BCOR 2210 - 03
Legal and Regulatory Environment
Professor Arthur Gross-Schaefer
Section 03 Tuesday, 9:50 am – 11 :20am pst on-line
CBA Mission: “Advance knowledge and develop business leaders with moral courage and
creative confidence to be a force for good in the global community.”
(This syllabus and teaching materials are heavily based on the work of Dr. Sona Gala – I’m
deeply appreciative for her willingness to share her work, creativity and insights as well as
her important and supportive role as my mentor for this class)
Instructor: Arthur Gross-Schaefer
Class Zoom Link: https://lmula.zoom.us/j/84925495621
Zoom Office Hours: By appointment during my normal office hours Tuesday 8:30-9:30am pst
Tuesday and Thursdays, Wednesday 4-6pm pst. Please email me to make an appointment at
least two days before, so I will be able to easily plan to be around a computer for the
appointment time. If these office zoom hours do not work for you, let me know in an email and
we’ll find another time to meet.
Office Hours Link: https://lmula.zoom.us/j/7795401224
Phone: My cell phone is only to be used after we have agreed on a time to speak via email or
it’s a true emergency AND never at night - 805-302-1648 (cell phone) Please remember that I’m on PST
and only call when we have agreed at a specific time through an email exchange and give me a reasonable amount of time to
respond. Please only ask to speak with me during normal office hours and not in the evening. I do not carry my phone at all
times and only periodically check in on my email. AND, please do not call on my sabbath (starting Friday afternoon and extends
to Saturday night unless it’s an emergency which is definitely not classwork related)
Email: agross@lmu.edu
Required Text and other materials:
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Cross and Miller, The Legal Environment of Business, 10 th edition (make sure you get
this 10th edition), Cengage Learning, 2018 (only need to get the book.. used is ok).
In addition to the main text,
o Various articles may periodically be assigned for reading
o Movies may periodically be assigned for viewing
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Homework Expectation: For a 2-unit course, the expectation is, on the average and for the
average students, around 4 hrs. of homework per week. Some weeks will require less and some
weeks more, especially around the mid-term and studying for the final.
Course Description: A survey course on the general concepts found in Business Law. The
student will be exposed to legal terminology, concepts, and reasoning found when working
within the business environment and when relating to various governmental entities
This course is designed to be taken synchronously or asynchronously. Please contact me if you
are taking the course asynchronously.
Learning Outcomes for this Course:
This course contributes to student achievement of the following CBA core learning
outcomes:
Students will demonstrate critical thinking skills by defining, modeling, analyzing
and evaluating complex business problems
Students will describe corporate structures and legal responsibilities for different
business frameworks.
Upon completion of this course students are expected to successfully meet the
following Business Law course learning objectives.
1.
Students will become familiar with legal language and concepts.
2.
Students will have an increased understanding of the American legal
system and how it functions.
3.
Students will show an appreciation of the legal environment in which
business must operate.
4.
Students will become familiar with legal reasoning processes and an
ability to apply legal concepts.
5.
Students will gain an understanding of corporate structures and legal
responsibilities for different business frameworks
6.
Students will develop critical thinking skills through complex legal
problems facing businesses.
POLICIES OF THIS COURSE:
Format, Attendance, Preparation, Class Participation, and Devices: Class sessions will be
conducted primarily in a discussion format, but on occasion will include lectures, and small
group interactions. Your attendance and active class participation are critical for producing a
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rich learning environment, and will be factored into your grade. Students are required to have
completed each assignment in advance of the respective class, and to have the assigned
reading material available during class as well as any assignments, even if turned in, available
during the class. In case of absence, students are responsible for obtaining notes from a
classmate and reviewing the video recording of the class.
Students are required to fulfill all course requirements as scheduled. No alternative
assignments or exam arrangements will be provided, except in the event of a bona fide
documented emergency and/or pre-arranged University-approved need for special
accommodation (see below). There is no individual “extra credit” beyond that discussed below
which will be open to all students. Course grades will be calculated according to the points
assigned in the course requirement section.
