Business Law I

Fall Term 2009

Course Purpose: The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the traditional topics covered in Business Law. “Business Law” addresses the legal environment in which business organizations operate.

In additional to studying specific legal subjects, this class will examine the history, ethical dilemmas, public policy issues, questions of social responsibility and diversity, and the economic of the legal environment. Students will learn methods of analysis used when evaluating legal problems. They will develop a legal vocabulary that will help their understanding of the law in the business environment. Discussions requiring critical thinking about ethical and public policy issues are part of the class.

The course assists the student in applying the basic principles of Business Law to their individual lives and to their careers. It will also help those students who are preparing for professional examinations in finance and certified public accounting and those preparing for graduate studies of law or business.

Instructor: Lana L. Luhring

Office: 124 1^st Street SW Law Office (Waverly)

Phone: Work (352-3913) Fax (352-8913) Cell (404-5697)

Class Time: M W F 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Office Hours: Available business hours by phone, after class and by Appointment

E-Mail Address: sassdog@fbx.com

Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns. I will do my best to be very approachable, available after class and schedule time for individual sessions. Please make contact at my work number whenever possible. Understanding that emergency situations may arise, I have listed my home phone number, please use discretion when contacting me at my home.

Honor Code: By attending Wartburg College, students are demonstrating their dedication to the Honor Code. The Honor Code reminds students of their responsibility to promote honesty by opposing cheating and plagiarism and reporting dishonest work. Cheating on a test or written assignment will result in failure of the test or assignment and/or failure of the course.

The following is the official Wartburg Honor Code, as approved by faculty and Student Senate:

“As a matter of personal commitment, students, faculty, and staff of Wartburg College are expected to demonstrate four simple principles:

1) All submitted work must be your own.

2) When using the work or ideas of others, including fellow students, provide full credit through

accurate citations.

3) Ask for clarification if there is uncertainty about certain rules on a particular assignment.

4) Maintain academic honesty on examinations and class assignments.”

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) provides protection from illegal discrimination for qualified individuals with disabilities. Students requesting instructional accommodations due to disabilities must arrange for such accommodations by contacting the Dean of Students Deborah Loers She can be reached at the Student Life office, Saemann Student Center 195, 352-8260, deborah.loer@wartburg.edu. Accommodation should be requested PRIOR to affected assignment due dates.

The syllabus outlines the topic and reading for this topic. As reviewing the material before class will help you discuss and participate more meaningfully, it is suggested that you try to complete the assignment prior to the specified class.

Text: West’s Business Law, 11^th Edition, Kenneth Clarkson, et al

West Legal Studies in Business

Additional Reading: From time to time other materials will be distributed in class. An Internet

reading list will be provided on a periodic basis.

September 9, 2009 Introduction

September 11, 2009 Chapter 1 Introduction to Law and Legal Reasoning

September 14, 2009 Chapter 2 Courts and Alternative Dispute Resolution

September 16, 2009 Chapter 5 Ethics and Business Decision Making

(shortened class re: Inauguration)

September 18, 2009 Chapter 3 Court Procedures

September 21, 2009 Chapter 4 Constitutional Authority to Regulate Business

September 23, 2009 Quiz 1

Chapter 6 Intentional Torts

September 25, 2009 Torts, continued

September 28, 2009 Chapter 7 Negligence and Strict Liability

Paper Assignment Handout

September 30, 2009 Presentation on Torts

October 2, 2009 Presentation on Torts

October 5, 2009 Exam #1

October 7, 2009 Chapter 10 Contracts: Nature and Terminology

October 9, 2009 Chapter 11 Agreement

October 12, 2009 Chapter 12 Consideration

October 14, 2009 Chapter 13 Capacity and Legality

Quiz #2

October 16, 2009 Chapter 14 Mistakes Fraud and Voluntary Consent

October 19, 2009 Chapter 15 Statues of Frauds

October 15, 2009 Catch up & Review

October 21, 2009 Exam #2

October 23, 2009 Chapter 17 Performance and Discharge

October 26, 2009 Chapter 18 Breach of Contract and Remedies

October 28, 2009 Chapter 20 The Formation of Sales and Lease Contracts

October 30, 2009 Fall Break

November 2, 2009 Chapter 21 Title, Risk, and Insurable Interest

November 4, 2009 Chapter 22 The Performance and Breach of Sales and Lease Contracts

Paper Due

November 6, 2009 Finish Contract Law topics

November 9, 2009 Chapter 23 Warranties and Product Liability

November 11, 2009 Complete Product Liability

November 13, 2009 Catch up & Review

November 16, 2009 Chapter 43 Administrative Law

November 18, 2009 Chapter 50 Wills, Trusts, and Elder Law

November 20, 2009 Chapter 9 Criminal Law

November 23, 2009 Chapter 48 Real Property

November 25, 2009 Thanksgiving Break – NO CLASS

November 27, 2009 Thanksgiving Break – NO CLASS

November 30, 2009 Class Participation / Exercise

December 2, 2009 Chapter 47 Personal Property and Bailments

December 4, 2009 Chapter 49 Insurance law

December 7, 2009 Chapter 42 Law for Small Businesses

December 9, 2009 Catch up & Review

December 11, 2009 Comprehensive Final Review Session

December 17, 2009 Comprehensive FINAL 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

During the semester, the syllabus will be reviewed and changes will be announced at class. As each class has different interests, the reading assignment and pace have to be adjusted so this syllabus is intended to be a guideline for reading assignments.

Grading

The Course will consist of two quizzes, two mid-term examinations, paper, final examination and class participation. The total points available for this class will be 400 and your class participation will be used to evaluate all students falling on the borderline of a higher grade. Approximately 4-5 students with high levels of Class participation will have their grade raised. This is an opportunity to earn up to a 5% higher grade.

1 Presentation 20 points 20

2 Midterms 80 points each 160

2 Quizzes 30 points each 60

1 Paper 60 points 60

1 Final 100 points 100

TOTAL = 400

The grading scale will be a traditional percentage based scale:

94 - 100 A

90 - 93 A-

87 - 89 B+

84 - 86 B

80 - 83 B- etc.....