Course Syllabus

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SANTA ROSA JUNIOR COLLEGE

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT

THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS

BAD 18/Fall 2017

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 (Please reserve time in advance)

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:

Student Learning Outcomes:

1.  Analyze case law and statutory precedent to identify the necessary correlation between given fact patterns and causes of action within the federal, state, and international legal systems.
2.  Determine effects of precedent, documentation, and standards of proof and distinguish between tort and contractual causes of action and their judicial processes.
3. Analyze business operations and the influences and restrictions applicable to the operations.

Objectives:

1) Compare and contrast the federal, state, and international legal systems.
2) Summarize the legal principles of common law and statutory law applicable to a working understanding of administrative, civil, and criminal law.
3) Distinguish the primary legal causes of action that affect the business environment including administrative, tort, contract, constitutional, and criminal law.
4) Assess the environment for business in employment law, securities law, anti-trust law, consumer protection and environmental protection.
5) Understand obligations imposed on businesses.

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:

  1. Reading Assignment – to read and understand before coming to class.
  2. Problem Solving Assignments - six (6) open book true/false questions
  3. Self-Study Book Research Assignment – open book research project consisting of 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.
  4. 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 (Test One (1) will have 45 multiple choice questions worth one point each.  Question 46 is an oral presentation question worth 5 points, for a total of 50 points.  Tests Two and Three, the final exam, will have 50 multiple choice questions worth one point each.)
  • Problem Solving Assignments (Open Book 25 True/False Questions): (6 x 25 points each) = 150
  • Self-Study Book Research Assignment or Courtroom Analysis Paper: (1 x 270 points each) 270
  • Oral Presentation: = 5 points (Graded as question 46 of Test One (1))
  • Participation: 30 points.

Total Points 600

LATE ASSIGNMENT POLICY

Upon request and approval from instructor, assignments may be turned in late with a one-grade penalty for each day late. They will not be accepted after the fourth day they are due.

LETTER GRADE CRITERIA:

540-600 = A

480-539 = B

420-479 = C

330-419 = D

0 – 329 = F

 

COURSE AGENDA

Class Assignments

August 21, 2017: Chapter One: The Legal Environment (pages 2-31) and Chapter Two: Constitutional Law (pages 32 – 56);

 

August 28, 2017: Chapter Three - Courts and Alternative Dispute Resolution (pages 57 – 89); Chapter Four - Torts and Cyber Torts (pages 90 – 118); Chapters 1-2 Review Quiz

 

September 11, 2017: Chapter Five - Intellectual Property (pages 119 – 144); Chapter Six - Criminal Law (pages 145 – 171)

 

September 18, 2017: Chapter Seven – Cyber Crime (pages 172 - 192); Chapter Eight – Ethics and Business Decision Making (pages 193 – 213); Chapters 3-6 Review Quiz

 

September 25, 2017: Chapter Nine - Nature & Classification (pages 218 - 235); Chapter 10 - Agreement in Traditional and E-Contracts (Pages 236 - 261); Chapters 7-10 Review Quiz

 

October 2, 2017: Chapter Eleven – Consideration, Capacity, and Legality (pages 262-286); Chapter Twelve – Defenses to Contract Enforceability (pages 287-310); Test # 1 (Chapters 1-10)

 

October 9, 2017: Chapter Thirteen – Third Party Rights & Discharge (pages 311-336); Chapter Fourteen – Breach & Remedies (pages 337-358); Chapters 11-14 Review Quiz

 

October 16, 2017: Chapter Fifteen -Formation of Sales and Lease Contracts – (page 360-390); Chapter Sixteen Performance and Breach of Sales and Lease Contracts (page 390-414)

 

October 23, 2017: Chapter Nineteen – Checks and Banking in the Digital Age (pages 471-496); Chapter Twenty – Security Interest in Personal Property (pages 497-519); Chapters 15-16 & 19-20 Review Quiz

 

October 30, 2017: Chapter Twenty-One – Creditors’ Rights and Bankruptcy – (pages 520-553); Chapter Twenty-Three Agency Relationships in Business - (pages 580-605);

 

November 6, 2017: Chapter Twenty-Four – Employment, Immigration, and Labor Law (pages 606-637); Chapter Twenty-Five – Employment Discrimination (page 638-666); Chapters 21 & 23-25 Review Quiz

 

November 13, 2017: Test # 2 (Chapters 11-16, 19-21 and 23-25); Chapter Twenty-Six – Sole Proprietorships and Private Franchises (page 668-682); Chapter Twenty-Seven – All Forms of Partnerships (pages 683-705);

 

November 27, 2017: Chapter Twenty-Eight Limited Liability Companies and Special Business Forms; Chapter Twenty-Nine – Corporate Formation, Merger, and Termination (pages 722-752);

 

December 4, 2017: Chapter Thirty-Five – Personal Property & Bailments (pages 884--923). Chapter Thirty-Six – Real Property and Landlord-Tenant Law (pages 905-923); Courtroom Paper or Self Study

 

December 15, 2017: Final Exam (Chapters 1-16; 19-21; 23-29; and 35-36)

Course Summary:

Date Details Due