Step 1: Case One:
Green Machine, Inc.

You take a few minutes after meeting with the vice president to
collect your thoughts, then you begin to prepare for this task. First, you’ll
need an introduction to the legal environment of business.(Ref 1) Next,
you open theGreen
Machine, Inc. case file.(ref 2)
Upon completing your initial review of the file, you begin thinking about the
questions the VP asked you to answer in a narrated PowerPoint presentation. In
the next step, you will gather the information you need to answer these questions.

Step 2: Gather and
Analyze Information

As you read through the materials, try to begin answering the
questions the VP asked you. You will likely encounter many new legal concepts,
so take notes about which sections apply to this case so that you can easily
refer back when you begin to write your presentation.

• Can Colossal Corporation terminate
  Sam without any notice or a hearing? Why or why not? This question relates
  to employment-at-will. (ref 3)
• Did Sam, Rachel, or Greg commit
  any crimes and, if so, which crimes did each person commit? Fully explain
  your answer for each person as you explore the subject of business
  criminal law. (ref 4)
• Did Sam, Rachel, or Greg commit
  any torts and, if so, which torts did each person commit? Read about the law
  of torts (ref 5) in order to make your determinations.
• What defenses, if any, might the
  relevant persons allege in defense to the torts and crimes identified in
  questions 2 and 3? Fully explain your answer for each person as to both
  torts and crimes.
• Can anyone collect damages? Who
  can collect and whom would they sue? Detail the specific damages that may
  be available to potential plaintiffs as you read about tort damages.(ref
  6)

In the next step, you’ll formalize your thoughts so that they
are ready to put into your presentation.

Step
3: Focus on Your Rationale and Conclusions: Create Your Outline

You’ve finished
your research. You’ve reflected on how the facts and the law come together in
this situation. You’ve analyzed the possible arguments and determined which seem
most reasonable, all things considered. Now it is time to formulate these
arguments, addressing all the issues raised by the narrative in the file the VP
gave you.

Outlineyour presentation to the board, either on paper or in a Word
document; don’t make the PowerPoint yet.Reviewyour outline to make certain it covers
all relevant points and progresses in a logical order.Identifythe major bullet points that you will
highlight on your slides, andallocatethe appropriate supporting
information to each bullet point—make sure that you have adequately covered all
the relevant arguments or reasons needed to support them. In the next step,
you’ll use your outline to create the PowerPoint presentation for the VP.

Step 4: Communicate
Your Findings and Conclusions to the Vice President of Human Resources: Create
Your PowerPoint

Using your outline and research notes from previous steps,
prepare a narrated PowerPoint for the VP. Because you will not deliver this
presentation in person, it should follow the form of asynchronous
presentations. (ref 7) Be sure to meet the following requirements:

• Include a title slide, with your
  name on it, introducing the presentation.
• On the presentation slides,
  include only the major bullet points for each issue.
• Include no more than 20 slides.
• Use your narration to provide the
  supporting rationale for each major bullet point.
• Include a script of your narration
  in the notes section of PowerPoint.
• Title your files using this
  protocol: yourlastname_GreenMachinePowerPoint_date.
• The final slide must present a
  clear summary of your major conclusions and any recommendations.

You should be prepared to answer questions about your
presentation after you have submitted it.

You should try to have your Green Machine PowerPoint complete by
the end of Week 2. In the next step, you’ll begin analyzing the second case
from the VP: the White Arch Casino.

Step
5: Case Two: White Arch Casino

A week has passed
since you first spoke to the VP, and you now have one case review under your
belt. Feeling a bit more confident, you openThe
White Arch Casino case file,(ref 8) already thinking ahead about the memo
you will write for the VP. In the next step, you will gather the information
you need to write the memo.

Step 6: Gather and
Analyze Information

After reading the file, you realize that in order to formulate a
sound response to the VP’s questions, you will need to review a number of
specific foundational issues involving legal contracts, including the
following:

• What laws govern contracts?
• What are the elements of a legal
  contract?
• What form can or must a contract
  take?
• Can a contract be modified?
• What are the methods of
  discharging a contract?

Find answers to these questions about contract formation (ref
9) and execution and also look into possible contract remedies (ref 10) for
when a breach of contract occurs. As you read, be sure to record your thoughts
pertaining to the case and note the places in the readings that prompted your
thoughts.

After you have refreshed your understanding of contract law
generally, you should supplement that understanding by doinglegal
research (ref 11) on
specific laws related to contracts in Nevada and Delaware. Again, make sure to
take notes as you read. Good notes will help you write your memo.

In the next step, you will begin to apply what you’ve learned to
the specifics of this case.

Step
7: Legal and Ethical Responsibility

You are concerned
about the question of Sal Pending’s role in this situation with Enoch Thompson.
More specifically, you wonder whether Pending had the authority to make the
promise he made (or any promises) to Thompson. Review thelegal responsibilities of agents and
employees (ref 12)to help
formulate your answer. You should also reviewethical
business decision making,(ref 13) as it pertains to keeping promises in
business situations. In the next step, you will use what you have learned to
create an outline that will prepare you to write the memo.

