Syllabus Business 110 - Business Law California State University Channel Islands

Spring 2008

Professor: Douglas E. Kulper, Esq. Office: Sage Hall 2042 Office Hours: By Appointment Phone: (805) 659-6800 Bus. E-mail: dkulper@fcoplaw.com Class Meeting Information

• Class Time: Tuesday, 6:00 PM – 08:50 PM • Room No: Bell Tower 2704 • Final Exam: Tuesday, May 13, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Course Description Three hours lecture/discussion/issue solving. This hands-on course introduces the legal and regulatory environment of business, emphasizing the United States of America’s legal system. Topics include contracts, real property, constitutional law, torts, commercial law, employment law, environmental protection, intellectual property, corporate law and criminal law. Required Texts Business Law Today: The Essentials, 8th Edition, by Miller/Jentz (Thomson ’08) ALWAYS BRING YOUR TEXTBOOK TO CLASS!! Materials

1. Access to Blackboard 2. Access to Microsoft Word 3. Access to the Internet

Course Format This course should be fun with significant class discussion. As such, it requires substantial student participation in mostly a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Each class, students will write and/or discuss their responses to assigned readings and homework. As discussed below, I will assign small projects throughout the semester, and there will be weekly quizzes with no mid-term or final exam. This course will be rather flexible and students will be responsible for checking e-mail and/or Blackboard each week for announcements, corrections, and clarifications to the schedule. Blackboard This class is set up on Blackboard. This syllabus is also posted on Blackboard. I will regularly post announcements, additional reading materials, grades and other relevant information on Blackboard throughout the semester. You must have a valid e-mail address accessible via Blackboard.

BUS110, SPRING ’08 SYLLABUS

Attendance Due to the nature of this subject, attendance in class is vital. Furthermore, because this class is only one night per week, missing one class is tantamount to missing a full week of class. As a result, a portion of your grade is dependent on attendance. As there will be a quiz in nearly every session, failure to attend will result in a zero on both the quiz and attendance for those classes. Weekly Quizzes Rather than major exams, we will have regular quizzes throughout the semester. Students are responsible for all textbook material covered, any assigned outside readings, and material discussed in class, unless specifically excluded by the instructor. Quizzes will consist primarily of matching, true/false, multiple-choice and/or short answer questions. We will use the final exam date for our last class and quiz. I will likely drop your lowest quiz score. There are no makeup quizzes. Homework Homework is necessary to prepare for the class lectures and the quizzes. In order to be successful in the class, students should complete the chapter assignments listed on the syllabus. The class may work together through selected assigned work, although your final product must be your own. Please ASK FOR HELP when you are struggling with understanding concepts. Homework will be randomly checked throughout the semester. You must turn in homework when due. Homework represents the most stress free points in the class, as completing it correctly is entirely within your exclusive control. There is no makeup homework. Projects/Written Assignments Brief individual projects/written assignments are required in the course. The written assignments will likely be one page or less long. You may discuss these projects with your fellow students but each student MUST complete and turn in his/her individual work. If you fail to turn in a project/written assignment, you will receive a ZERO score for the project. You must turn in projects when due. There are no makeup projects.

Grading Summary of anticipated grading components and grade scale: Total Percent Points Attendance/Participation 20% 200 Homework 10% 100 Short Papers/Projects 10% 100 Weekly Quizzes 60% 600 Total 100% 1,000 Final letter grades will likely be determined on a standard scale as follows: A 100-94 B 86.99-84 C 76.99-74 D 66.99-64 A- 93.99-90 B- 83.99-80 C- 73.99-70 D- 63.99-60 B+ 89.99-87 C+ 79.99-77 D+ 69.99-67 F < 60

PLEASE NOTE: THIS SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS CONDITIONS WARRANT;

PLEASE CHECK BLACKBOARD AND YOUR E-MAIL REGULARLY

BUS110, SPRING ’08 SYLLABUS

Reading Assignments Because the quizzes will cover the reading assignment for that week, it is important that students attend class and keep up with the reading (an average of 25-40 pages each week). I will assign reading assignments for every class meeting. The assignments will include text material and possible outside readings posted on Blackboard for the week. This syllabus includes a tentative schedule of reading assignments. Extra Credit Extra credit might be available during the quarter. I will let you know if the opportunity arises. Professional Classroom Conduct The classroom is a special environment in which students and faculty come together to promote learning and growth. It is essential to the learning environment that you respect for the rights of others seeking to learn, respect the professionalism of the instructor, and maintain the general goals of academic freedom. The goal is to express differences of viewpoint or concerns in terms that are supportive of the learning process, create an environment in which students and faculty may learn to reason with clarity and compassion, and develop an understanding of the community in which they live. Consequently, student conduct that disrupts the learning process may lead to disciplinary action and/or removal from class. Such inappropriate conduct includes talking to other students in class while the instructor is lecturing, which will not be tolerated.

