Law Registrar
First Class Assignments
Fall 2008
Updated 8/26/08 @ 8:00 AM
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Law 100A
Contracts
Adams
For Tuesday, August 26, please read pages 1-17 and 21-38 in Problems in Contract Law, Cases and Materials, 6th edition, Knapp, Crystal, Prince.
Law 100B
Contracts
Telman
Contracts Law in Action, pp. 1-24
Farnsworth, Selections for Contracts, pp. 542-58
Additional case: Hurley v. Eddingfield
Law 110A
Criminal Law
Berner
No further reading assignment.
Consider the following three situations and come to class prepared to discuss:
1) x, with the desire to kill A and for that purpose, shoots at A and kills A.
2) y, with the desire to kill B and for that purpose, shoots at B but misses and B is unhurt
3) z, who has no desire to hurt anyone, cleans his gun, does so carelessly and discharges, killing C.
A. Among x, y, and z, who should be punished the most? Why?
B. Among x, y, and z, who should be punished the least? Why?
C. How much, exactly, should y be punished? Why?
D. In x’s case, should any of the following change the punishment?
1. A was a police officer
2. A was a 5-year-old child
3. A was x’s spouse
4. A was a sleazy creep and everybody hated him
5. x is white, A is black and x killed A because he hates black people
Copyright © 2008, Bruce G. Berner
Law 110B
Criminal Law
Brown
Please read Chpts. 1-2, pages 2-110.
Law 110C
Criminal Law
Carter
No assignment. Visit Christopher Center Library and tour the city. Have fun seeing the sights!
Law 120A
Civil Procedure
Dooley
Required Texts:
--Friedenthal, Miller, Sexton & Hershkoff, Civil Procedure: Cases and Materials
(West, Revised 9th ed. 2008)(casebook)
--2008 Supplement to Friedenthal, et al.
--Glannon, Civil Procedure: Examples and Explanations
(Aspen, 5th ed. 2006).
Assignment for August 26:
Casebook, pp. 1-21 (read for background)
Casebook, pp. 63-75 (prepare for class by reading and briefing). DON'T WORRY if these cases make no sense to you. In fact, if they make sense immediately, then we're probably in trouble. We’ll work through them together in class. Someday -- maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday -- you'll thank me for making you read these cases. Welcome to law school!
Law 120B
Civil Procedure
Lind
IMPORTANT NOTE!! The casebook that is the main reading item for the class is the 2008 Revised 9th edition of Civil Procedure, by Friedenthal, Miller, Sexton, and Hershkoff, NOT the 9th Edition (we know this is very confusing). The publisher decided to revise the existing 9th edition at the last minute and did not notify us. The book store had to send the unrevised 9th edition back to get the 2008 Revised 9th edition. That book should have reached the bookstore this past Monday, August 18. The law school is aware that some students have already bought the older version. Students who may have purchased the older book from the campus bookstore may take it back to obtain the correct version. Those students who cannot return the older book because they purchased online or from an upper-class student will still be able to use it. Professor Lind will explain this on the first day of class; the pages for the first assignment are identical in this portion of the book so everyone can prepare regardless of the version of the casebook she/he possesses.
READING
To prepare for class, Monday, August 25, read as general background material from your casebook (the 2008 Revised 9th edition of Friedenthal, et al. or the unrevised 9th edition), pages 1-21 up to, but not including E. For class discussion, skip to page 63 in the casebook, 'Jurisdiction over the Parties or their Property,' and read from pages 63 though 82 up to, but not including, D; with regard to this latter material, make sure to compose short written briefs of the major cases (Pennoyer, Hess, and International Shoe) as part of your preparation. If you use a computer, print out your written briefs in paper form before class so you don't have to consult your computer screen to participate in the discussion.
We have two hours of class on Mondays and Wednesdays, which is one reason for the length of the assignment. Also, if you prepare this material several days in advance of class, be sure to look over your notes before class to refresh your recollection.
Law 130C
Legal Writing
Stuart
Read Edwards, Legal Writing, Introduction & Ch. 1 ("First Things First")
Law 130D
Legal Writing
Vance
READ: Edwards, Introduction and Chapter 1 and Dobrin v. Stebbins, which is on e-reserve in the library. Write a case brief for it as you would for a class. To access e-reserve, go to http://www.valpo.edu/law/library/info/ereserves.php Username: reserve / Password: lawyer
Click on ereserves and go to my name.
