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BLAW 280: BUSINESS LAW I Fall 2016 Syllabus Professor: Hilary Goldberg, J.D.

Class: Wednesdays 4 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. JH 1121 Contact: Office: JH 3248 Email: Hilary.Goldberg@csun.edu

Phone: 818.677.2414 Twitter: @GoldbergProf Offices Hours: Monday 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Wednesday 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Text: For this course you will be required to purchase McGraw-

Hill Education Connect® access for “Business Law” 16th edition by Mallor.

The Bookstore is carrying a discounted bundle of the text,

which includes a Connect access code. This is the best value available, and the only place you can find the custom reader with the Connect access code.

Title Edition Author Publisher Price Custom reader for “Business Law” with Connect access code card discounted for CSUN students

16th Mallor McGraw-Hill Education

$118

Objectives and Course Description Business Law 280 (3 units) is designed to provide students with an understanding of the legal environment in which business decisions are made. The course will cover the topics of the court system and procedure. We will analyze how the legal system has been created, and how it is modified to address changing concerns. We will study the law of torts - the legal concept of "private wrongs" which set standards of conduct in our society. We will then cover the law of contracts: the law which enforces agreements.

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You will analyze how law applies to factual settings. 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. There will be two exams, one mid-term and one final exam. Exams are composed of one or more essay questions which require you to analyze factual situations, identify legal issues and apply the law in determining the outcome of hypothetical cases. Exams sometime include multiple-choice, true-false, and fill-in-the-blank questions. Life Long Learning Overall Goals: Students will develop cognitive, physical and affective skills which will allow them to become more integrated and well-rounded individuals within various physical, social, cultural, and technological environments and communities. Life Long Learning GE SLO #1: Students will identify and actively engage in behaviors conducive to individual health, well-being, or development, and understand the value of maintaining these behaviors throughout their lifespan; BLAW 280 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. Life Long Learning GE SLO #2: Students will identify and apply strategies leading to health, well-being, or development for community members of diverse populations; BLAW 280 teaches students to learn how to identify issues and apply law to situations. Doing this, students learn skills of issue identification and analysis, furthering the development of legal rights and duties in our diverse society.

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Schedule of Classes Weekly Reading: Reading assignments are listed below on a weekly basis. The time we spend on a particular topic may vary based on your collective interest, so the syllabus is subject to change accordingly. Any changes will be posted in writing on MOODLE. If there is a conflict between MOODLE and the Syllabus, MOODLE governs. Assignments: You are responsible for all reading assigned in the text, case briefs, chapter problems, as well as any McGraw-Hill Connect assignments identified on Moodle and in the Connect Course online. All briefs of the cases identified below must be in writing and brought to each class. Class/Date Topic Work Due

Week 1 8/31

Introduction & Expectations, IRAC Review Introduction to the Legal System

First Session: Read: Syllabus Bring your Reader (purchased from the bookstore) to class. Review and be prepared to discuss section titled: “Reading and Briefing Cases.” Second Session: Read: Chapter 1 Brief: Hagan v. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Chapter 1, Problem 3 In-class practice brief.

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Week 2 9/7

Resolution of Private Disputes

Read: Chapter 2 Brief: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes Chapter 2, Problems 6, 7 Connect Assignment – See Moodle

Week 3 9/14

Intentional Torts

Read: Chapter 6 Brief: Durham v. McDonald’s Restaurant of Oklahoma, Inc. Chapter 6 Problems 11, 12 Connect Assignment – See Moodle

Week 4 9/21

Intentional Torts Continued…

Read: Chapter 6 Brief: Jordan v. Jewel Food Stores Chapter 6 Problems 11, 12 (from last week) Connect Assignment – See Moodle Complete the case “Defamation: Trashing the French Maid.” Find it at www.mhhe.com/mallor15e, click “Student Edition,” click “You Be the Judge” #4 Defamation.” Be ready to discuss in class.

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Week 5 9/28

Negligence

Read: Chapter 7 Brief: Currie v. Chevron U.S.A., Inc. Stahlecker v. Ford Motor Co. Chapter 7 Problem 1 Connect Assignment – See Moodle

Week 6 10/5

Negligence Continued & Strict Liability

Read: Chapter 7 Brief: Dyer v. Maine Drilling & Blasting, Inc. Connect Assignment – See Moodle

Week 7 10/12

NO CLASS

At Home Practice Test and Review (Yom Kippur)

Week 8 10/19

EXAM 1 Introduction to Contracts

First Session – Exam 1 Second Session: Read: Chapter 9 Brief: Symons v. Heaton Aceves v. U.S. Bank Connect Assignment – See Moodle

Week 9 10/26

The Offer Intent: what’s different about the intent required to

Read: Chapter 10 Brief: Meram v. MacDonald Chapter 10 Problems 3, 10

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make an offer v. the intent required for an intentional tort?

