Law 315 - Foundations of American Business Law

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PROFESSOR EMAIL POLICIES

The best way to reach me is via email at anne.herbert@asu.edu. If you have a general question about the course or the readings, I will address the question in class at the earliest opportunity. If you have specific questions about the lectures and/or readings or any matter concerning the course, you should come to my office hours or schedule an appointment. I will not provide substantive individual replies to emails concerning the course generally, nor will I provide substantive individual replies to emails concerning specific issues you may have regarding the class (i.e. your grade on a particular exam).

LECTURE, READING & ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE

You are responsible for completing the reading and the assignments by the beginning of the scheduled discussion section. All assignments must be posted on Blackboard by Noon on the Monday will be discussing the reading for that week.

Week 1: 1/11 – 1/15

Topic: Movie: Hot Coffee

Reading: Friedman, Law in America, Introduction and Chapter 3; W. Farnsworth, The Legal Analyst, Chapters 1-2; Schauer, Thinking Like a Lawyer, Introduction begin reading Goldberg & Zipursky, Torts, Introduction and Chapter 3

Week 2: 1/18 – 1/22

No Class on Monday, January 18th – Martin Luther King Day

Reading: Friedman, Law in America, Introduction and Chapter 3; W. Farnsworth, The Legal Analyst, Chapters 1-2; Schauer, Thinking Like a Lawyer, Introduction begin reading Goldberg & Zipursky, Torts, Introduction and Chapter 3

Assignment 1: DUE ON BLACKBOARD by 5pm Tuesday, January 19th.

Pick two of the readings (Prof will ensure even distribution among class if necessary so that all the readings are covered) – Friedman, Goldberg & Zipursky, or Farnsworth – and write a 2-3 page synopsis to use in class discussion. Your written discussion should be guided by a question you pose based on the reading.

Week 3: 1/25-1/29

Topic: Torts – Negligence and Risk Management

Reading: Friedman, Law in America, Chapter 6; Goldberg & Zipursky, Torts, Chapter 5;

W. Farnsworth, The Legal Analyst, Chapter 2 and 5

Cases Discussed: Baltimore & Ohio Railroad v. Goodman (Holmes); Pokora v. Wabash (Cardozo)

Assignment 2: Brief the cases for this week; Pick two of the readings (Prof will ensure even distribution among class if necessary so that all the readings are covered) – Friedman, Goldberg & Zipursky, or Farnsworth – and write a 2-3 page synopsis to use in class discussion. Your written discussion should be guided by a question you pose based on the reading.

Week 4: 2/1 – 2/5

Topic: Torts – Strict Liability and Product Liability

Reading: Friedman, Law in America, Chapter 7; Goldberg & Zipursky, Torts, Chapters 9-10;

W. Farnsworth, The Legal Analyst, Chapter 2 and 5

Cases Discussed: Vaughn v. Menlove; Macpherson v. Buick Motor Co. (Cardozo)

Assignment 3: Brief the cases for this week. Pick two of the readings (Prof will ensure even distribution among class if necessary so that all the readings are covered) – Friedman, Goldberg & Zipursky, or Farnsworth – and write a 2-3 page synopsis to use in class discussion. Your written discussion should be guided by a question you pose based on the reading.

Week 5: 2/8 – 2/12

Topic: Contracts

Reading: M. Radin, Boilerplate, Chapters 1-3

Cases Discussed: Wood v. Lady Duff Gordon; The Peerless Case; The Coronation Cases (Krell v. Henry and Chandler v. Webster) ; Hadley v. Baxendale

Assignment 4: Brief 2 of the 4 cases for this week; Write a 2-3 page synopsis of Radin’s arguments to use in class discussion. Your written discussion should be guided by a question you pose based on the reading.

Week 6: 2/15 – 2/19

Topic: Contracts + Torts = Contorts (?)

Reading: : M. Radin, Boilerplate, Chapters 5-6, 11; Cunningham, Contracts in the Real World, pps 206-211.

Case Discussed: Henningsen v. Bloomfield Motors, Inc.; “Katie Janeway’s Tragic Accident” in Cunnigham.

Assignment 5: Brief the cases for the week. Write a 2-3 page synopsis of Radin’s arguments to use in class discussion.

Week 7: 2/22 – 2/26

Topic: Private Property, the Rule of Law, and the Regulation of Private Property

Reading: Waldron, The Rule of Law and the Measure of Property, Chapters 1-3

Assignment 6: TBD

Week 8: 2/29 – 3/4

FINAL EXAM on Monday, February 29