Sam Houston State University

College of Business Administration

Department of General Business and Finance

Course Syllabus-Spring, 2003

 

                                                                                                                       

Course Number:            GBA 281

 

Course Title:      LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS

 

PREREQUISITES:  

            None

 

Professor:

            Dr. Taylor S. Klett, CPA, JD   

 

OFFICE:

Smith Hutson  (COBA) 305E

 

Office  TELEPHONE:

            Phone:  936-294-4977

            Email:  klett@shsu.edu

            Web page:  www.shsu.edu/~klett

                       

Office Hours:     

M-Th: 7:00 am.- 7:45 a.m.

MW  9:30-11:00 a.m.

TTh.:  8:00- 10:30 a.m.

Woodlands: 5:00 - 6:00 depending on traffic.

Others by appointment- call ahead or just drop by

 

CLASS HOURS:

            MW 8:00- 9:30

            MW 11:00- 12:30       

TN Woodlands

            TTh 11:00- 12:30

 

Required Texts:

West’s Business Law  by Kenneth W. Clarkson, et al, Eighth Edition

 

Supplemental Materials:  

Optional: Study guide to West’s Business Law

Required:  Scantron type 8821-ES for exams

I highly recommend you visit my web site for good stuff relating to this course!

Included in this material are old tests, class outlines, etc.

 

Course Description: 

The purpose of this course is to give students an insight into the legal environment in which businesses operate and to provide them with a basic understanding of solving problems using legal rules.  It may be elected by non-business students.

 

Course Objectives:    

Students will be expected to:

·        Develop the ability to recognize legal environments that arise in common business transactions.

·        Know selected legal rules and their impact on the decisions made in operations of businesses.

·        Develop the analytical thinking process by the application of legal concepts in the solving of problems.

·        Understand the environment in which business decisions are made and the effect of those environs on the decision process.

 

COURSE EVALUATION PROCESS

The specific means through which grades are assigned in the course are contained elsewhere in this syllabus under the heading EXAMINATIONS AND MEASUREMENT OF PROGRESS.  Please refer to that section for specific evaluation and progress measurement methods.  However, the overall grade in the course will be graded on the percentage of the total available points earned. 

 

Religious Holy Days: 

Students who are absent from class for observance of a religious holy day will be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within one week of returning to class.  The student, not later than the 15th calendar day must notify the instructor of each scheduled class day that the student would be absent due to a religious holy day.

 

DISABLED STUDENTS POLICY:            

It is the policy of Sam Houston State University that no otherwise qualified disabled individual shall, solely by reason of his/her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any academic, Student Life program, or activity.  Disabled students may request academic assistance when needed from a Committee for Continuing Academic Assistance for Disabled Students by visiting the Director of the Counseling Center in the Lee Drain Building Annex, or by calling 936 294 1720.

 

Attendance Policy:   

Attendance in this class is expected as is stated in the latest Sam Houston State University catalog.  Three (3) hours of absences are permitted without penalty.  The penalty for excessive absences, which is defined as ten (10) hours, is automatic failure (a grade of "F") of the class.  Also, those who miss a substantial number of classes will penalize themselves by missing material that will be discussed in class, that may not appear in the texts, and over which the class will be tested.  If a student arrives late for class and the roll has been taken, the student is considered absent for the day unless otherwise corrected.

 

COURSE OUTLINE

 

Unit One – The Legal Environment of Business                                 Approximately 4 weeks

 

--Introduction to the Law - The Source of the American Legal System

--Dispute Resolution - Court Systems and Alternative Dispute Resolving Systems

--Torts - Intentional Negligence and Product Liability

--Criminal Law

--Cyber law

<Chapters 1 through 9>

 

Units Ten and Eleven – Property and Special Topics                        Approximately 4 weeks

 

--Personal Property/Intellectual Property

--Bailment’s

--Real Property

--Wills and Estates

--Trusts

--Regulation

<Chapters 46 through 50>

 

