Business Law Course Outline, Spring 2008 (Bus 110 Section 4)

Business Law Course Outline, Spring 2008 (Bus 110 section 4)

Section Four: M 9:00 a.m. – 11:45a.m.

Class Meets: BellTower2568

SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND HOMEWORK

Date / Day / class # /

Topic

/ Homework Due
1/28 / M / 1 / Syllabus Exercise
Issue Spotting Exercise
(Topic: Employee Drug-Testing) /

N/A

2/4 / M / 2 / Judicial Power
Over Individuals & Businesses /

BB Assignment #1B

(Post Drug-Testing Webography)

Read Ch. 1 pp. 6-8, 20-22;30

Read Ch.3

Turn In Case 3.1 Q’s
Ethics and Alternatives to Litigation
Litigation FlowchartExercise /

Read Ch.2, pp. 37-53

Read Ch. 4, pp. 124-134, 141,

144-145, 148. Exhibits 4.4, 4.9

Turn In Case 4.2 Q’s
2/11 / M / 3 / Constitutional Law
Separation of Powers, Commerce Clause /

Read Ch.5 up to p. 170

BB Assignment #5A
(Read U.S. Constitution)
Turn InBB Assignment #5B
(Fill-In Blank Exercise)
Constitutional Law
First Amendment, Commercial “Speech”
Due Process Concerns /

Read Ch.5 pp. 173-193

Turn inCase 5.5 Q’s

Turn inBlackboard Assignment #5C(Brief “Bong Hits for Jesus Case:Morse v. Frederick)

Blackboard Assignment #5D

(play game, post score)

2/18 / M / 4 / Torts & Strict Liability:
Defamation
Commercial Appropriation /

Read Ch.10

Turn in Case10.4 Q’s
Read Blackboard Assignment #10A
(AB 698 – Veggie Libel Bill)
Read Blackboard Assignment #10B(“Schwarzenegger Sues Over Bobble-Headed Dolls”)
CyberlawTorts /

ReadChap. 8 (skip pp. 287-290)

Turn in Case 8.2, 8.6 Q’s
2/25 / M / 5 / Quiz on Intellectual Property:
A. Copyright
B. Trademark
C. Patent
D. Trade Secret /

ReadCh.16 pp.618 – 645

Read Appendix I: (Copyright)
Turn in Case 16.1 and 16.2 Q’s
Study for Quiz
Intellectual Property
Defenses to Infringement Lawsuits / Turn in Blackboard Assignment #6:
(Brief “Barbie Girl” case:
Mattel Inc. v. MCA Records)
3/3 / M / 6 / Intellectual Property – New Media
Review / Turn in Ch. 1, Case 1.1 Qs, 1.2 Qs;
Read Ch. 8, pp. 287-290
Read Blackboard Assignment #8 (YouTube)
3/10 / M / 7 / TEST I
3/24 / M / 8 /

Contracts: OverviewSales Ks and the UCC

/ Read Ch.13pp. 496-523
Read Appendix G
Turn in Case 13.2Q’s
M / 9 / Contracts: What is an “Agreement”?
“Shrink-” and “Click-” Wrap Licenses / Read Ch.13pp. 523-540
Turn in Case 13.3, 13.5, 13.6 Qs
Contracts: Defenses / Read Ch.14
Turn in Case 14.2, 14.3 Qs
4/7 / M / 10 / Employment Law: Agency
Advanced Health Care Directive
Introduction to Group Presentation / Read Ch. 18, pp. 700-720
Turn in Case 18.3, 18.4 Q’s.
Agency, cont. / Read Ch. 18, pp. 720-end
Turn in Case 18.5, 18.6, 18.7 Q’s
4/14 /

M

/ 11 / Employment Law: Employee Rights
Who Must Be Paid Overtime? / Read Blackboard Assignment #19
Read Ch. 19, pp. 785
Turn in Case 19.3 Q’s
Employment Law: Discriminatory Acts
Sexual Harassment / Read Ch. 20 pp. 786-808
Case 20.1, 20.2, 20.3 Q’s
Read Blackboard Assignment #20A
4/21 / M / 12 / Discriminatory Acts continued
Religious and Disability Discrimination / Read Ch. 20 p. 809-837
Case 20.4, 20.8 Q’s
Read Blackboard Assignment #20B

Forms of Doing Business: Sole Proprietorship and Partnerships

/ Read Ch. 21 pp. 840-854
Case 21.2 Q’s,
Exhibit 21.1 p. 842
4/28 / M / 13 / Doing Business while Limiting Liability:
Corporations / Read Ch. 21 pp. 855 - end
Environmental Regulation / Read Ch. 12
BB Assignment #12
(
5/5 / M / 14 / Group Presentations & Peer Review Evaluation
5/12 / M / 15 / FINAL

Class Preparation: Plan for two to three hours of homework before each class meeting.

1 hour reading and rereading assigned chapter – be sure you understand all vocabulary (you will be quizzed)

1-2 hours briefing assigned cases, preparing Case Questions, and/or completing Blackboard assignments.

