SOLUTION MANUAL FOR m m
The Legal Environment of Business, 14th Edition by Roger E. Meiners
m m m m m m m m m m
Chapterm1-22
Chapterm1
Table of Contents
m m
AnswermtomDiscussionmQuestion..................................................................................................1
AnswersmtomCasemQuestions .......................................................................................................1
AnswersmtomEthicsmandmSocialmQuestions ...................................................................................3
Answer to Discussion Question
m m m
Shouldmthemcommonmlawmmaximm“Ignorancemofmthemlawmismnomexcuse”mapplymtomanmimmigrantmwhomspea
ksmlittlemEnglishmandmwasmnotmeducatedminmthemUnitedmStates?mHowmaboutmformamtouristmwhomdoesmnotms
peakmEnglish?mEveryonemknowsmcriminalmactsmaremprohibited,mbutmwhatmaboutmsubtlermrulesmthatmdifferma
crossmcountriesmandmsommaymbemmisunderstoodmbymforeigners?
Answer:mItmismgenerallymtruemthatmignorancemofmthemlawmismnomexcuse.mCitizensmaremdeemedmtomhavemco
nstructivemknowledgemofmthemlaw.mYet,masmwellmknownmasmthismrulemis,mitmismsurprisingmhowmoftenmitmi
smprofferedmasmanmexcuse.m(AmWestlawmsearchmcasesmfindsmhundredsmofmexamples).mExamplesmincl
ude:mDelucomv.mDezim(Conn.mSuper)m(lackmofmknowledgemregardingmthemstate‘smusurymlawsmismnomex
cusemformtheminclusionmofmanmillegalminterestmrateminmamsalesmcontract);mandm Plumleemv.mPaddockm(ig
norancemofmthemfactmthatmthemsubjectmmattermofmthemcontractmwasmillegalmwasmnotmexcuse).mThemcour
tsmhavemprovidedmamsmallmexceptionmtomthemrulemwhenmitmcomesmtompeopleminmlackmofmEnglishmlangu
agemskills.mConsidermFlanerymv.mKuska,m(defendantmdidmnotmspeakmEnglishmwasmadvisedmbymamfrien
dmthatmanmanswermtomamcomplaintmwasmnotmrequired);mRamonmv.mDept.mofmTransportation,m(nomEngli
shmandmanminabilitymtomunderstandmthemlawmrequiredmformanmexcuse);mYurechkomv.mCountymofmAllegh
eny,m(Ignorancemandmwithmthemfactmthatmthemmunicipalitymsufferedmnomhardshipminmlatemlawsuitmfilingm
wasmanmexcuse).
Answers to Case Questions
m m m
1. FactsmfrommanmEnglishmjudge’smdecisionminm1884:m“ThemcrewmofmanmEnglishmyacht.weremcastmawaymin
amstormmonmthemhighmseasm.m.m.mandmweremcompelledmtomputmintomanmopenmboat.
..............................................................................................................................Theymhadmnomsupply
ofmwatermandmnomsupplymofmfood.m.m.m.mThatmonmthemeighteenthmdaym.m.m.mthey
........................................................................................................................ suggestedmthatmone
shouldmbemsacrificedmtomsavemthemrest.m.m.m.mThatmnextmdaym.m.m.mtheym.m.m.mwentmtomthemboy putmamknife
intomhismthroatmandmkilledmhimm.m.m.mthemthreemmenmfedmuponmthembody
............................................................................................................... ofmthemboymformfourmdays;m[then]
themboatmwasmpickedmupmbymampassingmvessel,mandm[they]mweremrescued.m.m.m.mandmcommittedmformtrial
.m.m.m.
ifmthemmenmhadmnotmfedmuponmthembodymofmthemboymtheymwouldmprobablymnotmhavemsurvivedmto
mbemsom pickedmupmandmrescued,mbutmwould
............................................................ havemdiedmofmfamine.mThemboy,mbeingminmammuchmweake
r
condition,mwasmlikelymtomhavemdiedmbeforemthem ....Themrealmquestionminmthismcasem[is]mwhethermkilling
undermthemconditionsmsetmforth .... bemormbemnotmmurder.”mDomyoumconsidermthemactsmtombemimmoral?
[Reginamv.mDudleymandmStephens,m14mQueensmBenchmDivisionm273m(1884)]
Answer:mThismpointsmoutmthatmthemlegalmsystemmhasmlimits.mItsmacceptabilitymismdictatedmbymlegalmculture--
©m2022mCengage.mAllmRightsmReserved.mMaymnotmbemscanned,mcopiedmormduplicated,mormpostedmtomampublicl 1
ymaccessible
website,minmwholemorminmpart.
, whichmdeterminesmwhethermlawmwillmbemenforced,mobeyed,mavoided,mormabused.mItmismlimitedmbymthemi
nformalmrulesmofmthemsociety--
itsmcustomsmandmvalues.mOnemlimitmismthemextentmtomwhichmsocietymwillmallowmthemformalmrulesmtombem
imposedmwhenmamcrimemismcommittedminmoddmcircumstances.mHeremtheremwasmanmintentionalmmurder
.mDoesmthemmotivemformthemmurder,mthemeffortmtomsavemseveralmlivesmbymsacrificingmone
©m2022mCengage.mAllmRightsmReserved.mMaymnotmbemscanned,mcopiedmormduplicated,mormpostedmtomampublicl 2
ymaccessible
website,minmwholemorminmpart.
