EXAMINATIONS - California State University, Northridge



COURSE SYLLABUS (VERSION 1.0 – UPDATED JULY 26, 2020)BUSINESS LAW 508Class # 13617 – Fall 2020Thursdays - 7:00 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.Christopher Eric Ng, Esq.Classroom:Online via Zoom (Zoom Meeting Link on Canvas)Office:Online via Zoom (Zoom Meeting Link on Canvas)E-mail:christopher.ng@csun.edu (Type "BLAW 508" in the Subject Line)Telephone:(310) 990-3855 (voicemail / text)Office Hours: Thursdays, 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm and 9:45 to 10:15pm, and by appointment via ZOOMText:Required: Arlen Langvardt, Business Law: The Ethical, Global & E-Commerce Environment (17th ed. 2019). For textbook purchase or rental options, go to: Canvas: It is your responsibility to check Canvas, as well as your CSUN e-mail, regularly for announcements and other information related to the course. The link to our Canvas class page is at I.Course Description and OverviewTHE MBA PROGRAM: The MBA program prepares students for professional growth integrating current business theory and practices with their own experiences. Designed to be accessible to the fully employed student, the interdisciplinary program emphasizes analytical thinking, communication, effective teamwork, a global perspective and practices. A spirit of collegiality among the students, faculty, and community is fostered through social and professional activities. CSUN CATALOG BLAW 508 COURSE DESCRIPTION: Prerequisite: Graduate standing. Study of the role of law in business, including the study of legal institutions and their role in facilitating and regulating business. Includes a study of the legal system, civil litigation, torts, and the formation and performance of contract, agency and employment law, the various forms of business organizations and securities law.MISSION, LEARNING GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES: Our mission is to equip students with the academic knowledge, problem solving, analytical and professional skills in the areas of business law, business ethics, and real estate necessary to achieve their personal and professional goals. Business Law 508 teaches students to learn how to identify issues and apply law to factual situations. You will read court decisions, prepare written briefs of the decisions, orally defend your interpretations of the cases and answer hypothetical questions in open class discussion. You will learn to distinguish the application of rules depending on changing circumstances in various cases and hypotheticals. You will learn to argue alternate sides of a dispute regardless of personal belief. You will learn to identify the functions, policies, and trends in the law, and to consider social, economic and ethical influences on the law. Doing this, students learn skills of issue identification and analysis, furthering the development of legal rights and duties in our diverse society. The course will require students to analyze how such laws apply to different real- life factual situations. Business Law 508 helps students learn the law relevant to engaging in business. This includes laws that help their own progress in life as well as those that help maintain a healthy and well-functioning society. In addition, students learn the process of legal analysis, so that they can develop their skills of critical thinking and problem solving. This is helpful to students to become fully developed students and adults.Classes are taught using the Socratic method, with its goal of participatory learning and the development of reasoning skills. This active learning process requires students to articulate, develop and defend positions, to think critically and to engage in problem-solving. Students learn to formulate an effective legal analysis by synthesizing information, identifying legal issues, distinguishing relevant from irrelevant facts, using facts and law to support argument, reasoning by analogy and reaching conclusions based on analysis. In addition, students in all BLAW courses study ethical issues in a business context, with actual topics depending on course content.OUR VIRTUAL CLASSROOM: All classes will be held through Zoom using the following link which will also be posted on Canvas. Class Participation, as described below, will be assessed in part by your attendance and participation during our virtual class sessions each week. You are expected to logon to Zoom no later than 7PM on Thursday evenings for each of our weekly class sessions.II.Exams, Grading and HomeworkYour overall grade in the course is based your performance on examinations, completing all homework assignments and classroom participation.EXAMINATIONSThere will be one online midterm examination and one online final examination that will comprise 90% of your final grade as follows (the other 10% will come from class participation described below):Midterm Exam:45% of course gradeFinal Examination:45% of course grade (FINAL = December 10, 2020; 8-10PM)All exams will cover material from the textbook and class discussions and may include essay questions, multiple choice and true-false questions. The final examination may or may not be cumulative. Make-up examinations will only be given in exceptional circumstances, or in the alternative, the weight of the missed exam may be added to the weight of the final examination. If a student is unable to take the midterm, he or she must establish