Professor Rhoads' Web Page
Course Outlines

CSU, Long Beach -

College of Business Administration

 

Professor Thomas Rhoads

Legal & Regulatory Environment of Business

BLAW 320 - Spring, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

                COURSE DESCRIPTION: Prerequisite BLAW 220 or equivalent.  Introduction to business ethics and corporate responsibility; a consideration of social and economic influences on domestic and multinational corporations; an exploration of business and government relationships, employment law, business organizations, and consumer protection. 

 

 

                                                            SCHEDULE OF  STUDY

 

MEETING

DATE

                                     TOPIC

CHAPTER

1

1-30

Introduction

- - -

2

2-1

Sources, Types & Ethics in the Law

1

3

2-6

4

2-8

Court Systems and Jurisdiction

2

5

2-13

6

2-15

Trials & Alternate Dispute Resolution

3

7

2-20

8

2-22

The Constitution & Business

5

9

2-27

10

3-1

First Exam

- - -

11

3-6

Exam Review

- - -

12

3-8

Environmental Law

6

13

3-13

14

3-15

Employment Relationships

7

15

3-20

16

3-22

Business Organizations

8

17

3-27

18

3-29

Securities Regulation

9

19

4-10

20

4-12

Second Exam

- - -

21

4-17

Exam Review

- - -

22

4-19

Employment Law

10

23

4-24

24

4-26

Consumer Protection & White Collar Crimes

11

25

5-1

26

5-3

Anti-Trust, Mergers and Fair Trade

12

27

5-8

28

5-10

International Legal Environment of Business

13

29

5-15

Third Exam

 

30

5-17

Exam Review

- - -

 

            TEXT : Professor Rhoads’ Selected chapters, Meiners, Ringleb & Edwards,

LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS, 2006. ISBA 0-324-35841-5.

            The text web site includes practice exams and other study material. It is located at,  http://websites.swlearning.com . From that page under, “Business & Economics” select “Business Law”, then select “Legal Environment of Business”, then scroll to the Meiners, Ringleb & Edwards text  and under “Students” click “Companion Site”.

                       

            THIS IS AN UPPER-DIVISION, STATE UNIVERSITY COURSE REQUIRED OF ALL COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION GRADUATES, "...PRESENTED TO MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF ACADEMICALLY ADVANCED STUDENTS." (CSULB CATALOG, "General Regulations and Procedures: Course Numbers")  YOU ARE REQUIRED TO KNOW THE MATERIAL FROM THE PREREQUISITE COURSE.  YOUR PERFORMANCE AND CONDUCT WILL BE JUDGED ACCORDINGLY.  

 

            Grading is on a curve with your relative performance determining your course grade. To discourage cheating, all students in all sections of this course that I teach each semester are in the same curve pool. Each exam and the cumulative final exam will count towards 20% of your grade. You will need a Scantron From 882 and a number "2" pencil for each exam. Please don’t insult me or yourself by turning in a Scantron that is not machine readable because it has been folded, stapled or otherwise mutilated. If you think that you may want to change one of your answers during an exam be sure to bring a suitable eraser. Do not rely upon the erasers that come on the end of pencils since they make Scantrons unreadable. There will be 50 questions on each exam. Class recitations, responses to questions and other in-class performance  will determine the remaining 20% of your grade.  At the end of the semester only those students whose in-class performance will have an effect on their grade will have points added to or subtracted from their total.  You will have many opportunities to volunteer during the semester. If you choose to wait until the end of the semester to volunteer you may not have a opportunity to recite because many others probably will want to recite then also.  Please state your first and last name each and every time you speak in class.  In-class performance will be evaluated on your knowledge of the text, cases and lecture material.  In addition, your ability to integrate that knowledge into the business environment and College of Business Administration curriculum will be evaluated.