, life,mmakemitmamcrimemthatmshouldmbempunished?mNotmallmcrimesmaremtreatedmthemsame.mItmalsomraisesmq
uestionsmaboutmthemdesirabilitymofmnotmgivingmjudgesmflexibilityminmsentencing.
TheremwasmamprecedentmformamlightmsentenceminmthismcaseminmU.S.mlaw:mU.S.mv.mHolmes,m20mF.mCas.
m360m(No.m15383)m(C.C.E.D.mPa.m1842).mThemcaseminvolvedmamsinkingm oceanmliner.mSeveralmpassen
gersmmademitmtomthemonlymlifeboat,mwhichmwasmfarmtoomovercrowded.mThemcaptainmdecidedmtomsavemth
emwomenmandmchildrenmandmthrewmseveralmmenmoverboard.mThemlifeboatmwasm rescued.mThem grandm j
urymrefusedmtomindictmthemcaptainmfrommmurder,monlymformmanslaughter.mHemgotmamsixmmonthmsenten
ce.
ThemBritishmjudgeminmthemcasemheremimposedmthemdeathmpenaltymuponmthempersonmwhomsurvived.
mThem judgemfoundmitmdifficultmtomrulemthatmeverymmanmonmboardmhadmthemrightmtommakemlawmbymhis
mownmhand.m ThemCrownmreducedmthemsentencemtomsixmmonths.
2. Smokingmismamseriousmhealthmhazard.mCigarettesmaremlegal.mShouldmcigarettemmanufacturersmbemlia
blemformthemseriousmillnessesmandmuntimelymdeathsmcausedmbymtheirmunavoidablymdangerousmproduc
ts,mevenmthoughmtheympostmamwarningmonmthempackagemandmconsumersmvoluntarilymassumemthemhea
lthmrisksmbymsmoking?m[Cipollonemv.mLiggettmGroup,mInc.,m505mU.S.m504m(1992)]
Answer:mThemgeneralmrulemthatmexistsmnowmismthatmsincemthemgovernmentmhasmorderedmthempostingmofmwa
rningmlabelsmonmcigarettes,mandmsincemthemdangersmofmsmokingmaremwellmknown,mconsumersmhavemb
eenmwarnedmandmaremnotmduemcompensationmifmtheymkillmthemselvesmbymsmoking.mThemCippolinemca
se,msincemreviewedmbymthemSuprememCourt,mappearsmtombemofmlimitedmimpactmsincemthemvictimmwasm
adjudgedmtomhavembecomemaddictedmtomcigarettesmbeforemthemwarningmlabelmwasmorderedminm1964.m
Ifmcigarettemmakersmweremheldmresponsiblemformallmhealthmproblemsmassociatedmwithmcigarettes,mthen
,mlikemalcoholmandmothermdangerousmproducts,mthemdamagesmwouldmlikelymbemsomhighmitmwouldmeffect
ivelymbanmthemproducts.mPresumably,minmamfreemsocietymifmadultsmaremclearlyminformedmofmthemrisksmo
fmproductsmthatmcannotmbemmademsafe,mtheymacceptmthemrisk.mTobaccomandmalcoholmproducersmcann
otmtakemthemdangersmoutmofmthemproductsmexceptmatmthemmarginmbymencouragingmresponsiblemdrinkin
gmandmthemlike.mAremdrugsmlikemcocainemdifferent?
3. Twomeight-year-oldmboysmweremseriouslyminjuredmwhenmridingmHondammini-
trailmbikes.mThemboysmweremridingmonmpublicmstreets,mranmamstopmsign,mandmweremhitmbymamtruck.mThe
mbikesmhadmclearmwarningmlabelsmonmthemfrontmstatingmtheymweremonlymformoff-
roadmuse.mThemmanualmstatedmthembikesmweremnotmtombemusedmonmpublicmstreets.mThemparentsmsued
mHonda.mThemsuprememcourtmofmWashingtonmsaidmonembasicmissuemexisted:m“Ismammanufacturermliabl
emwhenmchildrenmareminjuredmwhilemridingmonemofmitsmmini-
trailmbikesmonmampublicmroadminmviolationmofmmanufacturermandmparentalmwarnings?”mIsmitmunethicalmto
mmakemproductsmlikemmini-
trailmbikesmchildrenmwillmusemwhenmwemknowmaccidentsmlikemthismwillmhappen?m[Baughnmv.mHondamM
otormCo.,m727mP.2dm655mSup.mCt,mWash.,m(1986)]
Answer:mThemcourtmfoundmnomliabilitymformthemmanufacturers.mTheremwasmnomdefect;mthemproductmwasmsa
femformintendedmuse.mSafetyminstructionsmweremclear;mthemparentsmletmthemboysmridemthembikes.mAnythi
ngmcanmbemdangerous--
baseballsmaremdangerousmwhenmtheymhitmthemhead,mswingsmaremdangerousmwhenmkidsmjumpmoutmofmt
hem;mtheremismonlymsommuchmthatmcanmbemdonemtommakemthemgovernmentmthem―nationalmnanny‖masmt
hemWashingtonmPostmoncemsaidmaboutmexcessivemconsumermprotection.mParentsmmustmacceptmamhig
hmdegreemofmresponsiblemformtheirmownmchildren.
