MANHATTAN COLLEGE
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
SPRING 2022 Syllabus
COURSE NO. 203 BUSINESS LAW I DAVID J. VAROLI
Schedule: Meets 6:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. (EST) on Monday
Credits: 3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: At least Sophomore standing
1st Class: Monday, January 24, 2022
Late Registration/Drop/Add: Tuesday January 25, 2022
Spring Break: March 14 – 18, 2022 (no Monday school)
No Class: Monday March 14, 2022
Easter Holiday: April 14 – 18, 2022 (no Monday school but see below)
No Class: Monday April 18, 2022
Make-up Class: Wednesday April 20, 2022
Final Class: May 2, 2022
Final Exam: May 9, 2022
Office Hours: Available to answer questions before and after class on Mondays
ü Best way to reach me is before and after class.
- Email address: dvaroli02@manhattan.edu
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
The course studies the impact of the law on the business environment. Topics include the nature and sources of law, business ethics, federal and state court systems, crimes, torts, intellectual property, contracts, agency, and the forms of business organizations.
COURSE OBJECTIVE:
This is the first half of a two (2) semester course that is designed to provide a foundation in the principles of law with respect to business transactions.
LEARNING GOALS / OUTCOMES:
By the end of the semester, students should be able to:
- Identify legal issues arising in a business setting.
- Apply basic principles of law to resolve legal problems presented in a case.
- Formulate strategies to comply with laws that regulate businesses.
- Utilize critical thinking to understand reasoning for court decisions.
- Respond clearly and effectively to questions raised during classroom discussions.
TEXTBOOK:
New for Spring 2022
Anderson’s Business Law and the Legal Environment – Comprehensive Volume
24th Edition
Authors: David P. Twomey, Marianne M. Jennings, Stephanie M. Greene
ISBN: 978-0-357-36374-4
ISBN: 978-0-357-36384-3
Students will be required to read the Chapter before Class. In total, the Class will cover 18 Chapter during the Semester. The Chapters are below.
INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES:
The Course will consist of classroom lectures, case discussions, exams, and written assignments. As noted above, the Class will cover 18 Chapters.
GRADING POLICY:
The final grade for this Course will be based upon:
ü Class Participation
ü Pop Quizzes
ü Three (3) Exams
ü Paper
ü Two (2) Homeworks
EXAMS:
There will be three (3) exams. They will track the material, which is broken up into 3 parts. The exams will not be cumulative.
CASE ANALYSIS – PAPER:
There will be one (1) paper required for the class. The Case Analysis / Paper focuses on the application of legal principles to a factual scenario.
· For this written assignment, students may choose one of the following options:
1. Respond to a sample writing topic (to be distributed).
2. Prepare a legal evaluation of a personal / business situation that relates to a topic discussed in class.
3. Write a reaction and analysis to an online news story (newspaper / magazine / blog) that addresses an important and current legal event or legal issue, related to a law topic covered in class.
a) A copy of the News source MUST be attached to the paper.
· Papers will be graded on:
1. Ability to provide a concise summary of the factual and legal issues presented.
2. Ability to apply relevant legal principles to the facts, and logically explain the probable (and/or best) outcome, using concepts learned in class.
3. Ability to reference, where appropriate, to specific portions of the text bearing on the topic of the paper.
· Paper Format for a written case brief is as follows:
1. FACTS – Write a brief summary of the facts. Be concise and eliminate any facts that are not relevant to your analyses (see below).
2. ISSUE – Identify what the main legal issue is presented. For example, what are the parties fighting about and what will they ask the court to decide?
3. RULES – Explain what are the relevant legal rules the court may use to make its decision. For example, reference the topic that was discussed in class that pertains to the issue identified above.
4. ANALYSIS – Examine the facts in light of the relevant legal rules and consider all possible sides to the argument. Use logical reasoning to determine the likely outcome of the case and state the basis for your consideration.
· Paper length should be approximately three (3) typed pages long, double space, ARIAL font Size 10. The maximum number of pages is five (5).
POP QUIZZES / HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:
There will be Pop Quizzes and/or two (2) Homework Assignments during the course of the semester. They will cover subjects addressed in the readings up to date of the quiz.
CLASS PARTICIPATION:
Participation and attendance to all classes is critical.
· There are no “wrong” questions / observations.
MANHATTAN COLLEGE POLICY ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
All types of academic fraud and misrepresentation, including improper passing or receipt of information during examinations (through any means, including digital or electronic), use of unauthorized sources of information during examinations (including phones), dishonest presentation of laboratory data, willful plagiarism in the presentation of reports or computer programs, unauthorized transmission or receipt of examination material before an examination and tampering with the grading process after submission of course material are subject to academic penalties. For more details, please consult your Manhattan College Student Handbook.
· Video or audio recordings by any type of device during any class is NOT permitted.
BUSINESS LAW I CONTENT OUTLINE:
(To be Revised During Semester)
|
CHAPTER |
DATE
|
TOPICS |
|
1 |
01.24 |
The Nature and Sources of Law |
|
2 |
01.24 |
The Court System and Dispute Resolution |
|
3 |
|
Business Ethics, Social Forces, and the Law |
|
4 |
|
The Constitution as the Foundation of the Legal Environment |
|
7 |
|
Crimes |
|
8 |
|
Torts |
|
|
EXAM # 1 |
|
|
9 |
|
Intellectual Property Rights |
|
11 |
|
Nature & Classes of Contracts: Contracting on the Internet |
|
12 |
|
Formation of Contracts: Offer and Acceptance |
|
13 |
|
Capacity and Genuine Assent |
|
14 |
|
Consideration |
|
15 |
|
Legality and Public Policy |
|
|
EXAM # 2 |
|
|
16 |
|
Writing, Electronic Forms and Interpretation of Contracts |
|
18 |
|
Discharge of Contracts |
|
19 |
|
Breach of Contract and Remedies |
|
EASTER HOLIDAY REMINDER – DRAFT OF PAPER SHOULD BE OUTLINED
|
||
|
34 - 35 |
|
Agency (34) Third Persons in Agency (35) |
|
38 |
|
Types of Business Organizations |
|
|
EXAM # 3 |
|
|
|
CLASS PAPER DUE
|
|
- Teacher: Varoli David