Welcome to…. OBE-118 Legal Environment of Business!!! Professor John A. McKinsey Fall 2004

2 Office Hours (TAHOE-2054) –Tuesday 5:00 to 5:45 PM – Thursday 9:00 to 9:45 AM – or by appointment –Put “OBE118” in the subject header for faster response Telephone –CSUS Office (916) Finding Your Professor

3 –Legal Environment Beatty, Samuelson, 2 nd Edition –Some handouts –Class Website –At the website you will find edited versions of the lectures for you to download/ review/print/etc. Text and Resources

4 John McKinsey -Full-time lawyer in Sacramento law firm. I specialize in the regulation of business. - CSUS graduate - Former nuclear power plant operator - Why do I teach?

5 Course Summary- Learning Goals –Substantive law –Legal Reasoning –Relationship of law to business –Process of law –Critical thinking –Writing –Speaking

6 Course Summary- Assessment Exams 75% Quizz-es 25% Participation ??? (up to a full letter grade) (See page 4 of syllabus)

7 Exams Multiple choice questions Sometimes short analysis questions Exams increase in weight as semester goes on (90, 100, 110 points) You will need a Scantron form 882 for exams Tests can include anything assigned for reading or discussed in class

8 Quizzes All quizzes are short and worth 10 points Six scheduled quizzes At least four surprise quizzes You must bring Scantron quizstrip to every class Best ten quiz scores count for total possible 100 points

9 Homework Three homework assignments Homework handout next week with a sample graded assignment. Each assignment worth 20 points Homework is not accepted late nor is there a way to make up homework assignments

10 Reading Assignments - See syllabus for course coverage - I do not tend to fall behind -This Week: -Chap 1: 3, 5-17 (17-20 might be useful) -Chap 2: 27-30

11 Succeeding in this Class Read and attempt to understand concepts before each class (Before class) Use slides to make note taking in class more effective (During class) After class (within 48 hours) review reading and lecture notes and make outline, etc that puts it all together (After class) Test yourself via groups or on your own and use results to conduct further studying (Between lecture and exam) Review before exam (Before exam)

12 What is “The Law” - Rules of permissible conduct, limits on allowable conduct - Not the same as a moral limit or rule, but is supposed to be reflective of morals and ethics - But we all know there are many things that you can do, but should not do.

13 Role of Law in Business The ways in which the law affects business are as numerous as the number of laws themselves Enron, Worldcom, Tyco (Business structure) McDonald’s coffee Spill (Torts) Grace Inc. and “A Civil Action” (Environmental) Limit of VOC content in underarm deodorant (Product regulation) Employees not paid overtime (Employment law) Customer refuses to pay (Contracts)

14 Types of Legal Situations Transactional Situational Negotiation of contracts, purchases etc. (these tend to occur in more informal settings) Reactionary events such as claims made by someone else against you or you against them. (these tend to occur in more formal settings such as law suits, criminal accusations, etc.)

15 Types of Law- Nature Substantive Law vs Procedural Law Defines rights and duties Explains how to make the law work

16 Parting Questions What right does the federal government, a state government or the local city or county have to tell you or your business what you can or cannot do? What are the limits on this authority?

17 Parting Questions What right does the federal government, a state government or the local city or county have to tell you or your business what you can or cannot do? What are the limits on this authority?