Course Syllabus – Spring 2011

Business Law and Ethics

College of Business
MBA Program
Instructor:
Gregory Babowal
(302)739-4211
gregory.babowal@state.de.us

Course Meeting Information:

Wednesdays 6-9:30pm
Office Hours by Appointment

Required Text:
West’s Business Law, Clarkson et. al., 2006; West Legal Studies in Business, a division of
Thompson Learning.

Course Description:
This course provides the student with an introduction to the areas of law pertaining to
business, and teaches the student to critically evaluate legal issues within a legal framework.
In this course, we will examine the legal and ethical laws, rules, and standards of conduct,
guidelines and systems of conflict resolution relating to business operations and
administration. Relevant topics will include contracts, commercial law (sales, secured
transactions and creditors remedies), forms of business entities (including limited liability
companies and corporations), agency, employer-employee relationships, real property
concepts, bankruptcy, and negligence and strict liability concepts. Students will examine
corporate governance and business ethics, with emphasis on case studies drawn from recent
corporate scenarios.

Course Objectives:
This course is designed to provide the business student with a basic understanding of the
legal, regulatory and ethical environment in which business must operate. The intent of this
course is not to create lawyers or legal experts, but rather to provide an introduction to
fundamental principles of business law and ethics in such areas such as contracts, torts,
employment issues and intellectual property. Business students, regardless of career focus,
will undoubtedly be exposed to business situations that have significant legal implications.
As such, the goal of this course is to provide the student with tools he or she will need to
make well thought out decisions and devise strategies, to recognize legal issues or
impediments, and to react appropriately to situations as they arise.
Measurable Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, students should expect:
- To have acquired an introductory understanding of the vocabulary of the law.
- To have acquired a general understanding and awareness of government regulation of
business and business transactions, to be measured by quizzes and the final exam.
- To be better equipped as a business person or manager to recognize legal issues and to
manage legal risks in the business decision-making process and to apply the concepts
learned to a practical business environment, to be measured by preparation of written
critical analyses and final exam.
- To have gained a foundation for critical thinking (that is, the capacity to distinguish
beliefs from knowledge and facts from conclusions) in order to analyze, criticize, and
express ideas, based upon the reading materials and dialogue with other students, to be
measured by final exam.
- To have developed an increased ethical sensitivity and to have recognized the
pronounced overlapping of ethical and legal considerations.
-
Course Assignments/Reading Assignments:
Each student is expected to fully read and consider the cases and materials assigned and to
critically consider the principles articulated in class.

Class 1
1/12/11
Introduction to the legal Environment: In the beginning of this class we will have an
assessment of knowledge about the course – this will not count toward your grade.
This unit will cover the courts & ADR, court procedures, constitutional authority to
regulate business, and ethics in business decision making. Particular emphasis will be
placed on legal vocabulary. Read pages 1 – 92

Class 2
1/19/11
Torts and Crimes: we will cover intentional torts, negligence & strict liability,
Patents & Copyrights, criminal law & cyber crimes, Introduction to Contracts and
agreement. Read pages 116-150, 158-164, 174-199, 206-242

Class 3
1/26/11
Contracts continued: consideration, capacity & legality, mistakes, fraud & consent,
Statute of Frauds, performance and discharge, breach of contract/remedies. Read
pages 243-303, 319-349
Midterm exam review
Class 4
2/2/11
IN-CLASS MIDTERM EXAM
After exam: Introduction to Negotiable Instruments and transferability & holder in
due course. Read pages 462-497

Class 5
2/9/11
Review midterm exam
Negotiable Instruments continued: liability, defenses & discharge, creditor rights &
remedies, secured transactions, bankruptcy law. Read pages 498-517, 546-604

Class 6
2/16/11
Agency and Employment: Agency formation & duties, liability to third parties &
termination, labor & employment law, employment discrimination, sole proprietorships
and franchises. Read pages 624-700, 706-718

Class 7
2/23/11
Business Organizations continued: partnerships & limited liability partnerships, limited
liability companies & special business forms, corporate formation, small business law,
consumer law, personal property and bailments. Read pages 719-774, 837-854, 880-
896, 956-974

Class 8
3/2/11
Final exam Review
IN CLASS FINAL EXAM

Attendance Policy:

Attendance in class is required because it is necessary for class participation and discussion,
which are essential ingredients for the learning process. Any full class absences during the
term will be considered in the class participation grade (see below). Roll will be taken at each
class session.

Class Participation Requirement:

Within the constraints of the class time limitations, we will conduct in-class discussion and
analysis exercises that will require the participation of all students. Students are expected to
actively discuss assignments and legal issues raised in class. Therefore, all assignments must
be prepared in advance of the class in order to gain the full benefit of the course. Students
will be called upon (without prior notice) in class to report and discuss assigned reading
material. There will be one short out-of-class assignment due at the last class.

Grading:

Students in this class will receive letter grades.

Midterm Exam
There will be an in-class midterm examination on February 3, 2010. This final exam may be
part multiple choice, true-and-false, short answer questions, and/or essay questions. It will
include all materials covered in the text and class. It will NOT be open-book.

Final Exam
There will be an in-class final examination on March 3, 2010. This final exam may be part
multiple choice, true-and-false, short answer questions, and/or essay questions. It will include
all materials covered in the text and class. It will NOT be open-book

A total of 100 percentage points can be earned through: class participation, out-of-class
assignment and the exams, to be distributed as follows:

Mid-term 30%
Class Participation 30% (including out-of-class assignment)
Final 40%
_______
Total 100%

The grading scale is:

A = 90-100% C = 70-79% F = below 60%
B = 80-89% D = 60-69%

Academic Honesty:

Students are bound (by the published Code of Student Conduct) to uphold high standards of
conduct. This code requires students to act respectfully towards others and to adhere to the
honor system. Any student who engages in academic dishonesty (such as cheating on exams)
will not pass the course. We will specifically cover in class what constitutes cheating, but if
you have any questions at all in this area, please discuss them with me.

Special Concerns:

1 Students should keep a copy of all assignments turned in for their own safeguards, if
possible.
2 Students who have a documented disability and require accommodations are
encouraged to share relevant information with the instructor early in the course so that their
learning needs may be met appropriately.

I am available before and after class for any individual questions or concerns and at the
above e-mail address and telephone number.