a valid excuse for failure to take the examination through documentary evidence. If no valid excuse is established, the missed exam will be counted as an “F”.Class ParticipationAt the end of the semester, you will be assigned a numeric grade for “class participation” which will have a net 10% impact on your grade. You may be called on at random throughout the semester to read your briefs and problems, as well as to answer questions raised during class discussion. Your class participation grade will be determined, in part, by the quality and quantity of in-class participation during our Zoom virtual class meetings. Homework assignments will be given throughout the semester through Canvas. Failure to timely turn in complete homework assignments (discussed below in section E) will also adversely affect your class participation grade.It is your responsibility to be prepared for every class. If you are absent, it is still your responsibility to be prepared. Exchange contact information with another student in the class to find out any missed information.Academic HonestyAll cases of cheating result in a grade of "F" for the course and are referred to the Dean's office for further action. Students are responsible for knowing and complying with all College and University rules and regulations; University regulations are set forth in the catalog and the College rules are located at GradesOverall grades for the course will be allocated to students in accordance with the regulations set forth in the California State University, Northridge catalog:GRADEDEFINITIONGRADE %AA-Outstanding93% - 100% 90% - 92%B+BB-Very Good88% - 89% 83% - 87%80% - 82%C+CC-Average78% - 79% 73% - 77% 70% - 72%D+DD-Barely Passing68% - 69% 63% - 67% 60% - 62%FFailure0 % - 59%Homework AssignmentsThe assignments are included at the end of this syllabus (which is subject to amendment during the semester). Students are also responsible for all instructor postings on Canvas and e-mail communications sent to students’ CSUN email accounts. Assignments include, but are not limited to, reading from the text, reading and briefing cases and answering case problems. The cases are contained in the text, while the case problems appear at the end of the chapter. NOTE that you are required to upload to Canvas your written briefs of the cases and case problems before our Zoom class on the day for which they are assigned. Assignment links will be posted on Canvas for you to use to electronically submit your assignment each week. You are also expected to be able to access and read your case briefs during each of our virtual class sessions.Case Briefs (see How to Brief a Case on Canvas)Each student is required to type or handwrite a brief (each approximately 1 page long) for all assigned cases using the "IRAC" method (Issue, Rule, Application and Conclusion). Each brief should have:(a)a brief summary of pertinent facts and procedural history;(b)an identification of the issue(s) presented in the case (the "I");(c)a statement of the relevant rule(s) of law (the "R");(d)discussion of how the rule applies to the facts of the case (the?"A"); &(e)the holding or conclusion of the court (the "C").Problem Cases (see Analyzing Case Problems Handout on Canvas)Your written answers to assigned problems may either be in IRAC form or may be complete essays. In either case, each of your answers to problems should contain the following information:identification of the issue(s) that must be decided (the "I");a statement of the applicable rules of law and definitions that must be used to solve the particular issue (the "R");an explanation of how all the relevant facts would be applied to the pertinent rules, including the likely arguments that each of the parties would use (the "A"); andYour conclusion (the "C").III.General Instructions on Exam Essay QuestionsAnswer each question fully and clearly. Mere conclusions receive no credit. You should:Discuss the issue.Define and discuss any principles of law, legal theories, etc., relevant to the question.Fully apply the given facts to the legal principles on which you rely. Do not ignore any facts, even if they do not support your conclusions. Do not assume that I know that you know something - tell me in your exam what you know, defining every legal term used.The actual conclusions you reach could be the least important part of your answer - but you must base your conclusions on complete and intelligent applications of the facts to the legal principles involved.If further facts could affect the outcome of the problem, state with particularity what they are, and how they could affect the outcome.You may either use the "IRAC" format or write in straight paragraph form. Either way, you need to cover the same information: the issues involved, the applicable legal rules, and an application of the law to the facts to reach your outcome. Discuss all issues - some questions have more than one issue.IV.Legal AdviceWhile I am a lawyer, I am not your lawyer. I am your professor and I am here to teach you the law, so that you will be empowered to make educated, thoroughly analyzed choices. CSUN prohibits faculty members from providing legal advice or services to students. If you need legal advice or information regarding the law, resources can be found at the Department of Business Law web page at Topics and Class AssignmentsRead the selected pages listed below (including all Ethics in Action, Cyberlaw