Course Syllabus
SANTA ROSA JUNIOR COLLEGE
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT
THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS
BAD 18/Spring 2016
Instructor: James V. Sansone, J.D.
Phone #: (707) 542-5611
E-mail Address: Main: jsansone@santarosa.edu
Fax #: (707) 542-5655
Office Hours: Tuesdays 5:30 PM-6:30 PM, RM 2818
Class Location: ON LINE
Day/Time: ON LINE
Course Description:
This course provides a survey of a number of areas of law affecting the conduct of business today. An extensive analysis of the law of contracts will be emphasized due to its importance in the conduct of business. The course will provide the student a practical understanding of how the law operates and the legal rights and responsibilities of parties involved in a transaction. The instructor will supplement the traditional teaching method with class discussions, issue spotting exercises, case briefing, and critique and discussion of actual cases utilizing the “Socratic method”
Particular attention will be given to the effect of landmark cases, and recent court decisions having a significant impact on the legal issues of the day.
Topics include: (a) the foundations of American law; (b) business ethics and social responsibilities (c) overview of courts and procedures; (d) torts, criminal law and cyberlaw (e) essentials of contract, negotiable instruments and agency law (f) debtor-creditor relationships (g) forms of business organizations (h) labor and employment law and (I) employment discrimination.
Course Objectives:
At the completion of this course, students should be able to:
- Understand the American legal system and legal issues commonly experienced by people in business.
- Analyze legal concepts and apply them to circumstances that arise in business.
- Identify and articulate ethical issues arising in the context of law and of business.
- Evaluate legal risks in the realms of tort, contract debtor-creditor relationship business organization, and agency law.
Required Text:
“Business Law Today – Standard Edition”, 9th Edition, Thomson – West, Miller – Jentz. ISBN: 978-0-324-78652-1 – Hard Cover.
Class Preparation:
Class preparation will consists of one or all of the following assignments:
- Reading Assignment – to read and understand before coming to class.
- Weekly Review Quizzes - six (6) open book true/false questions
- Self-Study Book Research Assignment – open book research project consisting of 150 multiple choice questions from Chapters 17-18, 22, 28, & 30-34. Go at your own pace OR Courtroom Experience Essay - Each student participates in two criminal courtroom visits of at least one hour in duration per visit. The paper should describe and compare the courtroom experiences and how these experiences were similar to or differed from classroom discussions, the course textbook and popular media portrayals. The paper should be typewritten, double-spaced, and at least 4 pages in length.
- Exams - three (3) closed book exams consisting of 50 multiple choice questions
Students are encouraged to attend all class meetings and to participate in class activities and read all assigned chapters, articles, supplements and handout materials before class.
Basis for Final Grade:
- Examinations: (3 x 50 points each) = 150
- Quizzes: (6 x 25 points each) = 150
- Self-Study Book Research Assignment or Courtroom Analysis Paper: (1 x 300 points each) 300
Total Points 600
LETTER GRADE CRITERIA:
540-600 = A
480-539 = B
420-479 = C
330-419 = D
0 – 329 = F
COURSE AGENDA
Class Assignments
September 7, 2016 Chapter One: The Legal Environment (pages 2-31) and Chapter Two: Constitutional Law (pages 32 – 56)
September 14, 2016 Chapter Three - Courts and Alternative Dispute Resolution (pages 57 – 89); Chapter Four - Torts and Cyber Torts (pages 90 – 118)
September 21, 2016 Chapter Five - Intellectual Property (pages 119 – 144); Chapter Six - Criminal Law (pages 145 – 171)
September 28, 2016 Chapter Seven – Cyber Crime (pages 172 - 192); Chapter Eight – Ethics and Business Decision Making (pages 193 – 213)
October 5, 2016 Chapter Nine - Nature & Classification (pages 218 - 235); Chapter Ten - Agreement in Traditional and E-Contracts (Pages 236 - 261)
October 12, 2016 Midterm # 1 (Chapters 1-10)
October 19, 2016 Chapter Eleven – Consideration, Capacity, and Legality (pages 262-286); Chapter Twelve – Defenses to Contract Enforceability (pages 287-310)
October 26, 2016 Chapter Thirteen – Third Party Rights & Discharge (pages 311-336); Chapter Fourteen – Breach & Remedies (pages 337-358)
November 2, 2016 Chapter Fifteen -Formation of Sales and Lease Contracts – (page 360-390); Chapter Sixteen Performance and Breach of Sales and Lease Contracts (page 390-414)
November 9, 2016 Chapter Nineteen – Checks and Banking in the Digital Age (pages 471-496); Chapter Twenty – Security Interest in Personal Property (pages 497-519)
November 16, 2016 Chapter Twenty-One – Creditors’ Rights and Bankruptcy – (pages 520-553); Chapter Twenty-Three Agency Relationships in Business - (pages 580-605)
November 23, 2016 Chapter Twenty-Four – Employment, Immigration, and Labor Law (pages 606-637); Chapter Twenty-Five – Employment Discrimination (page 638-666)
November 30, 2016 Midterm # 2 (Chapters 11-16, 19-21 and 23-25)
December 7, 2016 Chapter Twenty-Six – Sole Proprietorships and Private Franchises (page 668-682); Chapter Twenty-Seven – All Forms of Partnerships (pages 683-705); Chapter 28 Limited Liability Companies and Special Business Forms; Chapter Twenty-Nine – Corporate Formation, Merger, and Termination Chapter Twenty-Nine – Corporate Formation, Merger, and Termination (pages 722-752)
December 14, 2016 Chapter Thirty-Five – Personal Property & Bailments (pages 884--923). Chapter Thirty-Six – Real Property and Landlord-Tenant Law (pages 905-923)
December 18, 2016 Final Exam (Chapters 1-16; 19-21; 23-29; and 35-36)
Course Summary:
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