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MASTER SYLLABUS |
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LAW 2100 |
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| Class Hours: 3.0 | Credit Hours: 3.0 | ||||||||
| Laboratory Hours: 0.0 | Date Revised: Spring 00 | ||||||||
| Catalog Course Description: | |||||||||
| Survey of state and federal law treating civil injury or damage to person or property; worker's compensation; intentional torts; negligence; product liability; malpractice; and wrongful death. Emphasis on the legal assistant's role in personal injury and worker's compensation cases. | |||||||||
| Entry Level Standards: | |||||||||
| College-level competencies in logic, reading, and English are required. | |||||||||
| Prerequisites: | |||||||||
| LAW 1000, 1005 | |||||||||
| Corequisite: | |||||||||
| LAW 1040 | |||||||||
| Textbook(s) and Other Reference Materials Basic to the Course: | |||||||||
| Edwards, Linda L. and J. Stanley Edwards, Tort Law for Legal Assistants, 2d. (West, 1999). | |||||||||
| I. Week/Unit/Topic Basis: | |||||||||
| Week | Topic | ||||||||
| 1 | Introduction and Overview of a Tort Case | ||||||||
| 2 | Intentional Torts | ||||||||
| 3 | Negligence: Overview; Duty | ||||||||
| 4 | Negligence: Breach of Duty | ||||||||
| 5 | Negligence: Causation | ||||||||
| 6 | Negligence: Damages; Defenses | ||||||||
| 7 | Malpractice; Misrepresentation; Nuisance; Other Torts | ||||||||
| 8 | Strict Liability; Product Liability | ||||||||
| 9 | Defamation | ||||||||
| 10 | Vicarious Liability | ||||||||
| 11 | Joint Liability | ||||||||
| 12 | Tort Reform | ||||||||
| 13 | Automobile Insurance; Bad Faith | ||||||||
| 14 | Worker's Compensation | ||||||||
| 15 | Worker's Compensation cont. | ||||||||
| 16 | Final Exam | ||||||||
| II. Course Objectives*: | |||||||||
| A. | Understand and be able to apply basic principles of tort and compensation law when assisting attorney with civil litigation. I, II, III, IV, V | ||||||||
| B. | Understand the role of insurance in tort and compensation litigation. I, II, III, IV, V | ||||||||
| C. | Prepare basic documents used in tort and compensation cases. I, II, III, IV, V | ||||||||
| D. | Continue developing a legal vocabulary. I, II, IV | ||||||||
| *Roman numerals after course objectives reference goals of the Business and Computer Technologies department. | |||||||||
| III. Instructional Processes*: | |||||||||
| Students will: | |||||||||
| 1. | Practice elements of the work ethic such as professionalism, preparedness, punctuality, honesty, cooperation, dependability, contribution, effectiveness, good manners, etc. Personal Development Outcome, Cultural Diversity and Social Development Outcome, Transitional Strategy | ||||||||
| 2. | Refine reading skills and expand legal vocabularies through completion of weekly guided reading exercises that allows more effective communication with lawyers and legal professionals. Communication Outcome, Transitional Strategy | ||||||||
| 3. | Strengthen analytical skills by locating court cases and statutes in the Educational Resource Center and on Westlaw to determine the application of the rules of law to specific facts. Information Literacy Outcome, Problem Solving and Decision Making Outcome, Technological Literacy Outcome, Transitional Strategy, Active Learning Strategy | ||||||||
| 4. | Examine ethical issues related to legal representation, unauthorized practice of law, confidentiality, duty of legal professional to provide legal services, etc. Cultural Diversity and Social Adaptation Outcome, Transitional Strategy, Active Learning Strategy | ||||||||
| 5 | Develop investigative skills using the Internet, library, and other resources to find relevant information for writing a report on an assigned topic. Problem Solving and Decision Making Outcome, Information Literacy Outcome, Technological Literacy Outcome, Transitional Strategy, Active Learning Strategy | ||||||||
| *Strategies and outcomes listed after instructional processes reference Pellissippi State’s goals for strengthening general education knowledge and skills, connecting coursework to experiences beyond the classroom, and encouraging students to take active and responsible roles in the educational process. | |||||||||
| IV. Expectations for Student Performance*: | |||||||||
| Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to: | |||||||||
| 1. | Demonstrate a complete and thorough understanding of legal ethics. A,B,C | ||||||||
| 2. | Analyze fact patterns to ascertain "cause in fact" and "proximate cause." A,D | ||||||||
| 3. | Identify and compute damages which may be recovered. A,B,C,D | ||||||||
| 4. | Distinguish between intentional, reckless, and negligent conduct. A,D | ||||||||
| 5. | Identify and understand the elements of intentional torts. A,D | ||||||||
| 6. | Analyze application of negligence defenses. A,D | ||||||||
| 7. | Recognize required elements of claims for compensation for on-the-job injuries. A,B,C,D | ||||||||
| 8. | Understand the basic principles of product liability law. A,D | ||||||||
| 9. | Analyze standard clauses in an insurance policy. A,B,C,D | ||||||||
| *Letters after performance expectations reference the course objectives listed above. | |||||||||
| V. Evaluation: | |||||||||
| A. Testing Procedures: 50% of grade | |||||||||
| There will be three tests plus a cumulative final examination with both short answer and objective questions. | |||||||||
| B. Laboratory Expectations: 15% of grade | |||||||||
| Students will work in small groups to research an assigned topic and make a class presentation on that topic. | |||||||||
| C. Field Work: 35% of grade | |||||||||
| Students
will complete several out-of-class skills projects.
These may include: Legal writing exercises Drafting complaint for negligence Drafting settlement statement Drafting worker's compensation complaint Interview a paralegal or other non-lawyer professional who works with personal injury or other tort-related work (i.e. insurance agent, adjuster, personnel manager who handles worker's comp) and make oral report Preparing deposition summary Preparing witness for depositions |
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| D. Other Evaluation Methods: | |||||||||
| 1.
All tests and papers will be graded for spelling and English usage in addition
to content and format.
2. Students are partially evaluated on the basis of in-class projects requiring use of the stated skills. Class participation is important and will be considered in the final grade. 3. Any student encountering academic difficulty during the term is strongly encouraged to meet with the instructor to discuss options and solutions. |
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| E. Grading Scale: | |||||||||
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A 93-100
B+ 88- 92 B 83- 87 C+ 78- 82 C 73- 77 D 65- 72 F 64 and below |
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| VI. Policies: | |||||||||
| A. Attendance Policy: | |||||||||
| Pellissippi State Technical Community College expects students to attend all scheduled instructional activities. As a minimum, students in all courses must be present for at least 75 percent of their scheduled class and laboratory meetings in order to receive credit for the course. | |||||||||
| B. Academic Dishonesty: | |||||||||
| Cheating of any type will not be tolerated and will become an automatic zero on that paper or test. Repetition of cheating will result in an "F" for the final grade. | |||||||||
| C. Other Policies: | |||||||||
| Late papers will not be accepted. No make-up tests will be given unless the instructor has been notified and excused the student's absence. | |||||||||