            Since grading is on a curve there will not be any make-up exams given without an extremely good reason post facto.  Exams may be taken early when appropriate arrangements have been made with the instructor.  When you know in advance that you will be absent on a day when an exam is scheduled to be given, you must take it prior to the date or receive a zero towards your final score.

 

 

 

 

 

 

     You should read and brief all of the cases in the chapters and those handed out in class[1] before the material is covered in class.  Each and every case will be discussed in class.  You should brief all of them.  A "brief" is a written summary of the case organized into the following categories:

 

            1. Statement of the relevant facts.  (Relevant facts are those that tend to prove or disprove an issue in the case.)

            2.  Concise statement of the issue in the case.  (This should be in the form of a question, the answer to which will resolve the matter.)

            3.  Statement of the applicable law.  (Set out the rule or rules that were used by the judges to decide the matter.)

            4.  Apply the rule to the facts of the particular case. (This will explain how the matter was resolved.)

 

            If there are concurring or dissenting opinions in the text set out the differences therein from numbers 1-4, above, from the majority opinion.  Finally, answer each of the questions that follow each case.  The briefing of cases is an integral part of learning this material and if you do not brief the cases adequately your performance on the examinations, class recitations and grade in the course will reflect that inadequacy.

 

 

               You should consider keeping a Study Log where you record the date and times that you study and what material you studied. Reviewing this evidence as well as your written briefs will  enable us to evaluate your study habits so that improvements can be made as necessary. The briefs and study log will be the first things I will request to see when you seek my assistance.

            All policies and procedures will be in strict accordance with the current CSULB CATALOG.  Read it before asking about these matters.  The CSULB CATALOG, under "General Regulations and Procedures: Student Load" states the following,

 

    "The faculty recognizes that it is frequently necessary for students to hold part-time positions while attending the University.  It advises good judgment be demonstrated by students enrolling under these conditions.  Students whose outside employment could be expected to interfere with the normal unit load should reduce their academic program accordingly.  It is suggested students plan a schedule spending three hours time per week for each unit taken.  This may be considered sufficient time to enable a student to do satisfactory work.  Students who desire to achieve "A" or "B" grades may wish to spend proportionately more time in their studies.  A student's employment and college time combined should not exceed 60 hours weekly.  Students who make no allowances for their employment and outside obligations in planning their college programs will bear full responsibility for the resulting level of scholarship."

 

            Please refrain from activities that disrupt the class including but not limited to, personal grooming, newspaper reading, private conversations, continued unexplained tardiness or entering the classroom late in a manner that distracts the class.  It is always permissible to enter the classroom at any time but, if you must enter the classroom late, please do not disrupt the class by simply rushing in and making your way to the back of the room leaving the classroom door to slam behind you. Latecomers should quietly close the door behind themselves and sit in the first available seat, thereby causing the least interference to the classroom activities (Do unto others as you would have they, should do unto you.).

            No audio or video recording of lectures or other classroom activities will be permitted without the EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT of the instructor.

 

Contact, Offices and Hours

                       

                                    Email: trhoads@csulb.edu (this is the easiest way to reach me)

                                    Office: CBA 324

                                       Hours: TTh 7:30-8:00 a.m. and 2:00-3:00 p.m.

                                    Telephone: (562) 985-5760

 

                                    Administrative Support Assistant: Margaret Williams

                                    Office: CBA 200

                                       Hours: M-Th 8:00 am-5:00 p.m., Fri 8:00 a.m.-noon.

                                    Telephone: (562) 985-7696         

 

            Office hours are for your benefit.  Your are strongly urged to use them.  Learning is a process that takes place over a period of time.  Please do not come into my office in the last part of the semester expecting me to provide you with some kind of magic formula for success that can make up for two to three months of neglect to your studies. I will do all that I can to enable you to achieve the level of performance you desire and the earlier you involve me in the process the more I will be able to help you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


[1] Supplemental cases will usually be distributed at the class meeting immediately preceding when the cases are to be briefed.