BUS 185 - Business Law I

1. Analyze the sources of law.
   1. List the sources of law.
   2. Show how types of law interrelate
   3. Outline the differences between criminal law and civil law.
   4. Demonstrate an understanding of constitutional issues.
   5. Discuss case law and its precedential value.
2. Explain the structure of the federal and state court systems.
   1. Reproduce the basic, three tiers of the federal court system.
   2. Describe a typical state court system.
   3. Describe the Iowa court system.
   4. Discuss how a civil case moves through the various court systems.
3. Differentiate among types of jurisdiction.
   1. Identify subject matter jurisdiction rules.
   2. Identify personal jurisdiction rules.
   3. Discuss venue.
4. Contrast the three major types of torts.
   1. Define a tort.
   2. List various intentional torts with specific elements for each.
   3. Name the elements of negligence and defenses to negligence.
   4. Explain strict liability.
5. Classify crimes.
   1. Demonstrate an understanding of what constitutes a crime.
   2. Identify felonies and misdemeanors and who determines what is a felony and what is a misdemeanor.
   3. Distinguish criminal law from civil law.
6. Distinguish types of legally binding contracts.
   1. Define the elements of a contract: offer, acceptance, and consideration.
   2. Label: express vs. implied contracts; formal vs informal contracts; void, voidable, unenforceable, or valid contracts.
7. Explain how lack of capacity affects the validity of a contract.
   1. Review the circumstances under which minors are able to disaffirm contracts.
   2. Examine the objective theory of determining whether a person is intoxicated and the implications of an intoxicated person entering into a contract.
   3. Separate voidable from void contracts due to incompetency.
8. Analyze the affect of a contract that is contrary to statute or public policy.
   1. Identify contracts that are illegal because the subject of the contract violates a statute.
   2. Define public policy.
   3. Review contracts that have been declared illegal because they violate public policy.
9. Examine contracts made without genuine assent.
   1. Discuss the affect of contracts entered while under duress or undue influence.
   2. Analyze the affect of a contract where one or both parties were mistaken as to the value of the contract or identity of the subject of the contract.
   3. Identify the elements of fraud.
   4. Analyze the validity of a contract where one party was defrauded.
10. Interpret the rules of evidence relative to contracts.
    1. Summarize the five areas of the Statute of Frauds requiring certain contracts to be in writing.
    2. Examine the Parol Evidence Rule and any exceptions to the rule.
11. Assess the rights of third parties to contracts.
    1. Explain the rights of a third party when a contract is assigned or duties are delegated.
    2. Differentiate between the rights of intended third party beneficiaries and incidental third party beneficiaries.
12. Interpret the remedies available to a nonbreaching party.
    1. Distinguish remedies at law and remedies in equity.
    2. Illustrate an understanding of various contract clauses: liquidated damages clause; exculpatory damages clause; limitation of remedies clauses.
13. Differentiate between Article 2 or the UCC and common law rules with regard to contracts.
    1. Express the history and jurisdiction of Article 2 of the UCC.
    2. Review each element of a contract to compare how Article 2 changes common law principles of contract.
14. Evaluate when title and risk of loss pass from seller to buyer under a sales contract.
    1. Define title to goods.
    2. Describe risk of loss with regard to damaged, lost or stolen goods.
    3. Explain that title and risk of loss pass according to separate UCC rules in the absence of agreement between the parties.
    4. Explain UCC rules.
15. Interpret the basic remedies available to the injured party.
    1. List pre-litigation and litigation remedies available to a seller when the buyer breaches a sales contract.
    2. List pre-litigation and litigation remedies available to a buyer when the seller breaches a sales contract.
16. Explain warranties that arise in connection with the sale of goods.
    1. Define a warranty.
    2. Differentiate between warranties of title and warranties of quality.
    3. Compare express warranties from implied warranties.
    4. Discriminate between types of implied warranties.
    5. Demonstrate how to disclaim all types of warranties.
17. Contrast the requirements associated with prevailing products liability lawsuits.
    1. Define products liability.
    2. Compare negligent products liability with strict product liability lawsuits.