exam. There is no make-up for the optional comprehensive final examination—because it is an
optional exam.
Academic Misconduct: Academic integrity is essential to maintaining an environment that fosters
excellence in teaching, research, and other educational and scholarly activities. Thus, The Ohio State
University and the Committee on Academic Misconduct (COAM) expect that all students have read and
understand the University’s Code of Student Conduct, and that all students will complete all academic and
scholarly assignments with fairness and honesty. Students must recognize that failure to follow the rules and
guidelines established in the university’s Code of Student Conduct and this syllabus may constitute “academic
misconduct.”
The Ohio State University’s Code of Student Conduct (Section 3335-23-04) defines academic misconduct as:
“Any activity that tends to compromise the academic integrity of the University, or subvert the educational
process.” Examples of academic misconduct include (but are not limited to) plagiarism, collusion
(unauthorized collaboration), copying the work of another student, submitting the same or similar work for
credit in more than one class, and possession of unauthorized materials during an examination. Ignorance of
the University’s Code of Student Conduct is never considered an “excuse” for academic misconduct, so you
should review the Code of Student Conduct and, specifically, the sections dealing with academic misconduct.
If a student is suspected of, or reported to have committed academic misconduct in this course, I am
obligated by University Rules to report my suspicions to COAM. If you have any questions about the above
policy or what constitutes academic misconduct in this course, please contact me.
Disability Services: Students with disabilities that have been certified by the Office for Disability Services
will be appropriately accommodated and should inform the instructor as soon as possible of their needs. The
Office for Disability Services is located in 150 Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil Avenue; telephone 292-3307;
http://www.ods.ohio-state.edu/.
Course Schedule:
Dates
Topic
Required Reading
8/26
Course Overview
Syllabus
8/31
Law and Ethics
B&K eText, Chapter 1
9/2
Nature of Law and Legal Reasoning
B&K eText, Chapter 2
9/9
American Legal System
B&K eText, Chapter 3
9/14, & 16
Law of Contractual Relations
B&K eText, Chapter 5
9/21 First Midterm Exam Covering Topics, Reading and Related Materials & Discussion from 8/26 - 9/16
9/23 &/28
Law of Injuries (Tort Law)
B&K eText, Chapter 6
9/30
Law of Business Organizations
B&K eText, Chapter 7
10/5, 7
Equal Employment Opportunity
B&K eText, Chapter 8
10/12 Second Midterm Exam Covering Topics, Reading and Related Materials & Discussion from 9/21 – 10/9
10/14 Optional Comprehensive Final Examination (time and room as when class meets regularly)
Examinations: Examinations will occur at the time and room where the class meets regularly. The
examinations are: 9/18, first midterm; 10/12, second midterm; 10/14, optional comprehensive final exam.
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