Virginia Military Institute
BU 316 - Legal Environment of Business

Roscoe B. Stephenson, III, J.D.
Attorney at Law


264 Scott Shipp Hall
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA 24450

StephensonRB@vmi.edu

(540) 969-7242 phone
Click here for the syllabus.

Roscoe B. Stephenson, III, Attorney. Click here for a current CV.
Roscoe B. Stephenson, III

Fall 2025 Schedule
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Tuesdays and Thursdays

BU316-01 08:00-09:15 - SSH 164
BU316-02 09:25-10:40 - SSH 164

Date

Topics

Links
Now There are various supplemental materials in your assignments. You can download them one-by-one as we go along, or you can download the complete compilation at the link to the right. Link to Supplemental Materials

UNIT 1 - FOUNDATION
August
26 Introduction/Administrative Details
28 Chapter 1 Introduction to Law
September
2 Chapter 3 Civil Dispute Resolution - from beginning of chapter through p. 53.
4 Finish Chapter 3.

UNIT 2 - TORTS
9 The Doctrine of Respondeat Superior - External and Unplanned Liability

Chapter 29 - pp. 621-623 (Beginning with "Vicarious Liability of Principal for Unauthorized Acts of Agent" and including the Rubin case).

Also: Gina Chin & Associates v. First Union Bank (click link to right).

Link to Gina Chin & Associates
11 Chapter 7 Intentional Torts - beginning of chapter to p. 138 (ending at "Invasion of Privacy")
16 Finish Chapter 7

Also: Bowers v. Westvaco Corp. (click link to right).

Link to Bowers
18 Chapter 8 Negligence and Strict Liability beginning of chapter to p. 164 (ending at Defenses to Negligence )
23 Finish Chapter 8
25 Negligent Hiring and Retention

Chapter 29 - pp. 618-621 (Beginning with "Tort Liability of the Principal" and ending at "Vicarious Liability of Principal for Unauthorized Acts of Agent")

Also: Blair v. Defender Services, Inc. (click link to right).

Link to Blair
TBA 8:00 p.m. - Review Session for First Test
30 First Test

UNIT 3 - CONTRACTS
October
2 Chapter 9 Introduction to Contracts - beginning of chapter to p. 186 (ending at "Promissory Estoppel"); and

Chapter 10 - Mutual Assent beginning of chapter to p. 207 (ending at Acceptance of Offer )
Skip over: Catamount Slate Products, Inc. v. Sheldon on p. 198 (save it for later).
7 Finish Chapter 10.
Include: Catamount Slate Products, Inc. v. Sheldon on p. 198.
Disregard: Norcia v. Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC on p. 208.
Substitute: Osprey v. Kelley-Moore Paint Co. (click link to right). 		Link to Osprey v. Kelley-Moore Paint Co.
9 Chapter 12 Consideration beginning of chapter to p. 247 (ending at Bargained-for Exchange )
Disregard: Vanegas v. American Energy Services on p. 241.
Substitute: Pearsall v. Alexander (click link to right). 		Link to Pearsall v. Alexander
14 Finish Chapter 12 except for the section on Promissory Estoppel, p. 248 to end of chapter (to be covered in next lecture).
16 Equitable Contract Doctrines: Promissory Estoppel, Quasi Contract, and Restitution.

Chapter 9, beginning at p. 186 "Promissory Estoppel" to end of chapter;
Also: Chapter 12, beginning at p. 248 "Promissory Estoppel" to end of chapter.

Add: Skebba v. Kasch (click link to right).

Disregard: In re APA Assessment Fee Litigation on p. 189.
Substitute: Musgrove Construction Co. v. Young (click link to right).

Link to Skebba v. Kasch

Link to Musgrove Construction Co.

21 Chapter 14 Contractual Capacity
Beginning of chapter through p. 286 (ending at "Liability for Misrepresentation of Age"); and
Page 288 to end of chapter (beginning with "Incompetent Persons" to end of chapter).

Also: Gaddy v. Douglas pp. 599-600.

23 Chapter 15 Contracts in Writing
Beginning of chapter to p. 308 (ending at "Parol Evidence Rule").

Disregard: Mackay v. Four Rivers Packing Co. on p. 301.
Substitute: Iocono v. Lyons (click link to right).

Link to Iocono v. Lyons
30 Chapter 17 Performance, Breach, and Discharge
Disregard: McDowell Welding & Pipefitting, Inc. v. U.S. Gypsum Co. on p. 347.
Substitute: Associated Builders, Inc. v. Coggins (click link to right). 		Link to Associated Builders
TBA 8:00 p.m. - Review Session for Second Test
November
4 Second Test

UNIT 4 - AGENCY
11 Chapter 28 Relationship of Principal and Agent

UNIT 5 - BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
13 Chapter 30 Formation and Internal Relations of General Partnerships - from beginning of chapter to p. 648 (ending with "Partnership Capital and Property")
18 Finish Chapter 30;
Chapter 33 Nature and Formation of Corporations
Beginning of chapter to p. 722 (ending with "Formation of a Corporation"); and
Pages 725-726 (the section titled "Formalities of Incorporation").
20 Chapter 35 - Management Structure of Corporations
Beginning of chapter to p. 769 (ending with "Enforcement Rights of Shareholders"); and
Pages 774 to end of chapter (beginning with "Role of Directors and Officers")

Disregard: Beam v. Stewart on p. 786.
22 - 30 Thanksgiving Break
December
2 Chapter 32 Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies
We will cover only pp. 696-708, having to do with Limited Liability Companies.
4 Finish our study of business organizations.
TBA 8:00 p.m. - Review Session for Third Test
9 Third test

UNIT 6 - DUTY OF LOYALTY IN EMPLOYMENT
11 V. John Ella, The Lurking Menace of Duty of Loyalty Claims

Community Counseling Service, Incorporated v. Reilly, 317 F.2d 239 (4th Cir. 1963)

Review 18.2-499 and 18.2-500 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended. Read these before reading the Feddeman case.

Feddeman & Company, C.P.A., P.C. v. Langan Associates, P.C., et al., 260 Va. 35 (2000)

Instructor evaluation.

Link to Ella article

Link to Reilly

Link to 18.2-499

Link to 18.2-500

Link to Feddeman


FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE
12 9:00 a.m. - Review Session for Final Exam
13 8:30 a.m. - BU316-01 Final Exam
13 2:00 p.m. - BU316-02 Final Exam