COURSE SYLLABUS - LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS

Fall, 2008 - MN-461 Sec 51

8:00 - 9:15 am Tuesdays and Thursdays

Telephone : Law Office: 216-831-7338; Toll-Free: 800-274-7067; Fax: 216-504-0240

PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING EMAIL ADDRESS: cjpalmeri@cjpalmeri.com 

Website: www.cjpalmeri.com

Office Hours: Tuesdays / Thursdays - 7:30 a.m and by appointment at JCU or my law offices

Law Office Location: 30100 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 207, Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124; Located on Chagrin Blvd near Lander Circle (1 mile east of I-271/Chagrin Blvd exit).  Click Directions for a map.

"LEAD COUNSEL" ASSIGNMENTS: To encourage full and effective class participation, we will divide the class into 5 groups of students. Two (2) groups will be assigned each week to act as "Lead Counsel" for that week. The groups to act as Lead Counsel will be posted on my website (under "teaching assignments"). Members of Lead Counsel will be the only students called upon during that class period to answer questions concerning the assigned material. While all students are encouraged to participate, the members of the Lead Counsel group will be responsible for a thorough understanding of the material. Lead Counsel participation will be part of your final grade. (See below)

COURSE DESCRIPTION: The prerequisite for this course is senior standing. The course should familiarize the student with the role of law in our society by discussing the nature, functions and purposes of law; history and development of Anglo-American law; the legal system; law as a process of settling disputes; of facilitating and protecting voluntary agreements and as a dynamic force in resolving acute social conflicts.

OBJECTIVES (Legal/Regulatory Issues): The purposes of the course in Legal Environment, MN-461 are: 1) To make students aware of the fact that it is the existence of the rule of law which provides part of the assurance and stability of expectations upon which not only our economy, but, in fact, our whole society is based. 2) To emphasize the need for laymen in a democracy to learn about the law and the role of law; not only because it is their civic responsibility to understand the system which they ultimately control, but, more importantly, because a legal system can operate effectively only if most people follow its precepts willingly.  3) To provide intellectual enrichment. No one can call himself or herself truly educated unless he or she understands something of our legal system. In our country, immigrants are required to learn some of the basic tenents of the law before being naturalized. Native-born citizens are under no such requirement, and quite often, have no course in law even during twenty years of schooling through the Ph.D. degree. It is hoped that this course will partly fill the void.

TEXTBOOK: The Legal Environment of Business, Meiners, Ringleb & Edwards, 9th Ed., West Legal Studies, 2006.

CLASSROOM METHOD / TESTS / GRADING: Classroom instruction will consist of a combination of lectures and the Socratic method. Ordinarily, there will be three (3) examinations including the FINAL. Each exam will be worth 28% of the final grade. There will also be a special written project (to be assigned) which will be worth 9% of the final grade. Class participation (Lead Counsel) will be worth 7% of the final grade. Examination questions will be based on the textbook, my lectures, any printed notes distributed in class and any assigned outside reading. THERE ARE NO "MAKE-UP" EXAMS OR "MAKE-UP" QUIZZES IN THIS COURSE. If you miss an exam or quiz, I must be convinced that it was missed for just cause, such as serious illness. If an examination is missed for other than just cause, a zero grade will be averaged in with your other exams, as appropriate. THERE WILL BE NO EXTRA CREDIT WORK AVAILABLE FOR THIS COURSE. Grades are based on the quality of work in the exams and quizzes under the following system:

A = Average of 93 or higher.

A- = Average between 90 and 92 inclusive.

B+ = Average between 88 and 89 inclusive.

B = Average between 85 and 87 inclusive.

B- = Average between 82 and 84 inclusive.

C+ = Average between 80 and 81 inclusive.

C = Average between 77 and 79 inclusive.

C- = Average between 74 and 76 inclusive.

D+ = Average between 72 and 73 inclusive.

D = Average between 70 and 71 inclusive.

F = Average of 69 or less, for which there will be no credit hours or quality points.

UNIVERSITY AND COURSE POLICIES: The student is expected to be familiar with and abide by the rules and regulations contained in the appropriate John Carroll University Bulletin, the current Community Standards Manual, and such other policies that have been or may be from time to time promulgated by the University, the Boler School of Business, and/or this professor, including but not limited to, matters regarding academic honesty and class attendance.

With respect to academic dishonesty (cheating), the minimum penalty for such conduct in this class will be an F (zero points) for the related test or assignment. However, depending on the circumstances, more severe penalties may be imposed. The John Carroll University Community Standards Manual states:

All work submitted for evaluation in a course, including tests, term papers, and computer programs, must represent only the work of the student unless indicated otherwise. Material taken from the work of others must be acknowledged properly. (p. 14)

It is recommended that you read the additional information regarding academic dishonesty and penalties in the manual. With respect to class attendance, please refer to the Undergraduate Bulletin for details on the University?s policy on attendance regulations and excused absences.

DISABILITIES: Students with documented disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodations as needed. If you believe you need such accommodations, please see me or the Universitys Coordinator for Students with disabilities (AD7; 216-397-4967) as soon as possible. Accommodations will not be granted retroactively.

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COURSE SCHEDULE 

1st Week -  September 2 and 4

Ch. 1 The Modern Environment of Business Pages 4-22

Ch. 2 The Court System Pages 26-48

Appendix A - Legal Research and the Internet - Pages 618-621

Appendix B - Case Analysis and Legal Research - Pages 622-629

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Ch. 3 The Trial and Resolving Disputes Pages 52-82

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Ch. 4 The Constitution - Focus on Application to Business Pages 88-113

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4th Week  - September 23 and 25

Ch. 6 Elements of Torts [Negligence and Intentional Torts] Pages 140-160

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Ch. 7 Business Torts [Products Liability] Pages 166-191

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6th Week   - October 7 and 9 

Ch. 13 Business Organizations Pages 346-371

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Ch. 14 Employment Relationships [Agency] Pages 376-397

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8th Week  - October 21 and 23

Ch. 15 Employment Law  Pages 404-421

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Ch. 16 Employment Discrimination Pages 440-467

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Ch. 19 Antitrust Law Pages 534-561

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11th Week   - November 11 and 13

SECOND EXAMINATION THIS WEEK

Ch. 20 Securities Regulation Pages 566-587

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Ch. 8 Real and Personal Property  Pages 196-215

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13th Week  - No Classes on November 25 and 27

THANKSGIVING BREAK

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Ch. 12 Debtor/Creditor Relations (Credit and Bankruptcy) Pages 315-341

Estate Planning and Decedents Estates

PAPERS DUE THIS WEEK

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