BUSINESS LAW (BUS 365) Syllabus for Fall 2017 Introduction Business Law is an introduction to the legal issues in business. The class considers selected business law issues in a variety of formats. The student will be asked to participate in live chat room discussions on particular cases or problems. The student will review current news articles discussing the legal environment of business. The student will submit case briefs and analysis of problems as assigned. The student will participate in testing in different forms, including multiple choice, short answer and essay questions. The student will author a paper on a business law topic of his or her own choosing. The prerequisites for this course are English 102 and preferably junior standing. Because this is an online course you will need to have access to basic word processing software and be able to copy and paste text and save files as PDFs. Additionally you must have access to an internet signal to get into Blackboard. ESSENTIALS OF BUSINESS LAW, AND THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT; MANN & ROBERTS, ISBN#978-1-305-07543-6 will be purchased by the student. Specific chapters will be assigned from the textbook. In each chapter the student will perform various assignments to determine if the material is being understood. The class will move from the introductory chapters (1-8) into the specific topics. The class will be presented in sections, which will be open for a particular period of time, and all of the assignments will be completed within that time frame. The individual chapter assignments will include a review of vocabulary (quizzes) and answering discussion questions. The introductory unit is a very general but a critical survey of the legal process and system. After the introductory Legal Environment of Business Unit is completed, the class will move on Unit 2, Contracts, The study of contracts is very broad, generalized and calculated to expose the student to the formation, interpretation and enforceability of contract issues. Unit 3 will consist of a study of the various forms of conducting business, sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies and decision making issues. Unit four will cover basic employment law, and property issues. About the Instructor My name is Randy Eriksen, I am a professor at LCSC and I currently teach business law live and online, and Tax Law. I am a graduate of the U of Idaho College of Law and have a BS in Business Administration, Accounting Emphasis from LCSC. I have worked for local accounting firms, and for local law firms. I am very good at getting back to students within a small period of time. Additionally you can come by my office at LC in the Thomas Jefferson Hall (Room 203) or call me at 208-792-2426. My e-mail address is rweriksen@lcsc.edu. The best way to reach me is to e-mail me via the Blackboard program.
This course is still in development. There may be changes as we go along. Your comments, suggestions, and positive criticisms will be appreciated. Grading will be based on the following: 1. A unit test available after each of the four units. The tests are open book and will be proctored. They will consist of 50 multiple choice questions and will cover the information covered in the chapters. Each unit test will be worth 200 points; (I will drop the lowest score and three scores will be counted for final grading), total points 600. The test will be made available for five days and require the student to find a proctor site that is approved of through distance learning. a. Proctored Exam Information: i. Proctored exams are given on the LCSC Camus in the Testing Center located in the Library Room 161. Appointments must be made 24hrs in advance. Appointments can be made by calling the Testing Center at 208-792-2100, emailing at testing@lcsc.edu or by filling out the Appointment Request Form Hours are Monday - Friday 7:30am to 6pm. ii. There are also several pre-approved Outreach Centers students can make appointments at for their tests. iii. If a student cannot come to the LCSC Campus or go to an approved Outreach Center they need to find an approved proctor based on the qualifications list on the Testing Center. Once a proctor with approved qualifications has been found the student must fill out the Proctor Request Form a minimum of 1 week before the test opens to ensure adequate time to process the request in case there is any issues with the request. 2. There will be a quiz after every chapter; the quizzes are meant as a self-study and will not count toward your final grade. 3. A paper discussing a current legal issue affecting American business. The paper may be turned in any time after the completion of Unit three and no later than November 20, 2016. The paper is worth 200 points. 4. I will assign questions for discussion based on each chapters reading; these discussions will take place in the discussion module and each student is expected to make at least 2 postings (one answering the question posed and one replying to another student s response) for each chapter. The postings will help generate a better understanding of the legal issues presented in the question. The discussion posting are worth 20 points per week; for maximum points postings should be at least 50 words in length. Remember that all students need to be respectful of other s statements. Use proper grammar and punctuation. I strongly suggest drafting your postings in Word and saving a copy to the computer and then copy/paste into Blackboard. As you know this course is an online course and you will be expected to use Blackboard s technology to complete this course. You will find all the information for assignments discussion postings etc through the Course Content page. For more information on using these Blackboard tools go to the Blackboard Orientation link in the course menu.
