Readings and Key Terms
Ch. 3 of Business Law
Pleadings
Discovery
Settlement conference
Trial
Rebuttal
Rejoinder
Appeal
Alternative dispute resolution
Arbirtration clause
Federal Arbitration Act
E-courts and E-dispute resolution
Ch. 34
Entrepreneurship
Sole proprietorship
General partnership
Limited partnership
Limited liability partnership
Limited liability company
Corporation
Ch. 35
Limited partnerships
Special partnerships
General partners
Limited partners
Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (RULPA)
Ch. 36
Corporation
Articles of incorporation
Corporation types
Common stock
Preferred stock
Debt securities
Debt instruments
Dissolution
Ch. 39
Limited liability company
Limited liability company dissolution
Limited liability partnership
Ch. 40
Franchise
Distributorship franchise
Processing plant franchise
Processing plant franchise
Area franchise
Content Overview
Judicial, alternative, and e-dispute resolution
Pretrial litigation process
Pleadings
Party who sues files complaint
Based on complaint summons is issued
Answer is provided by person being sued
Cross-complaint can be filed by person sued in which case a reply must be sent by the original party
Discovery
Deposition is taken, which is oral testimony given prior to the trial
Interrogatories are written questions given by one party to the other
Production of documents are all of the documents that are secured by one party for use at trial
Settlement conference: a hearing before trial to facilitate a settlement
Trial
Jury selection using process of voir dire
Opening statements given by each party
Plaintiff’s case: has the burden of proof to persuade trier of fact on the merits of the case
Defendant’s case: rebuts plaintiff’s case; offers affirmative defenses; or proves allegations alleged in the cross complaint
Rebuttal occurs when evidence is put forth to disprove the defendants case
Rejoinder occurs when the defense offers evidence to refute the rebuttal Closing arguments to convince jury of their case
Instructions, deliberations and verdict take place after the closing arguments; the judge reads the instructions to the jury and they consider all of the evidence (deliberate) and render a decision
Judgment given by judge to the parties
Appeal
Appellant is the appealing party
Appellee is the responding party to the appeal
Alternative dispute resolution
Arbitration
Where contract contains arbirtration clause, the enforcement of clause is set forth in Federal Arbitration Act
Impartial third party chosen to decide the dispute, which can be either binding or nonbinding on the parties
Mediation: expert in disputed area helps parties to come to a settlement
Minitrial: lawyers present a shortened version of trial to an agreed to expert who hears case; less expensive than trial and shows the case weaknesses and facilitates settlement
Fact-finding: parties hire someone to investigate the dispute
Judicial referee: parties agree to have court appoint a judicial referee to conduct a trial; decisions can be appealed
E-courts and E-dispute resolution
E-courts allow for electronic filings of court documents
E-dispute resolution renders online dispute resolution in the form of arbitration
Small business, entrepreneurship, and general partnerships
Entrepreneurship occurs when an individual opens a business:
Forms for opening a business: sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company and corporation
Sole proprietorship: business owned by one person who is personally liable for debts of business but takes all of the profits
General partnership: two or more owners form business and where partners are personally liable for debts of partnership
Limited partnerships and