MASSACHUSETTSSCHOOL OF LAW at ANDOVER
SYLLABUS for Animal Law – Spring2017
Professor Holly Vietzke and Professor Diane Sullivan
Instructor:Professors Vietzke & Sullivan
Email: Phone: 978.681.0800 ext.139
Email:hone: 978.681.0800 ext.120
Text:Animal Law Cases and Materials(Fifth Edition) - Waisman/Frasch/Wagman/
Class Times:Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00am – 12:15 p.m.
PurposeAnimal law is a broad and rapidly expanding field and is an integral part of
& Course social policy and the law. The course provides diverse examples of cases and
Description: circumstances in which the unique aspects of animals and law converge and should stimulate thought about recurrent animal law themes.
GradingStudent Presentations: Worth 10 points
Criteria[1]:Project: Worth 25 points – Animal Law Symposium, Saturday, April 15
Final: Worth 65 points
ASSIGNMENTS DUE FOR EACH CLASS
TopicsPage Numbers
Class 1What is an Animal? Defining “Animal”03-34
01/17
Class 2Property and Beyond: The Evolution of Rights35-63
01/19
Class 3Criminal Law: Historical Perspective; Overview 65-90
01/24of State Anti-Cruelty Statutes; Affirmative Acts
of Cruelty
Class 4 Criminal Law (cont'd): Failure to Act90-110
01/26
Class 5 Criminal Law (cont'd): Hoarding; Animals in Sport &110-136
01/31Entertainment;
Class 6Criminal Law (cont’d): Animal Fighting; Other136-163
02/02Cruelty Issues
Class 7Torts: Theories of Liability; Emotional Distress;165-186
02/07Intentional Torts
Class 8Torts (cont’d): Fourth Amendment Claims; 186-210
02/09Veterinary Malpractice
Class 9Torts(cont'd): Damages & Valuation210-254
02/14
Class 10Torts (cont'd): Competing Interests; Strict Liability &254-284
02/16Negligence
Class 11Constitutional Law: Legal Standing, Justiciability285-309
02/21Other Limiting Doctrines
Class 12 Legal Standing, Justiciability & Other Limiting309-330
02/23Doctrines (cont'd)
Class 13 Due Process – Challenges and Claims; First330-356
02/28Amendment
Class 14Freedom of Speech; Harassment Acts356-376
03/02
Class 15Commercial Uses of Animals: Animals Raised and377-411
03/07Slaughtered for Food
Class 16Commercial Uses of Animals(cont.)411-443
03/09
SPRING BREAK MARCH 13 – MARCH 19
Class 17Commercial Uses (cont'd): Slaughter Laws443-475
03/21
Class 18TheAnimal Welfare Act and Animals in Research475-511
03/23
Class 19Contracts513-539
03/28
Class 20Custody Disputes539-559
03/30
Class 21Wills & Trusts563-604
04/04
Class 22 Selected Federal Statutes605-625
04/06
Class 23National Environmental Policy Act625-656
04/11
No ClassGet ready for Animal Law Day
04/13
Class 24Set up for Animal Law Day
04/14(sign up for time with Professor Vietzke)
Class 25ANIMAL LAW SYMPOSIUM
04/15
No ClassRelax! Thanks for your hard work on Saturday!
04/18
Class 26Selected Federal Statutes; Endangered Species Act656-676
04/20
Class 27Project Presentations
04/25
Class 28Review for Final Exam
04/27
[1] Final course grade may be lowered for excessive absences.