Instructor expectations This class is a survey of various legal issues in the business environment. The class is not intended to answer specific legal question that you may have, but is instead intended to help you spot legal issues, understand legal analysis and gain an appreciation of the unique American legal system. The formal objectives of the class are: 1. To be exposed to the various areas of the law that affect business. 2. To be able to recognize legal problems. 3. To understand how the American legal system works. 4. To improve the ability to think and to analyze problems. 5. To learn general concepts about the law that every citizen should know. 6. To understand legal reasoning. You should analyze each problem for purposes of coming to a conclusion. For discussion postings is not so important that you get to what I might think is the right answer, it is more important that you apply the law to the facts of the problem and in doing so come to a conclusion. I am interested in your analysis, which is the process of thinking aloud, expressed by your written answer to the problem assigned to you. This analytical procedure is called IRAC. Spot the Issue, list the Rule of law (and the elements) that applies to that issue, give a brief Analysis of the law based upon the facts of the case (using the elements as support), and give a Conclusion based upon the specific facts. Anytime there is binding authority (case law by a higher court that is on point) make sure that you utilize this to argue your conclusion in the analysis stage. If there is persuasive authority (case law from same court level and/or from other districts) you can use it to argue your points as well remembering that the courts do not have to follow that case law. Arguing both sides is always the best way to gain full points. Academic Integrity/ Professionalism: Academic dishonesty of any type will not be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to plagiarism and copying others responses during exams. It is anticipated that each chapter assigned will be read in a timely fashion and the student will have wrestled with whatever issues may be presented by the assigned readings. Ordinarily in the classroom, you all would participate in discussions of the cases or problems assigned in the text. In this context you will discuss the problems or cases by posting your presentation of the problem assigned for each chapter on a weekly basis. Remember that all students need to be respectful of other s statements. Use proper grammar and punctuation. I strongly suggest drafting your postings in Word and saving a copy to the computer and then copy/paste into Blackboard.
Business Law (BUS 365) Paper Due: NOV 19th Subject: The discussion of an issue relating to Business and the Law. Suggestions: The paper is intended to give you an opportunity to explore or develop a topic or area in the legal environment of business that you find interesting. No particular topic will be assigned to you nor does the topic have to be one that we cover in class. You can review newspapers or magazines for potential topics if nothing in your own experience or that we discuss in class appeals to you. For example, you can write about your own work environment or your family s business experiences BUT make sure you cover the LEGAL issues and not only the social or personal. Instructor's Approval: No advance approval of paper topics is necessary or required. You can discuss proposed topics after class or by e-mail if you would like some feedback prior to beginning. Formal Requirements: Your paper must be without exception typewritten and at least six pages in length (Space and a Half). A bibliography is helpful but is not absolutely necessary. However if the ideas that you express in the paper are not yours, you should give credit where credit is due. Plagiarism has no place in the study of business law. Grading Expectations: Your grade will be awarded based on the following considerations: 1. How well is your topic developed? a. Is the discussion focused on a manageable subject? b. Does the paper demonstrate your focus? 2. Did you wrestle with your topic? c. Was there some analytical thought expressed? d. Was there an analysis of an issue or a set of facts? 3. Did you demonstrate an understanding of the legal issue or the business issue? 4. Did you explain what it was you were going to discuss and why? 5. Do you offer a conclusion? e. Does your paper end with a point? (For example, I learned this or I have this point to make.)
