BAA 604

Spring (I) Day 2017

J. Blanke

Syllabus

Course: BAA 604 - Issues in Business Law & Corporate Social Responsibility
Instructor: Jordan M. Blanke
Office: BE225
Telephone: (678) 547-6313
Internet: blanke_j@mercer.edu
Office Hours: Monday 4:30 - 5:30 pm (Douglas)
  Tuesday 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
  Thursday 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
 
Mission Statement:

The Stetson School of Business and Economics of Mercer University delivers 
career focused business education to develop entrepreneurial leaders and responsible global citizens.

Course Description:

This course will explore the legal environment and focus on the formation and operation of a variety of business organizations including the corporation, the partnership and the LLC (Limited Liability Company).  It will examine the roles and obligations of organizational participants - the directors, officers, partners, and members - and examine best practices relating to corporate sustainability and social responsibility.  Additional related topics may include stock trading, valuation, shareholder’s rights, mergers and acquisitions, insider trading and antitrust laws.  The course will also explore topics in contract law and intellectual property.

Course Objectives:

                Upon successful completion of the course, the student should be able to:

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identify and compare the various forms of business organizations.

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discuss the roles and responsibilities of the members of the various forms of business organizations.

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address issues in corporate sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

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understand a variety of topics in contract law.

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discuss and compare the various types of intellectual property.

Prerequisites

             None

Textbooks

Law for Entrepreneurs, Version 1.0.1, by Don Mayer, Daniel M. Warner, George J. Seidel and Jethro K. Lieberman, eISBN: 978-1-4533-5187-1
Available at https://students.flatworldknowledge.com/course/2540420

Class Assignments and Evaluation
Evaluation Criteria

Exam #1
Exam #2
Exam #3

30%
35%
35%

Grading Structure

85.0 average
78.0
70.0
65.0
60.0

A
B+
B
C+
C

Note from the Professor

The exams will cover the assigned readings, as well as any additional material covered in class. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out what you have missed - both material covered and future assignments.  No make-up examinations will be given. If you cannot be present for an exam (for a legitimate reason), let me know beforehand - call me at my office and tell me, or leave a message on my answering machine. Failure to do so will result in a grade of zero on that test.

Mercer University Honor Code and Council

See Mercer catalog for detailed description.

Honor Code

Mercer University Atlanta expects each and every student to maintain the highest principles of academic honesty and integrity.  Violations of academic honesty represent a breach of the University's expectations and will be regarded as a serious matter.  Violations include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, lying, and stealing.

All work on tests must be your own. Any inappropriate copying or collaboration on any test will result in a grade of 'F' for the course.

Disability Statement

Students requiring accommodations or modifications for a disability should inform the instructor at the close of the first class meeting or as soon as possible.  The instructor will refer you to the ACCESS and Accommodation Office to document your disability, determine eligibility for accommodations under the ADAAA/Section 504 and to request a Faculty Accommodation Form.  Disability accommodations or status will not be indicated on academic transcripts.  In order to receive accommodations in a class, students with sensory, learning, psychological, physical or medical disabilities must provide their instructor with a Faculty Accommodation Form to sign.  Students must return the signed form to the ACCESS Coordinator.  A new form must be requested each semester.  Students with a history of a disability perceived as having a disability or with a current disability who do not wish to use academic accommodations are also strongly encouraged to register with the ACCESS and Accommodation Office and request a Faculty Accommodation Form each semester.  For further information, please contact Richard Stilley (stilley_r@mercer.edu), at (678) 547-6823 or visit the ACCESS and Accommodation Office website at http://atlstuaffairs.mercer.edu/disability-services.cfm

Inclement Weather

If severe weather occurs, classes will be canceled in accordance with the Associate Provost’s decision of Mercer-Atlanta.  Call the Mercer weather phone for information about class cancellations (678) 547-6111 (Atlanta) or listen to WSB 750 AM.

Course Reading and Learning Schedule:

(Syllabus subject to change at the discretion of the Professor)

Session

Date

Preparation

Course Contents

Prep Time
1 Jan 10

Ch. 1 (Sections 1-6)
Ch. 3 (1-5)
Ch. 4 (1, 4, and 6.1 (the Griswold case))
Ch. 5 (1-4)

Introduction to the Law
Sources of Law

2 hours

2 Jan 12

 

Court Systems and Jurisdiction 2
3 Jan 17 Ch. 2 (1-2, 4)
Reading assignment for Ethics, Society and the Law
Corporate Social Responsibility & Business Ethics
 
