Assignment Instructions
Course Objectives:
CO1 Define the legal environment that is applicable to the business world.
CO2 Review basic business law concepts
CO3 Describe the litigation system in the United States
CO4 Apply legal concepts to business to business scenarios
CO5 Analyze the differences between major forms of intellectual property protection, and current ethical issues that arise under intellectual property law
CO6 Identify antitrust issues in business decisions
CO7 Analyze what a contract is, how a contract is formed, the types of law that govern contracts, the elements of common-law contract formation, and defenses to contracts
CO8 Identify various forms of business structure
CO9 Evaluate employment laws affecting business
CO10 Define ethical environment that is applicable to the business world.
CO11 Identify means to avoid alter ego liability
CO12 Evaluate how the Sarbanes Oxley Act applies to business.
Instructions:
The essay is due no later than the end of week seven. Students are encouraged to submit the essay before the due date.
Essay topic: Reflecting on the concepts you have studied in the course, research a company and discuss the legal and ethical issues surrounding it. You will need to research the company through the University library. Your essay should include the following four sections:
1) Identify and discuss two to three specific laws that apply to the company. For example, the laws mentioned in the EEOC readings.
2) Apply three general legal topics that were discussed in the required readings, i.e. Appendix B. Make sure you include in-text citations to the course materials, as failing to cite your sources will result in no credit in this section. The weekly lessons are not the required readings. The required readings are listed in the lessons section under "Required Readings."
3) Discuss how the philosophy of economist Milton Friedman may have influenced the executives of the company.
4) Identify an ethical framework other than the shareholder theory that applies to this situation and discuss how it may have influenced the executives of the company.
Solyndra and British Petroleum
Article - Personal Liability of Corporate Shareholders in New York by Steven Maffei