Connect Assignment – See Moodle

Week 10 11/2

Acceptance

Read: Chapter 11 Brief: Trademark Properties v. A & E Television Networks Chapter 11 Problems 2, 9 Connect Assignment – See Moodle

Week 11 11/9

Consideration

Read: Chapter 12 Brief: Gottlieb v. Tropicana McLellan v. Charly Problem 5 Connect Assignment- See Moodle

Week 12 11/16

EXAM 2

First session – Question and Answer, Review, Practice Second Session – EXAM 2

Week 13 11/23

Consent Capacity

Read: Chapter 13 Brief: Hicks v. Sparks Chapter 13 Problems 2, 4, 9 Read: Chapter 14 Brief:

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Rogers v. Household Life Insurance Co. Chapter 14 Problem 4, 7 Connect Assignment- See Moodle

Week 14 11/30

Illegality Statute of Frauds

Read: Chapter 15 Brief: Gamboa v. Alvarado Chapter 15 Problem 2, 3 Read: Chapter 16- Pages 457-465 ONLY Brief: Linscott v. Shasteen Chapter 16 Problem 4 Connect Assignment- See Moodle

Week 15 12/7

Third Party Rights

Read: Chapter 17 Brief: Johnson v. Bank of America, N.A. Chapter 17, Problem 1, 4 Connect Assignment- See Moodle

FINAL 12/14

EXAM 3 Final Exam at date and time listed by University

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Summary of Course topics I. The Legal System (10% of class time) A. Purposes of law B. Historical background

1. Common law: flexibility of system designed to find remedies for evolving notions of fairness and rights

a. Courts of law b. Courts of equity 2. Constitutional law 3. Statutory law C. Legal Reasoning 1. Case law analysis, role of precedent 2. Statutory Interpretation a. plain meaning b. legislative history c. public policy d. precedent D. Distinction between state and federal law E. Distinction between civil and criminal law F. Procedural (sufficient to understand cases studied) 1. Court structure a. jurisdiction b. trial courts distinguished from appellate courts 2. Stages of lawsuit a. pleadings b. discovery c. trial d. appeal (NB: importance of distinguishing

questions of law from questions of fact) 3. Alternate dispute resolution a. dispute avoidance techniques b. arbitration II. Remedies (5% of class time) – integrated throughout semester A. Damages 1. Compensatory: purpose, duty to mitigate a. actual b. general

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B. Punitive damages: purpose C. Liquidated damages: purpose, enforceability D. Extraordinary relief 1. Specific performance III. Torts (25% of class time) A. Intentional: applicability of punitive damages 1. Related to the person a. assault b. battery c. false imprisonment d. intentional infliction of emotional distress 2. Related to intangibles: reputation, privacy a. defamation b. invasion of privacy 3. Related to property rights a. trespass b. conversion c. nuisance d. fraud/misrepresentation (coordinated with later discussion in contracts) B. Negligence 1. prima facie case 2. defenses C. Strict liability 1. products liability IV. Contracts (60% of class time) A. Agreement: offer, acceptance, including applicability of UCC B.. Consideration C. Reality of consent 1. Misrepresentation/fraud 2. Mistake 3. Duress 4. Undue influence D. Capacity E. Legality F. Writing: Statute of Frauds G. Rights of third parties H. Performance, remedies, quasi-contract

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Classroom Policies Exams and Grading: Grading is based upon a combination of your score on class preparation, quizzes, exams and written assignments. This class will be taught utilizing the Socratic method- be prepared to be called upon at random. Weekly preparation will help you gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter and will leave you well prepared for the mid-term and final exams. A. Assignments – 25% of your grade. There are two types of

assignments: a. assigned briefs and chapter problems – worth 5%

i. If you are unprepared when called upon to present a brief or chapter problem, your score for assignment briefs will be reduced accordingly.

b. online Connect assignments as listed on Moodle- worth 20% of your course grade.