Law 130E
Legal Writing
Ching
For our first class on Tuesday, August 26:
A basic writing diagnostic exercise with 50 questions, an answer sheet, and a “pattern of errors” chart will be sent to you by e-mail. Please do the exercise, compare your answers with the answer sheet, and then at the beginning of class give me your completed “pattern of errors” chart with your name written at the top. Our course will be focused on legal analysis, but the chart will give me some idea of basic writing issues that should be addressed during the semester.
Also, read and be ready to discuss the following –
Edwards text, Introduction and Chapter 1.
Neumann text excerpt, which you will receive by e-mail.
Information about assignments for our next classes will be sent by e-mail.
Law 131 All Sections
Legal Research
Library Faculty
The quiz that starts the class will be based on 1) the presentation by Dean Persyn during orientation, 2) the Course Rules, 3) Fine, Chapter 1 and 4) Sloan, Chapter 1. The Course Rules will be handed out in the folder packet you will receive or should have received during your library orientation on Friday Aug 22. They are also available at
https://coursevu.valpo.edu Username is your Valpo email username, password is your Valpo email password.
Law 203
Business Associations
Huss
Klein, Ramseyer & Bainbridge, Business Associations (6th ed.) (“K&R”)
Klein, Ramseyer & Bainbridge, Business Associations 2008 Statutes and Rules
Klein & Coffee, Business Organization and Finance (10th ed.) (“K&C”)
Assignment for First Day of Class
K&R: pp. 6-28, 36-43
SKIM pp. 1-30 of 2008 Statutes and Rules
K&C: pp. 1-4, 14-32
Assignment for Second Day of Class
K&R: pp. 47-62, 68-79
Law 210HA
Evidence
Bodensteiner
Please read pp. 1-25 in the text.
Law 210B
Evidence
Vandercoy
Read pages 1-24 in the Leonard and Gold text.
Law 220A
Legal Profession
Gaffney
NOTE On this date only we will meet from 12:10 to 1PM
1. Read the Report of AALS & ABA on Professional Responsibility, Noonan-Painter, pp. 370-82. Write a short paragraph describing some of the reasons why you want to be a lawyer.
2. Write another paragraph stating what you think it means to be an ethical person. Is it possible to be a lawyer and an ethical person? What are some of the obstacles to being an ethical person? Do lawyers face similar obstacles to being ethical in their professional relationships with clients and other lawyers, and in their personal relationships with family and friends? How do you imagine you will overcome these obstacles to becoming responsible as lawyers and as human beings?
Law 220B
Legal Profession
Vandercoy
Read Chapter 1 of the text and be prepared to discuss the problems at the beginning of the chapter.
Law 235B
Legal Drafting: Business
Sherman
Please read Chapter 1, An Introduction to Legal Drafting, from assigned course textbook Legal Drafting (Brody, et al.) prior to class on Monday, August 25, 4:45-6:25.
Law 241
Advanced Appellate Advoc: Civil
Warren
Read Ch. 4
Law 250A
Constitutional Law II
Bodensteiner
Please read pp. 30-42 in the text.
Law 250B
Constitutional Law II
Levinson
Please read pp. 30-42 in the text.
Law 271
Comparative Law: Focus on Latin America
Stith
Note that we will NOT meet on Monday, August 25. PRIOR to our first session on Wednesday, August 27, please purchase our textbook (Angel R. Oquendo, Latin American Law) and read:
-our course syllabus, which you will receive by email, or which you may pick up from Annie Lawrence
-the text's preface (pp. v-viii)
-its summary of contents (pp. xi-xiii)
-"The Garden of Forking Paths" (pp.2-4 in our text), and
-"The Axiom of Practicality" (attached to the syllabus)
Law301E
Seminar: Law & Literature
Bonnie Coleman
First assignment is To Kill a Mockingbird, pp. 1-112
Law 301HA2
Seminar: Torture
Edward Peters, Torture
Cesare Beccaria, "Of Torture" and "The Death Penalty," in Of Crimes and Punishments (in course packet – to be purchased at Wesemann Hall)
Law 405
Mergers & Acquisitions
Huss
Reading Assignment for the First Week of Class
Therese H. Maynard, Mergers & Acquisitions: Cases, Materials and Problems
We will cover Chapter 1 the first week of class. Please make certain to read up through the first part of page 20 for the first day of class.
