Business Law
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BUSINESS LAW (BUS365)
Syllabus for FALL 2015
Instructor:
Randal Eriksen, JD.
Office:
Thomas Jefferson Hall, Room 203
Phone:
792-2426
E-mail:
rweriksen@lcsc.edu
Office Hours:
Office Hours:
Monday and Wednesday 10:00 – 12:00,
Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 – 9:00, or by appointment
This class will be held Tuesday and Thursday weekly from 9:00 – 10:15
Introduction
Business Law is an introduction to the legal issues in business. The class considers selected
business law issues in a variety of formats. The student will review current news articles
discussing the legal environment of business. The student will submit case briefs and analysis of
problems as assigned. The student will participate in testing in different forms, including, short
answer and essay questions. The student will author a paper on a business law topic of his or her
own choosing.
TEXT: Essentials of Business Law, Mann & Roberts, 12th edition; ISBN# 978-1-305-075436
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have
emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case
the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me.
Grading will be based on the following:
1. A unit test available after each of the five units. The tests may be open book
and will be made up of M/C questions. The questions will ask the student to
analyze the facts and correctly apply the law to the facts and come to a
conclusion, answering the call of the question. The student should understand the
vocabulary presented in each unit. Each unit test will be worth 200 points. Total
points 1000.
2. There will be Daily quizzes each worth 25 points (at my discretion)…
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3. A paper discussing a current legal issue affecting American business. The
paper may be turned in any time after the completion of Unit two and no later
than November 19, 2015. The paper is worth 200 points.
4.
Each student will be expected to write out a will and living will; the
assignment is worth 100 points and more will be explained prior to the due
date (Dec 01).
Instructor Expectations:
This class is a survey of various legal issues in the business environment. The class is not
intended to answer specific legal questions that you may have, but is instead intended to help you
spot legal issues, understand legal analysis and gain an appreciation of the unique American
legal system. The formal objectives of the class are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
To be exposed to the various areas of the law that affect business.
To be able to recognize legal problems.
To understand how the American legal system works.
To improve the ability to think and to analyze problems.
To learn general concepts about the law that every citizen should know.
To understand legal reasoning.
You should analyze each problem for purposes of coming to a conclusion. It is not so
important that you get to what I might think is the right answer, it is more important that you
apply the law to the facts of the problem and in doing so come to a conclusion. I am interested in
your analysis, which is the process of thinking aloud, expressed by your written answer to the
problem assigned to you. This analytical procedure is called IRAC. Spot the Issue, list the Rule
of law ( and the elements) that applies to that issue, give a brief Analysis of the law based upon
the facts of the case (using the elements as support) , and give a Conclusion based upon the
specific facts. Anytime there is binding authority (case law by a higher court that is on point)
make sure that you utilize this to argue your conclusion in the analysis stage. If there is
persuasive authority (case law from same court level and/or from other districts) you can use it to
argue your points as well remembering that the courts do not have to follow that case law.
Arguing both sides is always the best way to gain full points.
Academic Integrity/ Professionalism:
Academic dishonesty of any type will not be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to
plagiarism and copying others responses during exams. No hats or sunglasses will be allowed
during exams. Students are encouraged to participate and have fun in class, but also should
behave in a courteous and professional manner. Please:
- Do not talk (i.e. visit) during class
- Arrive to class on time
- Turn cell phones off
- Do not sleep during class
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Business Law (BUS365)
Paper
Due: November 19, 2015
Subject:
The discussion of an issue relating to Business and the Law.
Suggestions:
The paper is intended to give you an opportunity to explore or develop a topic or area in the legal
environment of business that you find interesting. No particular topic will be assigned to you nor
does the topic have to be one that we cover in class. You can review newspapers or magazines
for potential topics if nothing in your own experience or that we discuss in class appeals to
you. For example, you can write about your own work environment or your family’s business
experiences.
Instructor's Approval:
No advance approval of paper topics is necessary or required. You can discuss proposed topics
after class or by e-mail if you would like some feedback prior to beginning.
Formal Requirements:
Your paper must be without exception typewritten (space and a half, 12 font) and at least six
pages in length. A bibliography is helpful but is not absolutely necessary. However if the ideas
that you express in the paper are not yours, you should give credit where credit is due.
Plagiarism has no place in the study of business law.
Grading Expectations:
Your grade will be awarded based on the following considerations:
1. How well is your topic developed?
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Is the discussion focused on a manageable subject?
Does the paper demonstrate your focus?
2. Did you wrestle with your topic?
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Was there some analytical thought expressed?
Was there an analysis of an issue or a set of facts?
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3. Did you demonstrate an understanding of the legal issue or the business issue?
