Johns Hopkins University
The Center for Leadership Education
The William P. Carey Program in Entrepreneurship & Management
Business Law I - 660.205
Spring 2009
Course Syllabus
Mondays, 6:15 – 9:00 p.m., Section 04
Meeting Place: Shaffer Hall, Room 100
Instructor:
Pamela S. Jones, J.D.
Email: pams_jones@msn.com
Telephone: (410) 245-8787
Office Hours: Mon. 40 min. prior to class (Rm. 104, Whitehead Hall)
Mon. 20 min. following class (Classroom)
Course Assistant:
Amelia Hritz
Email: ahritz@jhu.edu
Office Hours: TBA
Course Description:
This course is designed to familiarize students with the legal environment of business,
legal issue identification, and methods for the prevention and resolution of legal disputes.
The course will begin with an introduction to the American legal system, examining its
foundations and historical framework. There will be a comprehensive look at the federal
and state court structure with an overview of the procedures involved in a lawsuit and
methods of alternative dispute resolution. Once this foundation is established, our focus
will progress to the study of essential topics in business law, where we will examine torts,
white collar crime, contract formation, contract enforceability, contract interpretation,
and the Uniform Commercial Code.
Required Textbook: Business Law Today: The Essentials, Miller & Jentz, Thomson
West, eighth edition.
General Policies:
• Any special assignments or deviations from the syllabus will be announced in class or
emailed to students; and it is the student’s responsibility to obtain them.
• Students will need to read the assigned readings prior to class and to be prepared to
discuss them.
• Students are expected to actively participate in group exercises during class.
•No “Senior Option” will be offered.
•No extra credit is offered to make up for poor grades.
•Students are expected to show respect for the opinions, efforts and comments of fellow
students.
Attendance:
Attendance to all class sessions is required. In the event of an anticipated absence, you
are expected to confer with the instructor in advance. Unexcused absences will adversely
affect your grade. In the event of any absence, you are expected to obtain class notes and
announcements from your colleagues.
Grading:
Exam 1
Exam 2
Final Exam
Class contribution/participation/assignments
Total
30%
30%
30%
10%
100%
Students are required to take exams at their scheduled times (refer to course schedule).
Conflicts or other issues must be brought to the attention of the instructor prior to the
scheduled test time.
A
B
C
D
F
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
Below 60
Academic Integrity:
The strength of the university depends on academic and personal integrity.
In this course, you must be honest and truthful. Ethical violations
include cheating on exams, plagiarism, reuse of assignments, improper
use of the Internet and electronic devices, unauthorized collaboration,
alteration of graded assignments, forgery and falsification, lying, facilitating
academic dishonesty, and unfair competition.
Report any violations you witness to the instructor. You may consult the
associate dean of student affairs and/or the chairman of the Ethics Board
beforehand. See the guide on “Academic Ethics for Undergraduates” and
the Ethics Board Web site (http://ethics.jhu.edu) for more information.
COLLEGE POLICY REGARDING STUDENT DISABILITIES:
If you have a disability that requires special testing accommodations or other classroom
modifications, please present a letter from Dr. Richard Sanders (Director of Academic
Advising in Arts & Sciences) stating the disability and the exact accommodations
needed. I will do my best to accommodate disabilities.
BUSINESS LAW I
COURSE SCHEDULE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS
Date
Chapter
26-Jan
1
Introduction to Business Law
Historical and Constitutional Foundations
2-Feb
3
Courts and Alternative Dispute Resolution
9-Feb
4
Unintentional Torts
16-Feb
4
Intentional Torts
23-Feb
Topic
EXAM 1
2-Mar
6
Criminal Law
9-Mar
7
Contracts
16-Mar
SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS
23-Mar
8
30-Mar
6-Apr
13-Apr
Contracts
EXAM 2
9
Review 7,8,9
Contracts
Contracts
20-Apr
11
UCC
27-Apr
TBA
Special Topics
11-May (6-9pm)1

FINAL EXAM
This course schedule is a general guide and is subject to change, depending on
progress made in class. Any changes to the assigned readings will be announced in
class.
** Presence for the final exam is required.