Common Law and Weekly Discussion Questions

|[pic] |School of Business |
| |LAW/421 |
| |Contemporary Business Law |

Copyright © 2011 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.

COURSE SYLLABUS FOR CONTEMPORARY BUSINESS LAW/421

|Week One: Introduction to Law |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives |Define the functions of law in society. | | |
| |Define the role of law in business. | | |
| |Compare and contrast means for resolving domestic and foreign legal disputes. | | |
|Readings |Read Ch. 1, 2, 3, 4, & 25 of The Legal Environment of Business. | | |
| |Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. | | |
|Participation |Participate in class discussion. |ongoing |1 |
|Discussion Questions |Respond to weekly discussion questions. Respond to weekly discussion questions. DQ’s must be|THURS |1 |
| |200 to 300 words. DQ responses DO count toward your participation requirement for this class.| | |
| |2 Responses on the 4 out of 7 days a week. | | |
|Individual |Resource: Case Brief Cipollone v. Liggett Group, Inc., et al. in Ch. 2, section 2-6, |MON |10 |
|Role and Functions of Law |“Commerce Powers,” of the text | | |
|Paper | | | |
| |Write a 700- to 1,050-word paper in which you define the functions and role of law in | | |
| |business and society. Discuss the functions and role of law in your past or present job or | | |
| |industry. Properly cite at least two references from your reading. | | |
| | | | |
| |Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. | | |

|Week Two: Torts |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives | | | |
| |Classify the types of torts. | | |
| |Assess the different types of and legal protections for intellectual property. | | |
| |Analyze the legal issues of e-business to include intellectual property, privacy, ethics, and| | |
| |security. | | |
|Readings |Read Ch. 9 & 24 of The Legal Environment of Business. | | |
| |Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. | | |
|Participation |Participate in class discussion. |ongoing |1 |
|Discussion Questions |Respond to weekly discussion questions. Respond to weekly discussion questions. DQ’s must be |THURS |1 |
| |200 to 300 words. | | |
|Individual |Complete the Addressing International Legal and Ethical Issues simulation located on the |MON |10 |
|Addressing International Legal|student website. | | |
|and Ethical Issues Simulation |Write a 350-word summary. In your paper, answer the following questions: | | |
|Summary | | | |
| |What are the issues involved in resolving legal disputes in international transactions? | | |
| | | | |
| |What are some practical considerations of taking legal action against a foreign business | | |
| |partner based in another country? | | |
| | | | |
| |What factors could work against CadMex's decision to grant sublicensing agreements? | | |
| | | | |
| |When the local customs and laws conflict with the customs and laws of an organization | | |
| |operating abroad, which should prevail? Explain why. | | |
| | | | |
| |How would you compare the issues in this simulation to the domestic legal issues discussed in| | |
| |your Week One readings? How should companies resolve domestic and international issues | | |
| |differently? | | |
|Learning Team |Discuss the differences between substantive law, procedural law, criminal law, civil law, |MON |2 |
|Weekly Reflection |common law, and statutory law. Provide examples of each law and discuss what U.S. | | |
| |Constitution amendments were implemented to protect the rights of businesses and | | |
| |organizations. Discuss the topics you are comfortable with, the topics you struggled with, | | |
| |and how the weekly topics relate to application in your field. | | |
| | | | |
| |Write a 350- to 700-word paper detailing the findings of your discussion. | | |

|Week Three: Contracts |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives | | | |
| |Analyze the elements necessary to form valid contracts. | | |
| |Summarize the legal defenses to contract formation. | | |
| |Evaluate the remedies for breach of contract. | | |
|Readings |Read Ch. 6, 7, &10 of The Legal Environment of Business. | | |
| |Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. | | |
|Participation |Participate in class discussion. |ongoing |1 |
|Discussion |Respond to weekly discussion questions. Respond to weekly Respond to weekly discussion | THURS |1 |
|Questions |questions discussion questions. DQ’s must be 200 to 300 words. | | |
|Individual |Resource: University of Phoenix Material: Article Review Format Guide located on the student |MON |7 |
|Article Review |website | | |
| | | | |
| |Locate an article specifically related to e-business and intellectual property. | | |
| | | | |
| |Write a 350- to 700-word review of the article. Your review should assess the different types| | |
| |of and legal protections for intellectual property. Analyze the legal issues of e-business to| | |
| |include intellectual property, privacy, ethics, and security. | | |
| | | | |
| |Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Be prepared to discuss your review in | | |
| |class. | | |
|Learning Team |Resources: University of Phoenix Material: Case Scenarios: Bugusa, Inc., multimedia link |MON |10 |
|Case Scenarios: BUGusa, Inc. |located on the student website and Case Scenarios: Bugusa, Inc., Worksheet | | |
| | | | |
| |Use the BUGusa, Inc., scenarios and your research to support your answers to the questions | | |
| |listed in the worksheet, classifying the types of torts in each scenario. | | |
| | | | |
| |Submit the completed worksheet. | | |
|Learning Team |Discuss the, “Legal Issues in Cyberspace” excerpt in Section 24-5 of Ch. 24, and Section |MON |2 |
|Weekly Reflection |24-6, “Copyright Infringement,” of the text. Discuss the topics you are comfortable with, the| | |
| |topics you struggled with, and how these issues relate to application in your field. | | |
| | | | |
| |Write a 350- to 700-word paper detailing the findings of your discussion. | | |