Sample of grade sheet for Business Law Paper Criterion Points Possible Points Earned Meeting Requirements (number 30 of pages, spacing, citing sources, etc.) Grammar 40 Legal Topic Fully Covered 50 Quality of paper (interesting, 80 well written) Total Points: 200 Comments: CALENDAR (Fall 2017) Section One: Week One Chapter 1 Introduction to Law and Legal Reasoning o Take Quiz for chapter 1 o Discussion Question Introduce yourself give some things looking to get out of class DUE Aug 27 Chapter 2 Business Ethics o Discussion Question CH 02, DUE August 27 o Take Quiz for chapter 2 Week Two Chapter 3- Civil Dispute Resolution o Discussion Question CH 03, DUE Sept 3 o Take Quiz for chapter 3 Chapters 4 Constitutional Authority to Regulate Business o Discussion Question CH 04,DUE Sept 3 o Take Quiz for chapter 4 Week Three Chapter 5 Administrative Law o Discussion Question CH 05, DUE Sept 10 o Take Quiz for chapter 5 Chapter 6 Criminal Law o Discussion Question CH 06, DUE Sept 10 o Take Quiz for chapter 6
Week Four Chapter 7- Intentional Torts o Discussion Question CH 07, DUE Sept 17 o Take Quiz for chapter 7 Chapter 8 Negligence and Strict Liability o Discussion Question CH 08, DUE Sept 17 o Take Quiz for chapter 8 1st Exam Available September 13th through 19th Section Two: Contracts Week Five Chapter 9- Contracts o Discussion Question CH 09,DUE Sept 24 o Take Quiz for chapter 9 Chapter 10 - Mutual Assent o Discussion Question CH 10, DUE Sept 24 o Take Quiz for chapter 10 Week Six Chapter 11 - Conduct Invalidating Assent o Discussion Question CH 11, DUE Oct 01 o Take Quiz for chapter 11 Chapter 12 - Consideration o Discussion Question CH 12, DUE Oct 01 o Take Quiz for chapter 12 Week Seven Chapter 13 Illegal Bargains o Discussion Question CH 13, DUE Oct 8 o Take Quiz for chapter 13 Chapter 14 Contractual Capacity o Discussion Question CH 14, DUE Oct 8 o Take Quiz for chapter 14
Week Eight Chapter 17 Performance, Breach, and Discharge o Discussion Question CH 17, DUE Oct 15 o Take Quiz for chapter 17 Chapter 18 Contract Remedies o Discussion Question CH 18, DUE Oct 15 o Take Quiz for chapter 18 2nd Exam Available October 11th through 17th Section Three: Sales Week Nine Chapter 19 Introduction to Sales o Discussion Question CH 19, DUE Oct 22 o Take Quiz for chapter 19 Chapter 20 Performance o Discussion Question CH 20, DUE Oct 22 o Take Quiz for chapter 20 Week Ten Chapter 21 Transfer of Title o Discussion Question CH 21, DUE Oct 29 o Take Quiz for chapter 21 Chapter 22 Product Liability o Discussion Question CH 22, DUE Oct 29 o Take Quiz for chapter 22 Week Eleven Chapter 24 Form and Content o Discussion CH 24, DUE Nov 5 o Take Quiz for chapter 24 Chapter 25 Transfer and Holder in Due Course o Discussion CH 25, DUE Nov 5 o Take Quiz for chapter 25 3rd Exam Available November 1st 7th
Section Four: Week Twelve Chapter 41 Employment Law o Discussion Question 21, page 833 DUE Nov 12 o Take Quiz for chapter 41 Chapter 44 Consumer Protection o Discussion Question 19, page 884 DUE Nov 12 o Take Quiz for chapter 44 Week Thirteen Chapter 45 Environment Law o Discussion Question 8, page 904 DUE Nov 19 o Take Quiz for chapter 45 o **Paper Due NOV 19 Chapter 47 Introduction to Property o Discussion Question 29, page 948 DUE Nov 19 o Take Quiz for chapter 48 o **Paper Due NOV 19 Week Fourteen: THANKSGIVING BREAK Week Fifteen Chapter 48 Interests in Real Property o Discussion Question 15, page 967 DUE Dec 03 o Take Quiz for chapter 48 Chapter 49 Transfer and Control of Real Property o Discussion Question 15, page 982 DUE Dec 03 o Take Quiz for chapter 49 FINAL Dec 6th 12th