COURSE SYLLABUS AND TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY EMBA PROGRAM
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS
FALL 2003
COURSE TITLE:
COURSE DESIGNATION:
COHORT:
Legal/Ethical Environment of Business
BADM 644
MSW04 (Morgantown-Shepherdstown-Wheeling)
INSTRUCTOR: Linda Thompson Sypolt, J. D.
ADDRESS:
OFFICE:
PHONE:
E-MAIL:
FAX:
P. O. Box 6025, West Virginia University, WV 26506-6025
Business and Economics Building, Room 115
(304) 293-7931(office) and 864-6113(home)
ltsypolt@mail.wvu.edu
293-2233 or 293-2385 (An email should be sent before or directly after any faxed
material, indicating when the fax was sent and what material was faxed.
COURSE GOALS:
A growing number of executives and management scholars maintain that
business horizons must expand to encompass a wider array of moral, ethical, and social concerns.
In particular, the imperative for managers to understand the changing legal environment of
business and anticipate the future direction of the business-government interface has never been
greater. Consequently, strategic business planning requires an understanding of how the businessgovernment relationship has been altered historically in response to environmental forces and
recognition of the environmental forces at work today shaping the business-government interface
of tomorrow. Although this course is essentially only a survey of commercial law, its goal is to
offer students an opportunity to develop awareness of, at least, some key legal environment issues
that will effect business in the next century. In particular, there is an effort to bring to light several
recent technology developments and their relevance to the law.
COURSE MATERIALS: Students are responsible for completing all required readings indicated on the
course SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENTS. The reading assignments will generally be taken from
the following sources; however, additional readings from outside sources may be assigned from time to
time at the instructor’s discretion:
 TEXTBOOK: The Legal and E-Commerce Environment Today, 3rd Ed., Roger L. Miller and
Frank B. Cross (West Publishing Company 2001).
 INTERNET:
Students may be directed to Internet sources from time to time as supplemental
reading.
CLASS PREPARATION:
The textbook reading assignments (See SCHEDULE AND
ASSIGNMENTS) are to be completed before attending the corresponding class. The assigned
readings will provide background for in-class lectures, discussions and activities. Any additional
readings will be announced or distributed in class sessions or by e-mail. Also copies of Power
Point slides for the class session lecture will be posted on the Internet at least one week prior to
the scheduled class session. In addition to reading the assigned text chapters, review the Questions
and Case Problems at the end of each text chapter. Give particular attention to questions noted in
the QUESTIONS AND CASE PROBLEMS section for each class session. Class and group
discussions will revolve around the analysis of these fact situations.
CLASS PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Students are expected to attend all
class sessions. Please make every effort to attend class since much of the class learning will come
from class discussion and interaction. Also, a portion of each student’s course grade will
reflect attendance and participation in class discussion and activities. (See below, COURSE
REQUIREMENTS: CLASS PARTICIPATION.) However, if a student is unable to attend a
class session, she/he may complete an alternate assignment in order to earn the class participation
points. The alternate assignment requires writing answers for the questions listed in the
QUESTIONS AND CASE PROBLEMS section for the weekend session that you plan on
missing (The alternate assignment will be modified if the student only misses part of a weekend
session). The written answers must be emailed or otherwise delivered to the instructor prior to the
missed class period; however, an extension may be permitted on request where necessary in order
to prevent undue hardship for the student. Failure to complete this alternative assignment will
result in a ten-point deduction (proportionately less in cases in which only a part of the weekend
session is missed) from your class participation grade.
Barring unavoidable circumstances, a video of the class session will be made available to
students who miss a class session. If for some reason the video of a class session is unavailable,
the instructor will suggest additional readings to aid the student in completing the alternative
assignment.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1.