|Week Four: Uniform Commercial Code – Sales |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives | | | |
| |Compare and contrast common law contracts and the UCC Article 2. | | |
| |Analyze the gap filling provisions of UCC Article 2 as they pertain to the essential terms of| | |
| |a contract. | | |
| |Analyze the scope and limitations of remedies for contract breaches. | | |
| |Differentiate between implied and express warranties under the UCC Article 2. | | |
|Readings |Read Ch. 8, 13, 14, 15, & 21 of The Legal Environment of Business. | | |
| |Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. | | |
|Participation |Participate in class discussion. |ongoing |1 |
|Discussion Questions |Respond to weekly discussion questions. Respond to weekly discussion questions. DQ’s must be |THURS |1 |
| |200 to 300 words. | | |
|Individual |Read the “Theory to Practice” section at the end of Ch. 6 of the text. |MON |10 |
|Case Scenario: Big Time | | | |
|Toymaker |Answer Questions 1 through 6 based on the scenario in the “Theory to Practice” section, and | | |
| |complete the following in your response: | | |
| | | | |
| |At the end of the scenario, BTT states that it is not interested in distributing Chou’s new | | |
| |strategy game, Strat. Assuming BTT and Chou have a contract, and BTT has breached the | | |
| |contract by not distributing the game, discuss what remedies might or might not apply. | | |
| | | | |
| |Explain your answers and refer to Section 7-6 in Ch. 7 for support. | | |
| | | | |
| |Submit your answers. | | |
|Learning Team |Discuss the common contracts that you and your teammates have encountered in your personal | |2 |
|Weekly Reflection |and professional lives. Your discussion should include the topics you are comfortable with, | | |
| |the topics you struggled with, and how the weekly topics relate to the common contracts. | | |
| | | | |
| |Write a 350- to 700-word paper detailing the findings of your discussion. | | |

|Week Five: Ethics |
| |Details |Due |Points |
|Objectives | | | |
| |Discuss ethical decision making and the challenges to business ethics in today’s business | | |
| |environment. | | |
| |Identify business activities that may result in criminal liability. | | |
| |Analyze the implications of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002). | | |
|Readings |Read Ch. 5, 16, & 22 of The Legal Environment of Business. | | |
| |Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. | | |
|Participation |NO PARTICIPATION REQUIRED THIS WEEK | | |
|Discussion Questions |NO DISCUSSION QUESTIONS REQUIRED THIS WEEK | | |
|Individual |Resource: Article Review Format Guide located on the student website | |12 |
|Article Review | | | |
| |Locate an article specifically related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX Act) of 2002. | | |
| | | | |
| |Write a 350- to 700-word review of the article. Your review should discuss how the SOX Act | | |
| |may affect ethical decision making in today’s business environment, and the criminal | | |
| |penalties for which the act provides. | | |
| | | | |
| |Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. | | |
|Individual |Click the link to the Final Examination on your student website available from the end of |MON |15 |
|Final Examination |Week Four through the end of Week Five. | | |
| | | | |
| |Complete the Final Examination. Only one attempt is allowed, which is timed and must be | | |
| |completed in 3 hours. | | |
|Learning Team |Resource: University of Phoenix Material: Case Scenarios: Grocery, Inc., multimedia link |MON |10 |
|Case Scenarios: Grocery, Inc.,|located on the student website | | |
|Presentation | | | |
| |Review the case scenarios and questions associated with scenarios. | | |
| | | | |
| |Create an 8- to 10-slide Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation, with speaker notes, | | |
| |illustrating your responses to questions in each case scenario. Clearly indicate which | | |
| |scenario you are referring to in your presentation. | | |
|Learning Team |Compare and contrast common law contracts and the UCC Article 2 with your team. Your |MON |2 |
|Weekly Reflection |discussion should include the topics you are comfortable with, the topics you struggled with,| | |
| |and how the weekly topics relate to application in your field. | | |
| | | | |
| |Write a 350- to 1,050-word paper detailing the findings of your discussion. | | |