4. Did you explain what it was you were going to discuss and why?
5. Do you offer a conclusion?
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Does your paper end with a point? (For example, I learned this or I have
this point to make.) Here is a sample of the grade sheet:
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Student:
Assignment: Paper for B-Law
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Meeting Requirements
(number of pages, Spacing,
Citing sources, Etc):
30
Grammar (readable):
40
Legal Topic Fully Covered:
50
Quality of paper
(interesting, and well written):
80
Total Points:
200
Points Possible
Comments:
Earned
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BUSINESS LAW (BUS365) CALENDAR
Fall 2015
Week One:
Overview of Class, Syllabus
Chapter 1 – Introduction to Law and Legal Reasoning
Chapter 2 – Business Ethics
Week Two:
Chapter 3- Civil Dispute Resolution
Chapters 4 – Constitutional Authority to Regulate Business
Week Three:
Test # 1 over Chapters 1-4
Chapter 5 – Administrative Law
Week Four:
Thursday Sept 17 NO CLASS
Chapter 6 – Criminal Law
Week Five:
Chapter 7- Intentional Torts
Chapter 8 – Negligence and Strict Liability
Week Six:
Test # 2 over Chapters 5-8
Chapter 9- Contracts
Week Seven:
Chapter 10 - Mutual Assent
Chapter 11 - Conduct Invalidating Assent
Week Eight:
Chapter 12 – Consideration
Chapter 13 – Illegal Bargains
Week Nine:
Chapter 14 – Contractual Capacity
Chapter 17 – Performance, Breach, and Discharge
Week Ten:
Paper outline due October 29
Chapter 18 – Contract Remedies
Test # 3 over Chapters 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18
Week Eleven:
Chapter 30 – Formation and Dissolution of General
Chapter 31 - Operation of General Partnerships
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Week Twelve:
Chapter 32 – Limited Partnerships and LLC
Chapter 41 – Employer Law
Week Thirteen:
Paper Due November 19th
Chapter 44 – Consumer Protection
Test #4 over Chapters 31, 32, 33, 42, 45
Week Fourteen:
Thanksgiving Break
Week Fifteen:
Will Assignment Due December 01
Chapter 47 – Intro to Property
Chapter 48 – Interests in Real Property
Week Sixteen:
Chapter 49 – Transfer and Control in Real Property
Chapter 50 - Wills and Trusts
FINAL Wednesday December 17th
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Syllabus Addendum
Consumer Information
In 2008, the federal government required all post-secondary institutions offering federal financial aid programs to
provide key data to both prospective and current students. To comply with this requirement, Lewis-Clark State
College has developed a consumer information page, which may be accessed at http://www.lcsc.edu/studentconsumer-information/
Disability Accommodations
Students requiring special accommodations or course adaptations due to a disability and/or a health-related issue
should consult their course instructors and the LCSC Student Counseling Center immediately (RCH 111, 792-2211).
Official documentation may be required in order to provide an accommodation and/or adaptation.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Students have the responsibility for knowing their program requirements, course requirements, and other
information associated with their enrollment at LCSC. Students should review the LCSC General Catalog
(http://webdev.lcsc.edu/catalog and the LCSC Student Handbook (http://www.lcsc.edu/media/1152314/13-14Student-Handbook-Revised.pdf) for more information.
Accidents/Student Insurance
Students participating in LCSC classes normally must look to their personal health insurance policy (Student Health
Insurance Plan or comparable private coverage) should an accident occur. In the event of an accident, please seek
medical help, if necessary, and report the incident to LCSC Security (792-2226). Fieldtrips or other special student
activities may also require students to submit a signed participation waiver (forms can be obtained from the
supporting Division Office).
Enrollment Verification/Attendance
Students who are not actively pursuing their classes may have to repay part or all of their financial aid awards
depending upon the circumstances.
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty, which includes cheating and plagiarism, is not tolerated at LCSC. Individual faculty members
will impose their own policies and sanctions regarding academic dishonesty. Students who are accused of being
academically dishonest may be referred to the VP for Student Affairs for official disciplinary action.
Illegal File Sharing
Students using LCSC’s computers and/or computer network must comply with the college’s appropriate use policies
and are prohibited from illegally downloading or sharing data files of any kind. Specific information about the
college’s technology policies and its protocols for combating illegal file sharing may be found on the VP for Student
Affairs’ web page (http://www.lcsc.edu/student-affairs/student-code-of-conduct/ ).
Diversity Vision Statement
Regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation, you will
be treated and respected as a human being.
Disclosures
During this course, if you elect to discuss information with me which you consider to be sensitive or personal in
nature and not to be shared with others, please state this clearly. Your confidentiality in these circumstances will be
respected unless upholding that confidentiality could reasonably put you, other students, other members of the
campus community, or me in danger. In those cases or when I am bound by law to report what you have told me,
such as incidents involving sexual assault or other violent acts, I will submit a report to appropriate campus
authorities.
Updated January 2014
Business Law
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Component
Hours
A.
Accounting (ACT)
1
B.
Marketing (MKT)
1
C.
Finance (FIN)
3
D.
Management
1.
Management Principles (MGT)
4
2.
Organizational Behavior (OB)
2
3.
Human Resource Management (HRM)
4
4.
Operations Management (OM)
1
Total Management
E.
Economic/Social/Legal Environment
1.
Legal Environment of Business (LAW)
2.
Economics (ECN)
0
3.
Business Ethics (ETH)
2
Total Economic/Social/Legal Environment
F.
11
26
28
Decision-Support Tools
1.
Information Systems (IS)
0
2.
Quantitative Methods/Statistics (QM)
0
Total Decision-Support Tools
0
G.
Global Dimensions of Business (GLOB)
1
H.
Integrative Experience (INT)
0
Total Contact Hours
45