Since we are an on-line course, the device you are using for you class is obvious just fine.
However, all other devices such as phones and ipads need to be turned off and out of sight. No
class may be recorded, filmed, photographed or electronically transmitted in any manner
without the express consent of the instructor.
Academic Honesty Policy: Academic dishonesty will be treated as an extremely serious matter,
with severe consequences that can range from receiving no credit for assignments/tests to
expulsion. It is never permissible to turn in any work that has not been authored by the
student, such as work that has been copied from another student or copied from a source
(including the Internet) without properly acknowledging the source. It is your responsibility to
ensure that your work meets the standard set forth in the “Academic Honesty Policy” (see
http://academics.lmu.edu/honesty)
Unauthorized Access to or Alteration of Privileged and Proprietary Information:
a. Unauthorized access to and/or use of privileged University documents, files, or
information and/or alteration thereof by electronic or any other means.
b. Unauthorized access to and/or use of proprietary information. For example,
the unauthorized dissemination of research prior to publication.
c. Unauthorized access to and/or use of University course resources and
materials. For example, distributing any course materials (syllabus, assignments,
exams, etc.) without explicit permission from the instructor.
Therefore, dissemination or sharing of any classroom recording (e.g., Zoom or other
videos posted by the instructor) without the permission of the instructor would be
considered “unauthorized use” and, therefore, prohibited.
Checking for the Authenticity of Summitted Work to Look for Potential Plagiarism: Loyola
Marymount University has partnered with the third-party application Turnitin to help maintain
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our standards of excellence in academic integrity. Turnitin is a suite of tools that provide
instructors with information about the authenticity of submitted work and facilitates the
process of grading for instructors. Submitted files are compared against an extensive database
of content comprising of over 165 million journal articles, 1 billion student papers, and 62
billion current and archived websites. Turnitin produces a similarity report and a similarity
score. A similarity score is the percentage of a document that is similar to content held within
the database. A similarity report gives the instructor more information about any potential
matches and their sources. Turnitin does not determine if an instance of plagiarism has
occurred. Instead, it gives instructors the information they need to determine the authenticity
of work as a part of a larger process. All submissions to this course may be checked using
Turnitin. Respondus- Proctoring Software
Special Accommodations: Students with special needs who require reasonable modifications,
special assistance, or accommodations in this course should promptly direct their request to
the Disability Support Services (DSS) Office. Any student who currently has a documented
disability (ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Learning, Physical or Psychiatric) needing
academic accommodations should contact the Disability Services Office (Daum Hall, Second
Floor, 310-338-4216) as early in the semester as possible. All discussions remain confidential.
Please visit http://www.lmu.edu/dss for additional information.
Reporting Requirements of Sexual or Interpersonal Misconduct: As “responsible employees,”
faculty are required to report any case of suspected sexual or interpersonal misconduct and
cannot protect student confidentiality. For information about confidential counseling on
campus and for general information about consensual relationships, sexual harassment, and
sexual assault, please see the LMU Cares website: http://studentaffairs.lmu.edu/lmucares
Tentative Nature of the Syllabus: If necessary, this syllabus and its contents are subject to
revision; students are responsible for any changes or modifications announced or distributed in
class or posted on LMU’s course management system Brightspace. Please make a practice of
checking Brightspace before doing the reading for each class.
Communication: At times, I will communicate with the entire class using the campus email
system. Ensure you have regular access to your lion.lmu.edu email address.
Introduction Module Links & Information/Technology Support & Service:
Library Resources
DSS
https://its.lmu.edu/gethelp/itsservicedesk/
https://library.lmu.edu/
At Home Software for Students
https://its.lmu.edu/whatwedo/instructionaltechnology/respondus/
Keep Learning website https://its.lmu.edu/whatwedo/computingsoftware/keeplearning/
Brightspace Video Tutorials for Students
https://its.lmu.edu/whatwedo/instructionaltechnology/brightspaceinformation/studentvideotutorials
Basic etiquette rules for On-Line Communication:
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Before posting your question to a discussion board, check if anyone has asked it already and
received a reply.