Business Law Course Outline, Spring 2008 (Bus 110 section 4)

OVERVIEW OF COURSE AND COURSE EXPECTATIONS

Course Materials:

Textbook (required): Jennings(2006) Business: Its Legal, Ethical and Global Environment,Sixth Edition. There are two copies on reserve.

Blackboard (required): Assignments, group project and other course information are published on Blackboard.

Daily Newspaper(recommended): Participation credit will be given to students who come prepared to discuss newsworthy items related to businesslawissues. The instructor would prefer that the students read a major newspaper such as the New York Times or the LA Times – subscriptions are available to students at discounted rates.

Course Description:

This hands-on course provides an introduction to the legal and regulatory environment of business. Students can expect to develop their critical thinking skills while learning about their own and their employer’s legal rights and responsibilities.

Course Format:

This is not a lecture-based class, and requires substantial student preparation and participation, both in class and on Blackboard. Students will discuss their responses to assigned work and apply what they have learned to hypothetical and real situations. There will be two tests. Students will be responsible for checking Blackboard each week for announcements, changes, clarifications and assignments, and for turning in homework by e-mail or in person by the date due. Assigned readings and homework are weighted towards the beginning of the semester, and the second half of the semester will generally focus on group presentations.

Attendance and Class Participation:

The best way to learn and to apply the law is to talk about it. All students are expected to attend class, arrive on time, and be prepared toparticipate in discussions in class and on Blackboard. Each student is allowed three absences. After the third absence, the student will forfeit participation points. Students who consistently fail to participate in discussion or otherwise fail to demonstrate adequate preparation for class will also forfeit participation points.

Student Learning Outcomes/Course Objective:

The course objective is to provide student with practical knowledge of legal principles and issues that arise in business. Businessesare subject to employment and contract disputes, negligence claims, regulatory compliance, and other legal issues, yet many business owners and managersare ill-equipped to identify legal risks before they arise. Without legal sophistication, business cannot strategize to prevent problems from occurring or, at least, from spiraling out of control. While litigation is an inevitable cost of doing business, it is controllable. Students will develop the ability to spot potential legal problems and manage risks,enhancingtheir marketabilityto the businesses that employ them, and their effectiveness as entrepreneurs.

At the completion of this course, students will be able to:

describe the major components of the United States legal system;
write analyses of cases related to business organizations and their legal environments;
research and present oral and written analyses of how laws and regulations impact business organizations;
identify, analyze, and suggest solutions for businesses to address their legal challenges.

Method of Student Evaluation:

Tests ...... 40%

Homework, Blackboard Assignments, Briefs & Quizzes………………………….....20%

Group Project...... 30%

Participation (Class and Blackboard Participation, Attendance)...... 10%

Major Assignments:

03/10Test I

05/05Group Presentations

05/12Test II - Final – not cumulative

Cut-Offs for Final Grade

90-100% = A

80-89% = B

70-79% = C

60-69% = D

60% = F

The “+” and “-“system will be used for grading; e.g. B- = 80-83%, B = 84-86%, B+ = 87-89%. The instructor reserves the right to change the method for determining course evaluation at any time.

Exams:

Students will take two multiple choicetests, including a final, based on lecture, readings, assignments and any topics discussed during class. Exam formats will be determined by the subject material and will be discussed by the instructor in class. NO MAKE-UP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN!

Written Assignments:

Studentswill complete quizzes (generally 1 point), written responses to chapter case questions (generally1 point) and Blackboard assignments (generally 5-10 points). Assignments must be submitted in person or by e-mail no later than class time on the due date of the assignment. Students who do not turn in their written assignment on time will not receive credit for that assignment.

Group Projects:

Each student will participate in a group project. The group projects will be evaluated as follows:

25% = class evaluation of presentation effectiveness;

25% = instructor evaluation of hand out;

25% = group member’s own analysis of group process and of his or her personal contribution to the group; and

25% = peer review by group members of other group member’s contribution to the group.

Students are expected to participate in Group Projects through Blackboard and in-person team meetings.

Disabilities Accommodations:

Students with Disabilities needing accommodations, please make requests to:

Disability Accommodation Services

Phone: 805-437-8510 (V/TTY); Fax: (805) 437-8529

Office: Bell Tower Room 1769

Email:

Please discuss any approved accommodations with the professor as soon as possible.

Cheating, Plagiarism and Other Forms of Academic Dishonesty:

CSUCI characterizes its graduatesas creative in developing imaginative self-expression and independent thinking, and dedicated to maintaining principles of intellectual honesty. Academic dishonesty is incompatible with these characteristics. Accordingly, you are expected to turn in your own work, and you will be subject to sanctions if you cheat or assist others in cheating. If a student is suspectedof submitting work containing word-for-word language from websites, other students, etc., OR if a student is suspectedof assisting another student in cheating or copying, the student will be reported to CSUCI’s Judicial Affairs for adjudication and possible sanctions, including a failing course grade.

Blackboard Basics:

Go to and click on the Blackboard link.