Saginaw Valley State University

Law 308

Saginaw Valley State University Fall 2006

Dept. of Law and Finance L&F 308 TR, 5:00-6:50

Instructor: Christopher J. Enge SE 116

Phone: 989-652-6329 (please use only for emergencies, email is preferred)

Website: www.geocities.com/chris_enge (look here for readings and updates)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Law & Finance 308--Social, Political and Legal Environment of Business (4) This course concentrates on the environment in which business actually operates. The course primarily emphasizes the legal environment and the relationship of the law to the competitive economic system. Topics include product liability, contracts, forms of business organization, antitrust, administrative and labor law, recognition of legal issues, and preparation for an attorney and the court system.

Prerequisite: Junior Standing

Text: Mann & Roberts, Business Law and the Regulation of Business, Eighth Edition

Suggested: A good legal dictionary is highly recommended. Barron's and Black's are both good. In addition, http://dictionary.lp.findlaw.com/ is helpful.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE

Upon completion of L&F 308, the student should be able :

1. To present the background and development of the U.S. legal environment;

2. To understand that the law has few fixed absolutes, but rather grows out from the values of a society at a given point in time;

3. To understand that the law attempts to be substantially consistent so that "reasonable" people can plan their affairs;

4. To recognize the technical language, legal tools, and hierarchy of the U.S. court system;

5. To identify the sources of law and some methods of finding the law;

6. To know, understand and describe various legal powers within the U.S. legal system;

7. To identify potential legal issues in everyday occurrences faced by business people;

8. To know how to prepare prior to visiting an attorney for legal advice;

9. To write and speak about legal issues and the legal environment at the collegiate level;

10. To know and understand the basic legal principles as they relate to business.

REQUIREMENTS OF THE COURSE

1. Punctuality and attendance;

2. Recitation;

3. Preparation of all assignments;

4. Quizzes;

5. Mid-term and final

ACTIVITIES FOR THE COURSE

1. Assigned readings;

2. Class recitation of assigned case briefs, odd-numbered problems, response to the instructor's related questions;

3. Quizzes;

4. Examinations;

5. Weekly reading of a business newspaper or magazine (WSJ, IBD, Economist)

6. Periodic review of news articles relating to law and business (students are encouraged to submit articles)

GRADES

Quizzes (12) 60%

Recitation and Participation (2) 5%

Take Home Mid-term 15%

Final 20%

1. Class recitation of the cases and odd numbered problems make up a significant part of the learning process. Class recitation is graded on a scale of one to five. Each student will recite a case at least twice in the semester.

SINCE BEING UNPREPARED WHEN CALLED UPON IS GRADED AS ZERO, THE STUDENT MUST ADVISE THE INSTRUCTOR OF LACK OF PREPARATION. DO NOT MAKE THAT A HABIT. FAKING PREPARATION MAY BE PUNISHED WITH LOSS OF POINTS.

ALSO, TWO UNEXCUSED ABSENCES WILL COUNT AS ZERO. PLEASE NOTIFY THE INSTRUCTOR OF KNOWN ABSENCES IN ADVANCE.

2. Problems will be assigned with the readings.

3. Exams and quizzes will be objective, essay, or a combination.

4. Make up exams will only be allowed for documented medical or compassionate reasons. NOTE: Job responsibilities do not count as "compassionate." Please make appropriate arrangements with your employer, if necessary.

5. Grades will be on a curve. Participation may impact close calls. This means that the instructor will set cutoffs for grades at the end of the semester. Your grade will depend on your performance relative to your classmates. Please see my website for a more detailed explanation.

MISCELLANEOUS

1. Cheating in any form will result in an automatic "F" for the course, and possible university discipline.

2. Please ask permission before taping the class. Generally, the instructor will deny permission unless there is some extremely good reason to allow an exception.

SCHEDULE

DATE	CHAPTERS/TOPIC	QUIZZES AND EXAMS
	LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUISINESS
August 29	1 Introduction, How to read legal cases	Handouts
August 31	2 Business Ethics, Social Responsibility

September 5	No class, Labor Day
September 7	3 Civil Dispute Resolution

September 12	4 Constitutional Law	Quiz 1 (Chap. 1-3)
September 14	5 Administrative Law

	INTENTIONAL WRONGDOING
September 19	6 Criminal Law	Quiz 2 (Chap. 4-5)
September 21	7 Intentional Torts

	TORTS, PRODUCT LIABILITY, PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY
September 26	8 Negligence and Strict Liability	Quiz 3 (6, 7)
September 28	22 Product Liability 44 Accountants’ Legal Liability

	CONTRACTS
October 3	9 Introduction to Contracts	Quiz 4 (Chap. 8, 22, 44)
October 5	10 Offer and Acceptance	Assign Take Home Mid-Term

October 10	12 Consideration	Quiz 5 (Chap. 9, 10)
October 12	13 Illegal Bargains

October 17	15 Statute of Frauds, Contracts in Writing	Quiz 6 (Chap. 12, 13)
October 19	18 Remedies	Mid-Term Due

	LEGAL BUSINESS STRUCTURES
October 24	31 Partnerships	Quiz 7 (Chap. 15,18)
October 26	34 Corporations: Nature, Formation and Powers

	CORPORATE REGULATION
October 31	41 Antitrust	Quiz 8 (Chap. 31, 34)
November 2	42 Securities Regulation

	PROPERTY
November 7	49 Introduction to Property	Quiz 9 (Chap. 41, 42)
November 9	52 Trusts and Wills

	INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
November 14	40 Intellectual Property	Quiz 10 (Chap. 49, 52)
November 16	48 Cyberlaw

	EMPLOYMENT
November 21	40 Employment Law	Quiz 11 (Chap. 40, 48)
November 23 Thanksgiving	No class

November 28	29 Principal and Agent
November 30	47 International Business Law (not employment, but I wanted to stick it in somewhere)

	DEBTOR CREDITOR
December 5	38 Secured Transactions	Quiz 12 (Chap. 40, 29, 47)
December 7	39 Bankruptcy

December 12	Final Exam Week