Stay on topic. Don't post irrelevant links, comments, thoughts or pictures.
Don't type in ALL CAPS! If you do it will look like you are screaming.
Don't write anything that sounds angry or sarcastic even as a joke, because without hearing your
tone of voice, your peers might not realize you're joking.
Always remember to say "please" and "thank you" when soliciting help from your classmates.
Respect the opinion of your classmates. If you feel the need to disagree, do so respectfully and
acknowledge the valid points in your classmate's argument. If you reply to a question from a
classmate, make sure your answer is accurate!
If you ask questions, many people respond. Summarize all answers and post that summary to
benefit your whole class.
Be brief. If you write a long dissertation in response to a simple question, it's unlikely
that anyone will spend the time to read through it all.
Don't badmouth others or call them stupid. You may disagree with their ideas but don't
mock the person.
If you refer to something your classmate said earlier in the discussion, quote just a few
key lines from their post so that others won't have to go back and figure out which post
you're referring to.
Before asking a question, check the class FAQs or search the Internet to see if the
answer is obvious or easy to find.
Check the most recent comments before you reply to an older comment.
Be forgiving. If your classmate makes a mistake, don't badger him or her for it. Just let it
go.
Run a spelling and grammar check before posting anything to the discussion board.
Keep in mind that others are watching – so, don’t do something that might be
embarrassing or distracting such as eating.
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Instruction Methods:
Class meetings - Zoom sessions will be a combination of lecture and breakout groups to
do legal case scenarios. We will also engage in discussions about these scenarios and legal case
briefs that students will prepare each week.
Discussion Boards - Students will also be required to engage in twice monthly discussion
boards (discussed more fully below). The mid-term and final exams will be online.
Case Briefs - Students will be required to be able to fully discuss cases that appear
within the chapters assigned. Each week, we will discuss at least one case within the text. You
must brief the assigned cases found in the syllabus.
You will prepare 7 briefs worth 1 point a piece, for a total of 7 points. I do not grade
briefs. You receive the points for doing them. Briefs will be submitted via Bright Space by 9:00
am the day the brief is due. Late briefs will not be accepted.
How to Brief a Case (IRAC FORMAT) (What to Include in Your Weekly Brief):
1. A brief rendition of the facts (around 4-5 sentences)
2. Issue: the most relevant legal issue-what is the LEGAL question the court is being
asked to decide. The issue should be a one sentence and be posed as a question: ie: Was
the statement “I agree’ sufficient to create a valid acceptance thus making the contract
binding between the parties?
3. Rule: the rule of law applied in the case, (a somewhat general statement of the law
that is both applicable to this case and to future cases). You should copy the rule directly
from the textbook.
4. Application of the rule. This section should discuss in a paragraph or less (5-6
sentences) how the court takes the rule you identified and applies it to the facts in the
case to reach a conclusion. When you read the case, there will always be a discussion
about how the rule applies to the facts of the case. Summarize this discussion in your
application section.
5. Conclusion-decision of the court. This should be one sentence on what the court
decided in the case.
Exams: There will be two exams (mid-term and final): Both exams will be online and
include multiple choice and possibly 1-2 short answer questions. Each exam is worth 50 points.
You will have 1.5 hours to compete the mid-term and 2 hours to complete the final exam.
Exams will be made available online starting at 12:00 am (PST) on the day of the exam and will
close at 11:59 pm on the day of the exam.
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The exam will remain open for 24 hours. You may take the exam anytime during this
time. Since the exam is timed, please make sure to allow yourself 1.5 hours for the mid-term
and 2 hours for the final. Exams may be made up in emergency situations. You must e-mail to
notify me prior to the exam explaining the emergency and make sure you receive my approval
in writing.
I will go over questions on the mid-term exam in class that most students missed. If you
would like to review the entire exam with me, please plan to set up a time to meet with me
during office hours.
Class Participation: Up to 10 points will awarded for participating in class.
