BUSA 2106 Fall 2010 Legal and Ethical Environment of Business Department of Risk Management and Insurance J Mack Robinson College of Business INSTRUCTOR Perry Binder J D Assistant Professor of Legal Studies RMI Department Robinson College of Business 11th floor Web Site http www gsu edu rmipzb CONTACT E mail pbinder gsu edu the quickest way to reach me It would be helpful for me if you put BUSA 2106 as part or all of your e mail Subject Make sure to include your full name in the e mail Office Hours By Appointment CATALOG DESCRIPTION This course provides the business student with a study of the interrelationship of law ethics and business The course covers government regulation of business activities and the legal environment within which business must operate The course also provides an introduction to ethical theory and decision making models COURSE OVERVIEW The legal environment plays a significant role in facilitating and constraining business activity To be competitive American business must understand and strategically use the legal environment to minimize risk and enhance productivity This course provides you with an overview of U S statutory administrative and judicial efforts to regulate business activity in several areas business entities corporations agency and employment law tort law products liability and the protection of intellectual property Strategic responses to competitive pressures may also require managers to make difficult ethical decisions After an introduction to ethical theory and decision making models we will focus on the application of ethics to business decisionmaking REQUIRED TEXT Miller Cross Legal Environment of Business Today Cengage 6th ed 2010 is available in both print and electronic versions YOU DO NOT NEED TO PURCHASE Legal Environment of Business Today CNOW PAC access card CengageNow On line purchase direct from the publisher free UPS ground shipping http gsublaw thomsonsites com or Miller Cross COURSE OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES LEARNING OBJECTIVES By the end of the course the student will have the ability to communicate effectively about legal and ethical issues using oral and written conventions evaluate legal arguments and evidence to apply legal doctrine to solve business problems explain how law can be used strategically as a tool to reduce or manage business risk identify and analyze contemporary legal issues to promote an interest in the legal environment use technology effectively to research law related issues In addition after completing BUSA 2106 the student will be more aware of the complexity and unpredictability of the law be more sensitive to ethical issues confronting business and have a greater appreciation of the role of law and the courts in balancing legitimate competing interests of the parties COURSE OUTCOMES Upon successful completion of BUSA 2106 a student should be able to understand the structure and jurisdiction of the state and federal court systems the key Constitutional provisions that affect business the concepts of federalism and separation of powers and the role and functions of administrative agencies explain ethical theories and be able to apply them to business situations and explain the relationship between the law and ethics describe and apply legal principles concerning corporations and other business entities intellectual property torts product liability agency employment law and employment discrimination In addition the course is intended to make you more aware of the impact of law on business operations As a result of the knowledge and critical thinking undertaken in the course you should be better able to recognize assess and analyze case problems and other legal issues affecting business apply legal analysis principles to resolve business problems avoid legal problems before they occur and participate more effectively in resolving disputes that do arise METHOD OF INSTRUCTION Class time will devoted to lecture discussion and in class activities including Case analysis and problem solving Law related research on current issues Each class section will have one or more of the following projects assigned at the option of the instructor Court Visit Case File Reports Current Issue Report applying law ethics Research Memo writing assignment ATTENDANCE AND PREPARATION Because there is considerable material to be covered we will move at a rapid pace Thus attendance is very important you are expected to attend and be thoroughly prepared for each class Absenteeism or lack of preparation may adversely affect your grade A special word to VA students Due to required University oversight of students receiving VA benefits you have a special burden of faithful class attendance Under present guidelines absence for a ten consecutive calendar day period necessitates a report to that effect to the VA Office at GSU with presumably a consequent adverse effect on your status vis a vis the U S Government Please keep this in mind 2 MAKE UP EXAMINATIONS Generally make up exams are not allowed except in extreme cases A student who is ill or otherwise knows that he or she will not be able to attend a scheduled examination must immediately notify the professor by e mail prior to the examination with the reason for the expected absence CLASSROOM POLICIES Ten 10 points will be deducted for every unexcused business day that an assignment is late Any and all legal opinions or statements as to legal matters made by the Instructor are for class discussion purposes only and are never to be taken as dispensing legal advice This includes any conversations with students whether during or outside class time Please keep in mind that e mail is an insecure environment thus please do not ask me to e mail you sensitive information including grades On the first day of class I will pass around an index card asking for your e mail address in case I need to contact you concerning class material Make sure you put down an address that only you have access to All research projects or term papers that students turn in to me are the property of the student I will not use your projects outside the classroom without your written permission Please feel free to call me Perry GSU POLICIES ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY Abstracted from Student Handbook Student Code of Conduct Policy on Academic Honesty at http www2 gsu edu wwwdos codeofconduct conpol html Behavior consistent with College and University policies on academic honesty and treatment of members of the