CLASS PARTICIPATION (40 points): Attendance at all class sessions and active participation
in any in-class discussions and group exercises is required, although alternative activities will be
provided for students who are unavoidably absent from class. Class discussion with revolve
around the GROUP PROJECTS (See below) and the QUESTIONS AND CASE PROBLEMS
(See SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENTS for listing of CASE PROBLEMS assigned from text
for use in discussion) See above discussion of the CLASS PARTICIPATION AND
ATTENDANCE POLICY
2.
EXAM/CASE ANALYSIS(100 points): Each student is required to prepare a written analysis of
certain assigned case problems (NOTE on the SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENTS). The assigned
case problems will require the analysis of fact situations on the basis of the legal/ethical principles
presented in the reading assignment for that class. In particular, the analysis should address the
question or questions posed at the end of the fact situation; however, other issues may be raised
and discussed. Additional information may be obtained from the Internet sites suggested in the
textbook or the case cited with the fact situation, if any. The due date is indicated on the
SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENTS.
3.
GROUP PROJECT: You Be the Judge(60 points total): The class will be divided into groups.
The instructor will permit students to make suggestions as to the membership of the groups;
however, the final group membership will be determined by the instructor. Each group will be
assigned TWO fact situations for analysis. The assigned groups must discuss the legal,
business, and ethical aspect of the assigned fact situations outside of the class sessions and
prepare a written analysis. The first written analysis is due on or before the Saturday class
of Weekend #2 and the second on or before the beginning of the Saturday session of
Weekend #3. (See SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENTS). Each group be prepared to share their
observations and conclusions with the rest of the class.
 Written Analysis. Each group will turn in a written analysis of each of the fact situations
assigned (except for the first one which will be compete as an oral assignment in-class). The
facts present a situation that has resulted in litigation and the groups’ analysis should explore
the possible arguments that could be raised to support the possible plaintiff and defendant in
such litigation and should the group must reach a final decision for the case. The written
analysis should be based on the principles of law and cases presented in the text. Additional
research may be done using the Internet as well as other source. If additional research outside
the text is used, footnote the material. Be sure to indicate the legal and factual basis for any
conclusions reached. If a particular case (either from those briefed in the text or from other
sources) was helpful, be sure to cite the case and discuss it. If members of a group cannot
agree in respect to particular conclusions, the members may turn in separate majority and

minority reports. The written analysis is due on or before the due dates indicated on the
SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENTS. The Morgantown Cohort must turn in a hardcopy of
their report at the beginning of the class session. The other cohorts may either email or fax
their reports prior to the beginning of the class. Point value = 20 points per fact situation.
In-Class Discussion. There will be a discussion in class of the project fact situation and
analysis. All groups are expected to contribute to the discussion and all group members are
required to be present. Failure to be present at the discussion will result in a 5 point deduction
from the project grade of the absent group member only. If a student wishes, he/she can
complete a make-up assignment to replace the 5 points.
In addition to the written analyses, there will be four in-class ‘YOU BO THE JUDGE’
EXERCISES in which students are expected to participate. Participation in these exercises
is valued at 5 points per exercise. If a student is not present for the exercise, she/he can make
up the points by preparing the exercise in written form. (EXCEPTION: All students will
received the 5 points for the first weekend)
SOCIAL JUSTICE STATEMENT:
West Virginia University is committed to social justice. I
concur with that commitment and expect to maintain a positive learning environment based upon
open communication, mutual respect, and non-discrimination. Our University does not
discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, disability, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation,
color or national origin. Any suggestions as to how to further such a positive and open
environment in this class will be appreciated and given serious consideration.
If you are a person with a disability and anticipate needing any type of accommodation in
order to participate in this class, please advise the instructor and also make appropriate
arrangements with Disability Services (293-6700).
ACADEMIC DISHONEST STATEMENT:
It is an unpleasant task to have to mention the topic of
academic dishonesty but, because violations of this nature occasionally occur, I want to refer
students to University policy on this issue which is contained in the “West Virginia Student
Handbook”. Instances of academic dishonesty will be handled by the immediate issuance of a
grade of an unforgivable “F”. Academic dishonesty includes evidence of cheating on exams,
quizzes, homework assignments and other required work. It applies to both the individual who
obtains answers from another person and the individual who allows another to use his/her work.