There are multiple ways to participate in class:
1.You are required to participate in the Bright Space online discussion boards. You will
post 2 discussion boards (1 social and 1 legal topic related) each month. You will need to
respond to my questions and comment on at least 2 other student responses.
2. Participate in weekly online Zoom synchronous class discussions. If you are unable to
attend Zoom synchronous sessions, please let me know and I will make accommodations for
you to complete a different assignment to continue to earn participation points.
3. I may have one student each week monitor the chat in our online Zoom sessions. You
may volunteer to monitor the chat during class and that will count towards participation. When
I periodically ask if there are questions, as the monitor, you will need to raise your hand and ask
the questions posted in the chat.
Extra Credit: Throughout the semester, there will be 1-2 online Zoom events that I will
ask you to attend to receive extra credit. I will generally offer 1-2 points per event attended,
and these points will be added directly into your mid-term and/or final exam score depending
on when the event occurs.
Community Building:
1. Zoom Meeting: I am available to meet with students during Zoom office hours to
check in and see how you are doing with this class, online learning, and anything else you would
like to discuss. Meeting with the professor is not required, but it is a good way for us to
connect.
2. Groups Discussion Board for Exam Preparation: I have created a group discussion
board to help students study for the mid-term and final exam. For those of you that would like
to work with other students or create a study group to prepare for the exams (there is am midterm and final exam study guide) please post on the discussion board. You can also post
questions related to material on this board and your peers can respond.
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Phone: My cell phone is only to be used after we have agreed on a time to speak via email or
it’s a true emergency AND never at night - 805-302-1648 (cell phone) Please remember that I’m on PST
and only call when we have agreed at a specific time through an email exchange and give me a reasonable amount of time to
respond. Please only ask to speak with me during normal office hours and not in the evening. I do not carry my phone at all
times and only periodically check in on my email. AND, please do not call on my sabbath (starting Friday afternoon and extends
to Saturday night unless it’s an emergency which is definitely not classwork related)
Email: agross@lmu.edu
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Use of Technology:
1.
Zoom Link: You will receive a Zoom link via e-mail for our weekly online synchronous
meeting at the beginning of the semester. Please use this link to login weekly for our Zoom
meetings. The Zoom link will also be up in Bright Space.
2.
Zoom Recordings: I will record our weekly Zoom sessions and they will be posted in
Bright Space. If you are unable to attend class, you may access the recorded class in Bright
Space.
3.
Instructions to Access Brightspace: Go to https://brightspace.lmu.edu. Enter your
username and password. Click on the course title. If you are having trouble log-in in, contact ITS
help desk.
4.
PowerPoints: In conjunction with our class discussions and lectures in Zoom, I will also
use PowerPoint presentations. PowerPoints will be posted in Bright Space.
5.
Weekly Work: The course is divided by weeks (what to do before class, what to do
during class, and what to do after class) in Bright Space. I will be posting handouts and other
materials that you will need to have with you for class online each week. PowerPoints will also
be posted. Periodically, I will also post short lectures on topics that you will need to know for
class, but that we may not have time to review in class. Please make sure to go into Bright
Space at the beginning of each week to review what you need to do prior to our online class,
during on line class, and after online class for the week.
5.
Self-Assessment Questions in Bright Space: I will be posting questions(similar to the
ones you will have on your mid-term and final exams in the Quizzes section of Bright Space. You
can go into this section at any time and do the self-assessment questions to make sure you are
understanding the material we are covering in class. You are not required to do the questions.
They are just provided to help you prepare for the exams.
Attendance/Participation: Students should attend our online synchronous Zoom classes and
plan to participate each week (participation in online zoom sessions counts towards your
participation grade in the class). We will go over material and do numerous examples/scenarios
to help you prepare for the exams. If you are absent from our online Zoom session, due to
illness or other reasons such as internet issues, etc., please e-mail me to let me know. The
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online sessions will be recorded and I am available to meet outside of class to go over any
material that you missed and/or do not understand.
