LEONARD N. STERN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
Department of Accounting, Taxation and Business Law
LAW, BUSINESS & SOCIETY (C10.0006) SPRING 2007
 SECTION 04/TTR 11:00am - 12:15pm

T-UC62
PROFESSOR KOWAL
 Office: KMC 10-87
 Office Hours: T, TR 12:30am – 2:00pm & by appointment
 Phone: 212-998-0053
 Fax: 212-995-4230
 E-Mail: rkowal@stern.nyu.edu
 Secretary: Iantha Coleman icoleman@stern.nyu.edu or 998-0048
 TA: Justin Klaeb jek326@nyu.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The purpose of this course is to communicate an appreciation of the legal system and
how laws are formulated, modified and enforced, and by whom. This course will show
students how to think more deeply about the legal system and appreciate the way in
which it has evolved and continues to evolve in relationship to business and society. Our
overriding objective is to provide students with the opportunity to read clearly think
critically and write analytically regarding the law, business and society interface.
COURSE MATERIALS
1. Textbook: Managers & The Legal Environment, by Bagley & Savage,
Thomson/West, Fifth Edition.
2. Lexis-Nexis (one of the world’s primary legal databases)
Accessible through NYU’s Bobst Library on line database. Go to the NYU Home page,
click on Bobst Library, click on “articles via databases”, under popular databases “click
on “Lexis-Nexis”, log on using your NYU Net ID.
CLASSROOM GUIDELINES
1. LBS (Law, Business & Society) Partners/Buddies
After a few classes I will ask you to pick an LBS partner/buddy with whom you will do
your homework and position paper assignment. You should contact your LBS buddy for
handouts and assignments should you miss a class.
1. Attendance
Attendance in every class is extremely important. Attendance will be taken. If you must
miss a class, contact me before class by e-mail stating the reason for your absence. It is
your responsibility to find out from your LBS partner what materials were covered, what
additional assignments were given, and get the class handouts. Excessive absences will
lower your final grade in the course.
2. Class Preparation
You should read all of the assigned materials prior to the class session. Be prepared to
1
discuss any assigned material if called upon during class. Since I frequently call on
students whose hands are not raised, you should let me know before class if you are not
adequately prepared for that class.
3. Seating Chart
Since class participation is important I will try to learn your names as quickly as possible.
Select a seat that you can be comfortable with for seating chart purposes. Please correct
me if I mispronounce your name.
4. Classroom Participation
Classroom participation is very important in this course. I am aware that some of you
may be shy about speaking in the classroom. I respect this but strongly encourage you to
participate.
5. Examinations
The midterm and final examinations will be non-cumulative and open notes. A make-up
exam is allowed only if I am notified prior to the scheduled examination and the
appropriate medical or personal documentation is provided. Students who may need
special accommodations should see me during office hours.
TEACHING ASSISTANT
TA: JUSTIN KLAEB
OFFICE HOURS
jek326@nyu.edu
Justin is a 3rd year law
Wednesdays
student at NYU Law School 2:15-3:45pm
GRADING
ASSIGNMENT
Midterm
Position Paper
Final Exam
Homework
Attendance
Participation
Group Project
PLACE
Prof. Kowal’s Office
Room 10-87 KMEC Bldg
PERCENTAGE
OF GRADE
20%
20%
20%
20%
FORMAT
DUE DATE
Multiple choice
5 pages
Multiple choice
Varied
February 27
March 29
May 3
20%
Group Paper &
Classroom
Presentation
4 - 5 students per
group
April 24 & 26
POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Academic dishonesty could consist of copying another’s work and submitting it as one's
own, failing to attribute credit to a reference source, and copying from another during an
exam. Academic dishonesty undermines the school's student code of conduct and is
unfair to other students. Instances of academic dishonesty will be referred to the Stern
School Discipline Committee.
2
COURSE SCHEDULE
The schedule set forth below is subject to change as the need arises. All changes will be
announced in class. If you miss a lecture it is your responsibility to find out about any
announced changes. You should ask your LBS buddy pick up a copy of any handouts
and share notes that you may have missed. All chapters are in Managers and The Legal
Environment textbook.
COURTS WITH
INTEGRITY
January 16
Courts, Sources of Law and
Litigation
Constitutional Bases for
Business Regulation
Chapter 3
INDIVIDUAL
RIGHTS
January 23
Contracts
Chapter 7
January 25
Contracts
Chapter 7
January 30
Sales & E-Commerce
Chapter 8
February 1
Sales & E-Commerce
Chapter 8
February 6
The Employment Agreement
Chapter 12
February 8
Chapter 13
February 13
Civil Rights & Employment
Discrimination
Torts
February 15
Torts
Chapter 9
February 20
Product Liability
Chapter 10
February 22
Product Liability
Chapter 10
February 27
MIDTERM EXAM
January 18
Chapter 2
Chapter 9
PROPERTY RIGHTS
March 1
Intellectual Property
Chapter 11
March 6
Intellectual Property
Chapter 11
March 8
Real Property & Land Use
Chapter 18
March 12 – March 17
SPRING BREAK
3
BUSINESS RIGHTS
FIDUCIARY DUTY
March 20
March 22
March 27
March 29
April 3
FINANCIAL
TRANSACTIONS
April 5
April 10
April 12
April 17
April 19
April 24
April 26
Agency
Forms of Business:
Partnership, Limited
Partnership, Limited Liability
Partnership, Corporations, and
Limited Liability Companies
Forms of Business (continued)
POSITION PAPER DUE
Directors, Officers and
Controlling Shareholders
Directors, Officers and
Controlling Shareholders
Public and Private Offerings of
Securities
Securities Fraud and Insider
Trading
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
Debtor-Creditor Relations &
Bankruptcy
Debtor-Creditor Relations &
Bankruptcy
FINAL PROJECT DUE
Group Presentations
May 1
READING DAY
May 3
FINAL EXAM:
10:00am - 11:50am
4
Chapter 5
Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Chapter 24
Chapter 24