B. Exams –three exams, each worth 25% of your grade. The exams will be cumulative. Make-up exams will be permitted only with advance notice and good-cause shown.

The grade reached after averaging exams and assignments will be the minimum grade you can receive in the course. At the professor's sole discretion, your course grade may be raised based on classroom participation and improvement. Plus/minus grading is used. Grading System (taken from "Regulations", CSUN catalog) GRADE DEFINITION GRADE POINTS A Outstanding 4.0 A- 3.7 B+ 3.3 B Very Good 3.0 B- 2.7 C+ 2.3

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C Average 2.0 C- 1.7 D+ 1.3 D Barely Passing 1.0 D- 0.7 F Failure 0 Absences: Class is more dynamic when we are all present, prepared and engaged. Your active engagement is critical to developing an understanding of the material and earning high marks. If you do miss class, you are responsible for the material covered on that day and should find out what you missed from a colleague. Exchange numbers with another student in class for this purpose. Note: if you are very ill and contagious, please do not come to class. Contact me and we will find a way to keep you on track. CSUN Policy: “Students are expected to attend all class meetings. Students who are absent from the first 2 meetings of a class that meets more than once a week or from the first meeting of a class that meets once a week lose the right to remain on the class roll and must formally withdraw from the class, following University procedures and deadlines. Failure to formally withdraw from a class will result in the instructor assigning to the student a grade of “WU” (Unauthorized Withdrawal), which, in computing a student’s GPA, counts as a grade of “F.”” Cell Phones: I care about professionalism and decorum, and about creating a stimulating learning environment. The use of cell phones to text, email, swipe, like, tweet, re-tweet, take pictures, record sounds, or write fantastic reviews of this class online is prohibited during class. If this becomes a problem in this section, I will institute a grade penalty for every instance of inappropriate technology usage, amounting to .5% point reduction of the final course grade. DRES: If you have a disability and need accommodations, please register with the Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) office or the National Center on Deafness (NCOD). The DRES office is located in Bayramian Hall, room 110 and can be reached at 818.677.2684. NCOD is located on

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Bertrand Street in Jeanne Chisholm Hall and can be reached at 818.677.2611. If you would like to discuss your need for accommodations with me, please contact me to set up an appointment. Due to privacy concerns, you must be the one to initiate this conversation. Legal Advice: While 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 legal services to students. If you need legal advice or information regarding the law, resources can be found on the Department of Business Law web page at http://www.csun.edu/blaw/student-resources.

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Briefing Cases a/k/a “IRAC” To brief cases, case problems and questions, use the following "IRAC" format: Issue: What question must be answered in order to reach a conclusion in the case? This should be a legal question which, when answered, gives a result in the particular case. Make it specific (e.g. "Has there been a false imprisonment if the plaintiff was asleep at the time of 'confinement'?") rather than general (e.g. "Will the plaintiff be successful?") You may make it referable to the specific case being briefed (e.g. "Did Miller owe a duty of care to Osco, Inc.?") or which can apply to all cases which present a similar question, (e.g. "Is a duty owed whenever there is an employment relationship?") Most cases present one issue. If there is more than one issue, list all, and give rules for all issues raised. Rule: The rule is the law which applies to the issue. It should be stated as a general principal, (e.g. A duty of care is owed whenever the defendant should anticipate that her conduct could create a risk of harm to the plaintiff.) not a conclusion to the particular case being briefed, (e.g. "The plaintiff was negligent.") Application: The application is a discussion of how the rule applies to the facts of a particular case. While the issue and rule are normally only one sentence each, the application is normally paragraphs long. It should be written debate - not simply a statement of the conclusion. Whenever possible, present both sides of any issue. Do not begin with your conclusion. The application shows how you are able to reason on paper and is the most difficult (and, on exams, the most important) skill you will learn. Conclusion: What was the result of the case? With cases, the text gives you a background of the facts along with the judge's reasoning and conclusion. When you brief cases, you are basically summarizing the judge's opinion. With case problems, the editors have given you a summary of the facts of an actual case, but have not given you the judge's opinion. Your job is to act as the judge in reasoning your way to a ruling, again using the IRAC format. While most of these case problems are followed by a question, ignore the question and instead brief the problem.

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Most briefs are one page long. They must be brought to class on the day they are to be discussed. They will be collected at random. Once an assignment has been discussed, you no longer need to bring it to class. Briefs may be either handwritten or typed.