Grading:
There will be two exams (mid-term and final) both worth 50 points each for a total of 100
points. Legal briefs completed each week are worth a total of 7points (7 briefs x 1 point a piece,
for a total of 7 points). Class participation is worth up to 10 points. Total points available are
117. Grades are calculated based on a student’s total points earned out of the 117 total points
for the class. I reserve the right to add or cancel assignments as needed. I also reserve the right
to curve exams if needed. Accordingly, the point total is tentative in nature and can be revised,
if necessary.
ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE TURNED IN VIA BRIGHTSPACE.
Grade percentages are as follows:
93 - 100% = A, 90=92%=A-, 88-89%=B+, 83-87% = B, 80-82%=B-, 78-79% = C+, 73-77%=C, 7072%=C-, 60 - 69%= D, Below 60%= F
Tentative Nature of the Syllabus:
If necessary, this syllabus and its contents are subject to revision. Students are responsible for
any changes or modifications announced or distributed in class, emailed to students’ LMU Lion
accounts or posted on LMU's course management system, Brightspace. If you are absent from
an in-person or online class meeting, it is the student’s responsibility to get notes from a
classmate, check Brightspace and with the professor to see if you missed any important class
announcements. Students should not rely on word-of-mouth from classmates.
Weekly Assignments:
Weeks 1-3 (1/11, 1/18 & 1/25)
 Introduction and the American Legal System, Chap. 1 and 2
 In Class Hypotheticals and Discussion on American Legal Systems and Jurisdiction
 Homework due by 9am on the day of your class:
Brief Gucci America, Inc. v. Wang Huoquing (Due 1/19 or 1/21)
Social Hub Discussion Board Response and Comments (Due 1/26 or 1/28)
Weeks 4-5 (2/1 & 2/8)
 Contracts, Chap. 12
 In Class Hypotheticals and Discussion
 Homework due by 9am on the day of your class:
Brief Lucy v. Zehmer (Due 2/2 or 2/4)
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Legal Topic Discussion Board Response and Comment (Due by 2/9 or 2/11)
Weeks 6-7 (2/15 & 2/22)
 Employment Law, Chap. 21
 In Class Hypotheticals and Discussion
 Homework due by 9am on the day of your class:
Brief Bauer v. Lynch (Due on 2/16 or 2/18)
Social Hub Discussion Board Response and Comments (Due on 2/23 or 2/25)
Week 8 (3/1) – spring break – no classes
Weeks 9-10 (3/8-3/15)
 Review for Mid-term exam (3/9 & 3/11)
o mid-term exam (either on 3/16 or 3/18)
 (withdraw from class by 3/19)
Week 11 (3/22)
 Chapter 16,17, and 18 Small Business Organizations, Limited Liability Companies,
and Corporations
 Homework due by 9am on the day of your class:
Brief Meinhard v. Salmon (Due on 3/23 or 3/25)
Legal Discussion Board Response and Comments (Due on 3/23 or 3/25)
Week 12 (3/29) - (no class week of 3/29 – alternative assignment will be developed based on a
current issue)
Weeks 13-14 (4/5-4/12)
 Torts, Chap. 6
 In Class Hypotheticals and Discussion
 Homework due by 9am on the day of your class:
Social Hub Discussion Board Response and Comments (Due on 4/6 or 4/8)
Brief Taylor v. Baseball Club of Seattle, LP (Due on 4/13 or 4/15)
Week 15 (4/19)
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Administrative Law, Chap. 23
Brief Loving v. Internal Revenue Service. (Due on 4/20 or 4/22)
Legal Topic Discussion Board Response and Comments (Due on 4/20 or 4/22)
Begin to review for Final
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Week 16 (4/26)
 International Law, Chap. 11
 Brief Bennett v. Islamic Republic of Iran (Due 4/27 or 4/29)
 Continue to Review for Final Exam
Week 17 (5/3)
 Final Exam Online- The exam will be available online the day of your class –
opening at 12am pst
Thank you for coming to my class. I look forward to learning with you,
Professor Arthur Gross-Schaefer
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