2
4 Jan 19
 
Corporate Social Responsibility & Business Ethics
 
2
5 Jan 24

Ch. 8 (1-3)
Ch. 9 (1-3)
Ch. 11 (1 and 2.1 (through Adequacy of Consideration))
Ch. 12 (1-2)

Contract Law


 
6
6 Jan 26

Ch. 10 (1-4)
Ch. 13 (1-2)

Ch. 14 (1-2)

Ch. 15 (1)

Ch. 16 (1-4 and 5.1-5.3 (through Mitigation of Damages) and  6.1 (the EBWS case) and 6.4 (the Shirley MacLaine case))
Contract Law
 
2
7 Jan 31 Ch. 21 (1-2)
Ch. 22 (1-3)
Business Organizations
Exam #1
2
8 Feb 2 Ch. 23 (1-3)
Ch. 24 (1-3)
Business Organizations
 
2
9 Feb 7 Ch. 26 (1-4)
 
Ch. 27 (1-2)
 
Directors and Officers
Sarbanes-Oxley Act
Insider Trading
Sustainability
2
10 Feb 9 Ch. 18 (1-5) Intellectual Property - Copyright Law 6
11 Feb 164   Intellectual Property - Copyright Law
Exam #2
2
12 Feb 16
 
  Intellectual Property - Patent, Trademark and Trade Secret Law 2
13 Feb 21   Intellectual Property - Patent, Trademark and Trade Secret Law 2
14 Feb 23 Ch. 29 (1-2 and 4.2 (the Duncan case)) Employment Law 2
15 Feb 28   Environmental Law 2
16 Mar 2   Exam #3 6

PowerPoint Presentations:
Introduction to Law
(full version)
Physician Assisted Suicide

Ethics, Society & the Law (full version)
Contract Law (full version)
Business Organizations (full version)
Copyright Law (full version)
Patent, Trademark and Trade Secret Law
Covenants Not to Compete
2010 Georgia Ballot Amendment

Employment Law
Environmental Law

Your Guide to the Georgia Courts (PDF file)

Exploring Constitutional Law - an interesting site that presents some basic information about the U.S. Constitution (for those of you who would like some more information about the Constitution)

Reading assignment for Ethics, Society and the Law  (Week 2) 

Hamilton Cast Performs "Alexander Hamilton" at the White House - video
70th Annual Tony Awards 'Hamilton - video 

The Coffee Lawsuit - A True Story - comic    
In Washington Pizzeria Attack, Fake News Brought Real Guns - New York Times article    

Legal Studies Classroom - Prof. DeAngelis - UConn
    Eminent Domain - The Ballad of Suzette Kelo - video
    Good Samaritan Laws - Seinfeld finale - video

The Sendek House - Rego Park, Queens  

Sample Test Questions (PDF document)  

Sustainability

    Walmart Sustainability 2.0 Videos (please watch these before Thursday)
    Introduction
    Goals
    Seafood
    SEEP
    Packaging
    Waste
   
Use

    Walmart Sustainability Site
    Walmart Global Responsibility Reports
    Walmart's Sustainability Hits and Misses - SmartPlanet blog
    Wal-Mart Top 10 Sustainability Projects Underscore Global Leadership - Forbes.com
    Walmart's Sustainability Efforts Stall Under New Leadership - TriplePundit.com

    Wal-Mart Leads the Way in Corporate Recycling - Clark Howard.com 
    Wal-Mart Pushes for Collaborative Sustainability Goals - GreenBiz
    Wal-Mart Announces a New Commitment to a Sustainable Food System at Global Milestone Meeting

Supreme Court Sides With Prosecutors in Insider Trading Case
Timeline: A History of Insider Trading
Justices, 8-0, Back U.S. on Conviction of Wall St. Writer

Copyright Website - George Harrison
                              Two Live Crew

A Fair(y) Use Tale - YouTube clip

Justices, 9-0, Bar Patenting Human Genes - New York Times article
Patent Trolls - Electronic Frontier Foundation

Environmental Law

    How Wolves Change Rivers - video
    Gowanus Canal - Wikipedia article
    U.S. Announces Proposals to Clean Gowanus Canal - New York Times article
    In Gowanus, Big Development Can Wait - New York Times article and Slide Show 
    In Brooklyn, Worrying About Not Only Flooding but Also What's in Water? - New York Times article
    Come On In, Paddlers, the Water's Just Fine.  Don't Mind the Sewage -  New York Times article
    Cleaning Up Brooklyn's Gowanus Canal - video
    The Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club - video
    After Gowanus Canal Floods Its Banks, Fear of What's Left Behind - video 
    New York the Oyster City - video

 

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