Units Six and Seven – Agency and Business Organizations               Approximately 4 weeks

 

--Agent/Principal Relationships

--Partnerships

--Corporations

<Chapters 31 through 40>

 

Units Eight and Nine – Employment and Labor Relations

  And Government Regulation                                                            Approximately 4 weeks

 

--Securities Regulation

--Antitrust

--Employment and Labor Law

--International Law

<Chapters 41-45>

 

APPROXIMATE EXAM DATES

Exam I Unit One                                   Feb 12

Exam II Units Ten and Eleven   March 12

Exam III Units Six and Seven                Apr 16

 

Final Exam – Units Eight and Nine –Monday May 12           

 

OTHER:

 

ACADEMIC HONESTY


“Students are expected to maintain complete honesty and integrity in the academic experience both in and out of the class room.  Any student found guilty of dishonesty in any phase of academic work will be subjected to disciplinary action.”  Code of Student Conduct and Discipline, Section 5.3, as printed in Student Guidelines.  Members of this class are subject to the Guidelines.

 

Examinations and Measurements of Progress:

 

Exams:           

There will be four major exams.  Good cause must exist for you to miss any major exam, and I will be the sole judge of that “good cause.”  Two major exams being missed may result in a grade of F being given for the course.  Specific rules of conduct for the exams include:

 

  1. Leaving the exam – You may not return to the exam room once you have left.   Go to the restroom before the exam begins!
  2. Arrival for the exam: You will not be allowed to begin the exam if any other student has already completed, turned in the exam, and has left the classroom.  BE ON TIME!
  3. Identification – Picture ID’s should be brought to each exam to verify identity.  If you fail to bring your ID to the exam, your exam will not be graded.  Method and frequency of ID checks will be administered at the discretion of the professor.
  4. Scantrons – The student is responsible for bring a scantron to each examination.  The professor will not furnish a scantron.  Students who come to the exam without the appropriate scantron will still be allowed to take the exam but will be assessed a ten-point penalty on the exam grade- but you will also be allowed to attempt to obtain a scantron from a fellow student without penalty.

 

Grading:        

Three major examinations = 25% each exam for a total of 75%

Final Exam = 25%

 

However, I reserve the right to implement pop tests and additional other assignments if determined necessary solely by myself.  Grades in this course are determined by applying the following scale to a student's average:

 

> 89.5 = A

79.5 - 89.4 = B

69.5 - 79.4 = C

59.5 - 69.4 = D

< 59.5 = F

 

There will be no early finals  or other exams given for any reason.

 

 

CLASSROOM CIVILITY: 

Please turn off your cell phone before class begins or at least mute it!!!  Students are expected to assist in maintaining a classroom environment that is conducive to learning.  In order to assure that all students have an opportunity to gain from time spent in class, unless otherwise approved by the instructor, students are prohibited from using cellular phones or beepers, eating in class, making offensive remarks, reading newspapers, sleeping, talking among each other at inappropriate times or engaging in any other form of distraction.  Inappropriate behavior in the classroom shall result in, minimally, a directive to leave class.

 

 

USE OF EMAIL:

 

I highly recommend you consider corresponding with me via email on any class related matter.  In addition, you should expect to see from me to you various items that will relate to class activities and/or assignments.  Of course, feel free to drop by and chat as well.

 

CAVEAT:

 

As are most things in life, the above is subject to change at any time; however, you will be adequately notified of such changes

 

Important UNIVERSITY WIDE Dates:

  

Jan 20                         HOLIDAY!!! Whoa, dude!

 

Jan 31                          Friday  Last day for dropping Fall Semester courses without grade of F.  Last day for resignations without receiving WP or WF marks. 

 

March 7                       Monday. Last day for resignations

 

March 17-21                Spring Break

  

May 8                          Last official “class” day

 

May 9                          Study day

 

May 12-15                   Finals