in Action and chapter opening vignettes). We will discuss, and you will be asked, questions from the textbook each class period. Unless indicated below, read the entire chapter including each case within the assigned reading. You are, however, only responsible for briefing the cases and doing the case problems listed below before each class as indicated below, unless otherwise advise by the instructor in-class, through Canvas or by e-mail.1.August 27, 2020 (Yes, you are responsible for reading Chapter 1 BEFORE our first class!)The Nature of Law (Chapter 1)Read:Entire chapter (but skip Advance Dental Care, Inc. v. SunTrust Bank -pg. 9, James v. City of Costa Mesa – pg.25 & Appendix-pg.29)A Short Introduction to BLAW 280 (Handout - Canvas)How to Brief a Case and Sample Hagan Case Brief (Handout - Canvas)Analyzing Case Problems (Handout - Canvas)Using I-R-A-C to Solve a Parenting Dilemma (Canvas)Brief*:Hagan v. Coca-Cola (Handout – Canvas) (*It is done for you; be sure to review!) Do**:Problem Case #10 (**Try your best to answer after reviewing the “Analyzing Case Problems” Handout on Canvas)2.September 3, 2020The Resolution of Private Disputes (Chapter 2)Read:p. 35-62 (but skip Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Bouaphakeo – pg. 55 and AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion – pg. 59)Binion v. O'Neal (E.D. Mich. 2015) (Handout – Canvas)Jurisdiction 101 (Handout – Canvas)Brief:Knowles v. Modglin (Ala. Sup. Ct. 1989) (Handout – Canvas)Do:PC #1 (each of the three questions asked in PC #1 will represent a separate issue for you to identify the proper rule, apply that rule to the facts, and provide your conclusion).3.September 10, 2020Intentional Torts (Chapter 6) Battery, Assault, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, False Imprisonment, Trespass to Land, Conversion, Nuisance, and Trespass to Personal Property – Part 1Read:p. 200-211p. 232-237Brief:Wishnatsky v. Huey (N.D. Ct. App. 1998) (Handout – Canvas)Durham v. McDonald’s Restaurants of Oklahoma, Inc. (pg. 207)Do:PC #4, #6 and #104.September 17, 2020Intentional Torts (Chapter 6) Defamation and Invasion of Privacy – Part 2Read:p. 199 (Introductory Problem) p. 211-231 (skip Obsidian Finance Group, LLC v. Cox – pg. 223)The Defamation Rule and the Evel Knievel Case (Handout – Canvas)Brief:Neumann v. Liles (p. 212)Jordan v. Jewel Food Stores, Inc. (p. 228)Do:PC #7, #85.September 24, 2020 Negligence (Chapter 7)Read:Entire chapter (but skip Black v. William – p. 267; and Toms v. Cavalry Assembly of God, Inc. – p. 275).Brief:Currie v. Chevron U.S.A., Inc. (p. 252)Stahlecker v. Ford Motor Co. (p. 269)Do:PC #1, #36.October 1, 2020 Introduction to Contracts (Chapter 9) Read:p. 343-357 (but skip Symons v. Heaton - p. 355 and Thomas v. Archer – p. 357)Brief:Audio Visual Artistry v. Tanzer – p. 350Do:PC #4, #6, #107.October 8, 2020The Offer (Chapter 10) (1st half of class)Read:p. 363-380 (skip J.D. Fields & Company, Inc. v. United States Steel- p.367; and D’Agostino v. Federal Insurance Company – p. 378)Brief:NoneDo:PC #2, #4, #5, #10The Acceptance (Chapter 11) (2nd half of class)Read:Entire chapter (but skip The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York v. Wilson – p. 392; Bauer v. Qwest Communications Company, LLC – p. 396; Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. v. Daugherty Petroleum, Inc. – p. 398)Brief:Pena v. Fox (p. 387) Do:PC #8Consideration (Chapter 12) (2nd half of Class)Read:Entire chapter Brief:Steinberg v. U.S. (p. 408)Do:PC #1, #28.October 15, 2020 – MIDTERM (7-9PM through Canvas)9.October 22, 2020Illegality (Chapter 15) (1st half of Class)Read:p. 459- 479 (skip Coma Corp. v. Kansas Dept. of Labor - p.460; and Gamboa v. Alvarado – p.476)Read in detail Singh v. Uber Technologies, Inc. – p. 473Brief:Clark’s Sales and Service, Inc. v. Smith (p. 465)Leon v. Family Fitness (Handout on Canvas)Do:PC #2, #3, #5Reality of Consent (Fraud, Mistake, Duress and Undue Influence) (Chapter 13) (2nd half of Class)Read:p. 425- 442Brief:Introductory Problem (p. 425) Do:PC #1, #7, #1010.October 29, 2020The Agency Relationship (Chapter 35)Third-Party Relations of the Principal and the Agent (Chapter 36)Read:p. 991-1007 (Chapter 35)p. 1011-1025 (Chapter 36)Brief:CBS Corp. v. FCC (Chapter 35 - p. 995)Treadwell v. J.D. Construction (Chapter 36 – p. 1017)Do:PC #3, #4 (Chapter 35) AND PC #2, #7, and #8 (Chapter 36)11.November 5, 2020Employment Law?Read:?p. 1455-1493?Brief:Darco?Transportation v.?Dulen?(p. 1459)?Do:PC #4,?7,?11?12.November 12, 2020Introduction to Forms of Business and Formation of Partnerships?(Chapter?37)??Operation of Partnerships and Related Forms?(Chapter 38)?Read:?p.?1031-1048?(skip?all cases)?(Chapter 37)?p. 1053-1067 (skip all cases) (Chapter 38)?Brief:?None?Do:PC #4, #6, #10?(Chapter 37)?PC #6, 7 (Chapter 38)?13.November 19, 2020Limited Liability Companies, Limited Partnerships, and Limited Liability Limited Partnerships?(Chapter?40)??History and Nature of Corporations?(Chapter 41)?Read:p.?1092-1110 (Chapter 40)?(skip all cases)p. 1115-1131 (Chapter 41)?(skip all cases)Brief:NoneDo: PC #7 (Chapter 40)?PC #9 and?#12 (Chapter 4114.THANKSGIVING – NO CLASS15.December 3, 2020?Management of Corporations?(Chapter?43)Read:?p.?1159-?1175?(Chapter 43)Brief:?Brehm v. Eisner?(Chapter 43 - p. 1171)?Do: None?16. December 10, 2020FINAL EXAM SCHEDULED FROM 8:00PM – 10:00PM (Via Canvas) ................
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