Step
8: Focus on Your Rationale and Conclusions: Create Your Outline

You’ve finished
your research. You’ve reflected on how the facts and the law come together in
this situation. You’ve analyzed the possible arguments and determined which
seem most reasonable, all things considered. Now it is time to formulate them,
making sure to address all the concerns that your VP expressed to you when you
met.Outlinethe
memo that you will draft for your VP.Reviewyour outline to make certain it covers
all relevant points and progresses in a logical order.

After you finish
your outline, if you have time, give yourself one night of sleep before you
begin the next step, in which you will write the memo. Fresh eyes might help
you see points that need revision.

Step 9: Communicate
Your Findings and Conclusions to the HR VP: Create Your Memo

First, review how towrite
a memo. (ref 14) Once you have
a sense of memos in general, use your outline and research notes to prepare
your memo for the VP. Be sure to meet the following requirements:

• Format your memo following the
  example linked above, including APA-formatted in-text citations and an
  APA-formatted reference list (do not format the body of the memo using APA
  style, just the reference list). See references and citations for
  details. (ref 15)
• Include a specific recommendation
  on what action, if any, the VP should take based on your analysis and
  conclusions.
• Support your conclusion with
  references to legal principles and laws.
• The memo should be no more than 10
  pages (double spaced, 12-point font; the reference list does not count
  towards page limit).
• Title your file using this
  protocol: yourlastname_WhiteArchCasinoMemo_date.

You should try to have your White Arch Casino memo complete by
the end of Week 3. In the next step, you will begin work on the final case from
the VP: Big Brain Solutions.

Step
10: Case Three: Big Brain Solutions—Arbitration or Litigation?

You have made
recommendations on two cases so far and have one more case to go. After setting
aside a few hours to work, you open theBig
Brain Solutions case file. (ref 16) In the next step, you will gather
the information you need to write a memo for the VP about this case.

Step 11: Gather and
Analyze the Information

While you have some general awareness of the fact that there are
means of alternative dispute resolution, (ref 17) you realize that you
need to know a lot more about this subject before you can attempt to respond to
the VP’s questions. Some of the topics you should review include the following:

• What general procedures or rules
  govern a typical arbitration proceeding?
• Can a company force an employee to
  use arbitration (instead of a lawsuit) to settle an employment-related
  dispute because of a contract provision?
• Are there times when an
  arbitration clause might be invalid or unenforceable against an employee?
• What effect do claims based on
  specific federal or state laws have on arbitration provisions in
  employment contracts?

Based on the answers to the above questions and your review of
the employment law material, (ref 18) what will the likely outcome be
in Liz’s case? In Ralph’s? In the next step, you will use the information
gathered in this step to create an outline that will prepare you to write the
memo.

Step
12: Focus on Your Rationale and Conclusions: Create Your Outline

You’ve finished
your research. You’ve reflected on how the facts and the law come together in
this situation. You’ve analyzed the possible arguments and determined
reasonable conclusions to the questions you’ve asked yourself. Now it’s time to
outline your memo.

Review your
outline to make certain it covers all relevant points and progresses in a
logical order. Identify the major points you want to make and be sure that you
have adequately covered all the relevant arguments or reasons needed to support
them. In the next step, you will use your outline to create a memo for the VP.

Step 13: Communicate
Your Findings and Conclusions to the Vice President: Create Your Memo

Using your outline and research notes,write
a memo for the VP. Be sure
to meet the following requirements:

• Format your memo following the
  example linked above, including APA-formatted in-text citations and an
  APA-formatted reference list (do not format the body of the memo using APA
  style, just the reference list). See references and citations for
  details.
• Include a specific recommendation
  on what action, if any, the VP should take based on your analysis and
  conclusions.
• Support your conclusion with
  references to legal principles and laws.
• The memo should be no more than 10
  pages (double spaced, 12-point font; the reference list does not count
  towards page limit).
• Title your file using this
  protocol: yourlastname_Arbitration_date.

You should try to have your Big Brain memo complete by the end
of Week 4. In the next step, you will submit all of the work you have done as
part of this project.

Step 14: Submit Your
Green Machine, Inc. PowerPoint, White Arch Casino Memo, and Big Brain Solutions
Memo

Be sure to use the following file-naming protocols:

• yourlastname_GreenMachinePowerPoint_date
• yourlastname_WhiteArchCasinoMemo_date
• yourlastname_Arbitration_date

By the end of Week 4, submit all of your files to the folder
below: Making Decisions That Are Legal and Ethical.

Before you submit your assignment, review the competencies below,
which your instructor will use to evaluate your work. A good practice would be
to use each competency as a self-check to confirm you have incorporated all of
them in your work.

• 1.6: Follow conventions of
  Standard Written English.
• 1.7: Create neat and professional
  looking documents appropriate for the project or presentation.
• 1.8: Create clear oral messages.
• 2.1: Identify and clearly explain
  the issue, question, or problem under critical consideration.
• 2.3: Evaluate the information in a
  logical and organized manner to determine its value and relevance to the
  problem.
• 5.1: Develop constructive
  resolutions for ethical dilemmas based on application of ethical theories,
  principles, and models
• 7.2: Analyze the implications of
  contract law and make recommendations to support business decisions
• 7.3: Analyze the implications of
  civil or criminal wrongs and of product or service liability laws and make
  recommendations to support business decisions
• 7.5: Analyze the utility of
  various forms of dispute resolution and make recommendations to support
  business decisions
• 9.3: Apply the principles of
  employment law for ethical practices and risk mitigation