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

Roscoe B. Stephenson, III

	Spring 2024 Schedule ~ Tuesdays and Thursdays 08:00-09:15 - SSH 268
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
January
16	Introduction/Administrative Details
18	Chapter 1 Introduction to Law
23	Chapter 3 Civil Dispute Resolution - from beginning of chapter through p. 53.
25	Finish Chapter 3.
	UNIT 2 - TORTS
30	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
February
6	Chapter 7 Intentional Torts - beginning of chapter to p. 138 (ending at "Invasion of Privacy")
8	Finish Chapter 7
13	Chapter 8 Negligence and Strict Liability beginning of chapter to p. 164 (ending at Defenses to Negligence )
15	Finish Chapter 8
20	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
22	First Test
	UNIT 3 - CONTRACTS
27	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).
29	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.
March
5	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
7	Finish Chapter 12 except for the section on Promissory Estoppel, p. 248 to end of chapter (to be covered in next lecture).
12	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.
14	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.
19	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
21	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
3/22 - 4/1	Spring Break
April
2	Second Test
	UNIT 4 - AGENCY
4	Chapter 28 Relationship of Principal and Agent
	UNIT 5 - BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
11	Chapter 30 Formation and Internal Relations of General Partnerships - from beginning of chapter to p. 648 (ending with "Partnership Capital and Property")
16	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").
18	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.
23	Chapter 32 Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies We will cover only pp. 696-708, having to do with Limited Liability Companies.
TBA	8:00 p.m. - Review Session for Third Test
25	Third Test
	UNIT 6 - DUTY OF LOYALTY IN EMPLOYMENT
30	V. John Ella, The Lurking Menace of Duty of Loyalty Claims Community Counseling Service, Incorporated v. Reilly, 317 F.2d 239 (4th Cir. 1963)	Link to Ella article Link to Reilly
May
2	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) Today Homes, Inc. v. Williams, Virginia Supreme Court, September 15, 2006 Discussion of ethics and review of duties of agent to principal. Instructor evaluation.	Link to 18.2-499 Link to 18.2-500 Link to Feddeman Link to Today Homes, Inc.
	FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE
4	9:00 a.m. - Review Session for Final Exam
7	7:00 p.m. - BU316-01 Final Exam