COURSE GRADING: In order to receive a grade (other than “I” or “F”) a student must satisfactorily
complete all of the above-required work. However, in the event that a student is unavoidably
absent from class during an in-class exercise or group presentation, the instructor will provide an
alternative exercise. Although the instructor anticipates a straight grading scale (i.e., 90% of total
course points = A; 80% of total course points = B; 70% of total course points = C; etc.), she
reserves the right to adjust the scale at her option.
The following indicates the point value of the required assignments:
Class Participation…………………….….….40 points
Exam/Case Analyses (100 points)………….100
Group Project (20 points each).……………. 60
Total Course Points………………200 points
SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENTS (Tentative---The following assignments are subject to revision.):
Weekend #1: September 5-6, 2003
LECTURE TOPIC(Friday): Introduction to Law, the Court System and Dispute Resolution
READING ASSIGNMENT: Text, Chapters 1 – 8
QUESTIONS AND CASE PROBLEMS: Unit 1 Cumulative Hypothetical Problem, (text page
150)
LECTURE TOPIC(Saturday): Contracts and E-Contracts
READING ASSIGNMENT: Text, Chapters 12-14
QUESTIONS AND CASE PROBLEMS: 12-4; 12-6; 12-8 (text page 352) and 13-7; 13-6 (text
page 386-7) and 14-1; 14-2 (text page 413)
IN-CLASS GROUP PROJECT
LECTURE TOPIC(Saturday): Product Liability, Privacy, and Other Tort Issues
READING ASSIGNMENT: Text, Chapters 9-10
QUESTIONS AND CASE PROBLEMS: 9-1; 9-2; 9-3; 9-4 (text pages266-7) and 10-3; 10-5;
10-7 (Text page287).
Weekend #2: September 12-13(until 12:00 noon), 2003
LECTURE TOPIC (Friday): Intellectual Property
READING ASSIGNMENT: Text Chapter 11
QUESTIONS AND CASE PROBLEMS: 11-1; 11-5; 11-6; 11-7; 11-8 (text pages 314-5)
GROUP PROJECT: IN-CLASS EXERCISE
LECTURE TOPIC(Saturday): Promoting Competition and Investor Protection
READING ASSIGNMENT: Text, Chapter 16; 23-24
QUESTIONS AND CASE PROBLEMS: 16-8; 16-9; 16-10 (text page 488) and 23-2; 23-4;
23-5 (text page 686) and 24-5; 24-6 (text page 712-13)
GROUP PROJECT DUE: WRITTEN
Weekend #3: September 19-20, 2003
LECTURE TOPIC(Friday): Creditors Rights and Bankruptcy
READING ASSIGNMENT: Text, Chapters 15
QUESTIONS AND CASE PROBLEMS: 15-3; 15-4; 15-9 (text page 448-9)
GROUP PROJECT: IN-CLASS EXERCISE
LECTURE TOPIC: Employment and Labor Relations Law
READING ASSIGNMENT: Text, Chapters 17-19
QUESTIONS AND CASE PROBLEMS: 17-5; 17-6; 17-8 (text page 519-20) and 18-2; 18-3;
18-4; 18-9; 18-10 (text page 545-6)
GROUP PROJECT DUE: WRITTEN
LECTURE TOPIC: Land Use and Protection of the Environment
READING ASSIGNMENT: Text, Chapters 21-22
QUESTIONS AND CASES PROBLEMS: 21-3; 21-4; 21-7; 21-9 (text page 628-9) and 22-2;
22-4 (text page 660).
EXAMINATION DUE
 OPTIONAL EXAM ESSAY: September 12, 2003
 EXAMINATION: September 22, 2003