This lesson discusses the power that an agent (or apparent agent) has to affect the legal rights of the principal. In general, an agent or apparent agent may affect the principal's legal rights only to the extent that the agent possesses the authority or the power to do so. This lesson provides an introduction to the three basic types of authority -- actual authority, apparent authority, and inherent agency power.
The lesson will review the three most significant automobile search standards: the automobile exception, searches of automobiles incident to arrest, and inventory searches of automobiles.
This lesson introduces students to the law governing circumstances in which judicial review of actions, and inaction, of federal administrative agencies is available and when it may be restricted or unavailable. The lesson explores questions of jurisdiction, and rights of review principally under the Administrative Procedure Act.
This lesson discusses the statutory basis for aviation accident investigations. The discussion centers around case studies of two aviation accident investigations. A comparison is drawn between federal statutes and regulations enabling aviation accident investigations and civil actions of the same cases. The lesson contains a number of questions and exercises to help the student synthesize the content presented.
In the United States, federal laws extensively regulate aircraft, airlines, pilots, and airports. People and companies involved in aviation need to be familiar with these federal laws, as well as state and international regulations that affect aircraft and airlines. The Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Administration, and the Department of Transportation, as well as state laws and international treaties, all play a role in regulating aviation.
This lesson reviews some of the concepts needed to understand the patent law doctrine of "nonobviousness" (Section 103 of the Patent Act). Before completing this lesson students should be familiar with the doctrine of novelty under Section 102 of the Act.
This lesson introduces students to the Federal APA with special emphasis on (1) mapping the relationship of its parts and (2) closely examining the text of the principal sections.
This lesson reviews the standards for discipline and the interpretive case law by examining a series of cases in which considering whether the conduct alleged falls under the definition of misconduct (using Model Rule 8.4). Some procedural and constitutional aspects of discipline are examined as well. The lesson can be used as preparation, review or substitution for class coverage of this topic.
This lesson deals with the problem created by the Battle of the Forms. At common law, the mirror image rule requires an acceptance to be exactly like the offer. The rule is reversed under the Uniform Commercial Code, however. Under UCC § 2-207, an acceptance is still an acceptance even though it states different or additional terms from the offer. This lesson will explore the effect of such different or additional terms and when they are operative.
This exercise is designed to guide the student through the basics of the best evidence/original document rule under the federal rules. The exercise progresses logically through the rule. In order, it looks at the definition of “writing, recording, or photograph,” the concept of proving “content of a writing,” the definition of “original” and “duplicate,” proof of “collateral” matters, material in possession of the opposite party, computer printouts, compilations, secondary evidence (Is there a “second best evidence” rule?), and the division of function between the judge and jury.
This exercise is designed to introduce the student to the "bottom line" defense rejected by the Supreme Court in Connecticut v. Teal. You should have an understanding of Teal before you start this lesson.
Here, this exercise explores the circumstances of disparate impact claims and affirmative action programs under which the "bottom line" defense usually arises and the arguments involved. The use of "bottom line" evidence, sometimes used in disparate treatment litigation, is also explained and distinguished. Some understanding of basic discrimination theory (disparate treatment and disparate impact) is helpful in understanding the lesson.
This lesson introduces the federal and state securities laws regulating business finance. The lesson is designed for students taking Business Associations or Corporations, so the coverage is fairly basic; this lesson is not intended to be used by Securities Regulation students.