Cell Phones Cell phone ring tones must be off at all times during class. If you are expecting an urgent phone call, please turn your phone to vibrate, and leave the classroom to answer the call. Cell phones shall not be visible during class at any time. Academic Integrity In accordance with the CSUCI’s policy on academic dishonesty, students in this course who cheat on quizzes, help other students cheat, or commit other acts of academic dishonesty will receive appropriate academic penalties, including failing the course. For More Assistance University Writing Center (Writing Tutors) (805) 437-8409 (Bell Tower 1512) The Advising Center (Academic Advising) (805) 437-8571 (Bell Tower, Room 1595) Financial Aid Advising (805) 437-8530 (Enrollment Center, Sage Hall 1020) Student Accommodations Students with Disabilities needing accommodation may make requests to Disability Accommodation Services, East Bell Tower Room 1804 (805-437-8510). Please discuss approved accommodations with me afterwards.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS CONDITIONS WARRANT;

PLEASE CHECK BLACKBOARD AND YOUR E-MAIL REGULARLY

BUS110, SPRING ’08 SYLLABUS

Tentative Lecture Outline NOTE: This schedule is tentative and I will modify the syllabus whenever developments indicate

that a change is desirable. You will likely receive announcements on changes to the syllabus during class but I will also attempt to announce any material changes to the syllabus on Blackboard and/or via e-mail. The following includes the core reading assignment from the text. Please continue to check Blackboard and your e-mail for additional articles, cases, etc.

Week Date Core Reading Assignment

1 Jan 22 Introduction to the Course 2 Jan 29 Chapter 1: Historical & Constitutional Foundations Appendix to Chapter 1: Finding and Analyzing the Law Homework: 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 1.9, 1.10 3 Feb 05 Chapter 2: Ethics & Business Decision Making Text Appendix D: The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Homework: 2.1, 2.3, 2.4, 2.8, 2.10, 2.11 Quiz: Chapters 1 and 2 4 Feb 12 Chapter 21: Investor Protection, Insider Trading, & Corporate Governance Homework: 21.1, 21.3, 21.4, 21.9, 21.10, 21.11 Quiz: Chapter 21 5 Feb 19 Chapter 3: Courts and Alternative Dispute Resolution Homework: 3.1, 3.5, 3.6, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10 Quiz: Chapter 3 6 Feb 26 Chapter 4: Torts and Cyber Torts Homework: 4.1, 4.3, 4.4, 4.7, 4.9, 4.10 Quiz: Chapter 4 7 Mar 04 Chapter 5: Intellectual Property and Internet Law Homework: 5.1, 5.4, 5.5, 5.7, 5.9, 5.11 Quiz: Chapter 5 8 Mar 11 Chapter 6: Criminal Law and Cyber Crimes Homework: 6.1, 6.3, 6.6, 6.9, 6.10, 6.12 Quiz: Chapter 6 9 Mar 18 Spring Break – No Classes

PLEASE NOTE: THIS SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS CONDITIONS WARRANT;

PLEASE CHECK BLACKBOARD AND YOUR E-MAIL REGULARLY

BUS110, SPRING ’08 SYLLABUS

10 Mar 25 Chapter 7: Contracts: Nature, Classification, etc. Homework: 7.1, 7.3, 7.4, 7.6, 7.8, 7.9 Quiz: Chapter 7 11 Apr 01 Chapter 8: Contracts: Capacity, Legality, etc. Homework: 8.1, 8.3, 8.6, 8.7, 8.9, 8.10 Quiz: Chapter 8 12 Apr 08 Chapter 9: Third Party Rights, etc. Homework: 9.1, 9.2, 9.4, 9.5, 9.8, 9.9, 9.10 Quiz: Chapter 9 13 Apr 15 Chapter 18: Employment Law Homework: 18.1, 18.3, 18.4, 18.8, 18.9, 18.10 Quiz: Chapter 18 14 Apr 22 Chapter 23: Insurance, pp. 715-724 Chapter 24: Real Property, pp. 731-745 Homework: 23.5, 23.8, 24.3, 24.5, 24.6, 24.10, 24.11 Quiz: Chapter 23 (Insurance); Chapter 24 (Real Property) 15 Apr 29 Chapter 16: Creditors’ Rights & Bankruptcy Homework: 16.1, 16.3, 16.5, 16.7, 16.8, 16.9 Quiz: Chapter 16 16 May 06 Chapter 17: Agency Homework: 17.1, 17.3, 17.5, 17.7, 17.8, 17.9 Quiz: Chapter 17 17 May 13* Chapter 10: E-Contracts and E-Signatures Homework: 10.1, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.9, 10.10 Quiz: Chapter 10

* Final exam date (Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.)

PLEASE NOTE: THIS SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS CONDITIONS WARRANT;

PLEASE CHECK BLACKBOARD AND YOUR E-MAIL REGULARLY