Law 408
Secured Transactions
Calo
Please read Casebook pp. 2-9, 18-22
Law 415
Insurance Law
Stuart
Read Holmes & Young, Insurance: Cases & Materials, pp. 2-20.
Law 418
Sports Law
Straubel
In honor of the just finished Olympics we will start with material on the Olympic Movement. Therefore, please read pages 965-988. The following class members will be “up” for the material. But others may find themselves up without notice: Nicole Goheen, Todd Schafer, Brandon Miller
Law 421
Federal Income Tax: Individual
Morrisson
I look forward to our first meeting. If you have time, and have not introduced yourself, please stop by my office so we can get to know one another. There are a number of handouts (get used to them) on the table outside of my office. Please take one of each and review them in anticipation of our first meeting together on the 26th of August. I will also have some handouts to distribute when we first meet. The materials for you to review are:
200 Update to the Casebook
Syllabus
A copy of the first page of the 2007 Form 1040
“Tax Anxiety”
“A Simplified Glossary of Tax Terminology”
You should also read pp. 1-21 in the casebook and work on the problems on pages 17 & 21.
Law 430
Business Planning
Morrisson
I look forward to our first meeting. If you have time, come in and introduce yourself if we have not met. There are a number of materials on the table outside of my office. Please take one of each and review them in anticipation of the first class on the 26th of August. We will discuss those and other subjects at our first meeting. They are:
My Client the Situation, by Professor Thomas L. Shaffer
“Some Private Business Creatures that I have Encountered…”
“The Business Lawyer” (This has an exercise at the end that you should spend quality time thinking about)
A page of 4 questions dealing with ethics issues for business lawyers
A two-sided page with brief excerpts from two law review articles.
“Who is the Client When a Lawyer Forms an Entity”
You should also read pp 1-18 and 26-35 in the casebook.
Law 438
Entertainment Law
Myers
Please read one investigative news report from any credible media source for the class on Thursday, August 28, 2008.
Law 442
Civil Rights
Levinson
Please read the Introduction(xxvii-xxix) and pp.1-35 in the course materials which can be purchased from Melissa Mundt beginning Tuesday, August 19, 2008.
Law 448
Environmental Law & Policy
Blomquist
There is no reading assignment for the first day of class.
Law 468
Criminal Procedure
Carter
No assignment.
Law 477
Public International Law
Telman
Recommended: Principles of International Law: 3-10
From the packet available from Melissa Mundt:
Reading 1: U.N. Charter, Introduction, Preamble, Arts. 1-54, 92-105
Reading 2: Chesterman, The UN Security Council and the Rule of Law
Law 485
Family Law
Moskowitz
Please read the Preface, xxv, 3-7, 10-21 and Xerox materials p. 1. Xerox materials are $5.00 and are available from Melissa Mundt.
Law 506A
Negotiation
Vance
In Shell text, read chapters 1 through 4.
Law 652 All
Trial Practice Plenary
Vandercoy
For the Trial Practice Plenary Session, Monday, August 25, 2008 at 5:00 p.m., Courtroom:
Chap. 1 & 2, pp. 1-29 in the Mauet Text.
Review Baker problem, be intimately familiar with facts; be prepared to discuss. In addition, the following students should identify the critical facts for the witnesses named below.
Holmes | Adams, Allen, Buckley
Baker | Andrade, Branson, Burton
Manville | Jenco, Orsinger, Pratt
Spahn | Waggoner, Simonson, Pridemore
Sain | Lehrman, Kollath, Hatfield
Torgeson | Rau, Patton, Mayerhofer
Law 662C-1
Mediation Clinic
Schmidt
The first class will beheld on Friday, August 29, from 9-12. Meet in Heritage Hall, 2nd floor classroom. Reading Assignment (The Art of Mediation, 2d edition): pp 1-22, 107-115, 65-69.
Law 700
Introduction to American Law and Legal Education
Stith
Note that we will NOT meet on Tuesday, August 26. PRIOR to our first session on Thursday August 28, please purchase our textbook (David Clark and Tugrul Ansay, Introduction to the Law of the United States, second edition) and read:
-our course syllabus, which will be sent to you by email, or which you may pick up from Annie Lawrence
-the book's preface and summary of contents, pp. ix-xiv, , and
-pages 1-11 (Chapter 1), as a basis for our initial class discussion.