4. JohnsonmControlsmadoptedmam“fetalmprotectionmpolicy”mthatmwomenmofmchildbearingmagemcouldmnotm
workminmthembattery-
makingmdivisionmofmthemcompany.mExposuremtomleadminmthembatterymoperationmcouldmcausemharmmtom
unbornmbabies.mThemcompanymwasmconcernedmaboutmpossiblemlegalmliabilitymforminjurymsufferedmbymb
abiesmofmmothersmwhomhadmworkedminmthembatterymdivision.mThemSuprememCourtmheldmthemcompany
policymwasmillegal.mItmwasmanm“excusemformdenyingmwomenmequalmemploymentmopportunities.”mIsmth
m
emCourtmforcingmthemcompanymtombemunethicalmbymallowingmpregnantmwomenmwhomignoremthemwarni
ngsmtomexposemtheirmbabiesmtomthemlead?m[UnitedmAutomWorkersmv.mJohnsonmControls,m499mU.S.m18
7m(1991)]
©m2022mCengage.mAllmRightsmReserved.mMaymnotmbemscanned,mcopiedmormduplicated,mormpostedmtomampublicl 3
ymaccessible
website,minmwholemorminmpart.
, Answer:mThemCourtmheldmitmamformmofmsexmdiscriminationmtompreventmwomenmofmchild-
bearingmagemfrommholdingmthemmoremdangerousmjobs.mThemcompanymarguedmthatmitmdidmthismtompro
tectmitselfmfrommpossiblemliabilityminmcasemofmdamagemtombabiesmandmthatmthemdecisionmwasmethical.m
Themreplacementsmformthesemworkersmweremoftenmmenmormmoremseniormwomen,mwhomtendedmtombe
mhighermincomemworkers,msomthis
©m2022mCengage.mAllmRightsmReserved.mMaymnotmbemscanned,mcopiedmormduplicated,mormpostedmtomampublicl 4
ymaccessible
website,minmwholemorminmpart.
The Legal Environment of Business, 14th Edition by Roger E. Meiners
m m m m m m m m m m
Chapterm1-22
Chapterm1
Table of Contents
m m
AnswermtomDiscussionmQuestion..................................................................................................1
AnswersmtomCasemQuestions .......................................................................................................1
AnswersmtomEthicsmandmSocialmQuestions ...................................................................................3
Answer to Discussion Question
m m m
Shouldmthemcommonmlawmmaximm“Ignorancemofmthemlawmismnomexcuse”mapplymtomanmimmigrantmwhomspea
ksmlittlemEnglishmandmwasmnotmeducatedminmthemUnitedmStates?mHowmaboutmformamtouristmwhomdoesmnotms
peakmEnglish?mEveryonemknowsmcriminalmactsmaremprohibited,mbutmwhatmaboutmsubtlermrulesmthatmdifferma
crossmcountriesmandmsommaymbemmisunderstoodmbymforeigners?
Answer:mItmismgenerallymtruemthatmignorancemofmthemlawmismnomexcuse.mCitizensmaremdeemedmtomhavemco
nstructivemknowledgemofmthemlaw.mYet,masmwellmknownmasmthismrulemis,mitmismsurprisingmhowmoftenmitmi
smprofferedmasmanmexcuse.m(AmWestlawmsearchmcasesmfindsmhundredsmofmexamples).mExamplesmincl
ude:mDelucomv.mDezim(Conn.mSuper)m(lackmofmknowledgemregardingmthemstate‘smusurymlawsmismnomex
cusemformtheminclusionmofmanmillegalminterestmrateminmamsalesmcontract);mandm Plumleemv.mPaddockm(ig
norancemofmthemfactmthatmthemsubjectmmattermofmthemcontractmwasmillegalmwasmnotmexcuse).mThemcour
tsmhavemprovidedmamsmallmexceptionmtomthemrulemwhenmitmcomesmtompeopleminmlackmofmEnglishmlangu
agemskills.mConsidermFlanerymv.mKuska,m(defendantmdidmnotmspeakmEnglishmwasmadvisedmbymamfrien
dmthatmanmanswermtomamcomplaintmwasmnotmrequired);mRamonmv.mDept.mofmTransportation,m(nomEngli
shmandmanminabilitymtomunderstandmthemlawmrequiredmformanmexcuse);mYurechkomv.mCountymofmAllegh
eny,m(Ignorancemandmwithmthemfactmthatmthemmunicipalitymsufferedmnomhardshipminmlatemlawsuitmfilingm
wasmanmexcuse).
Answers to Case Questions
m m m
1. FactsmfrommanmEnglishmjudge’smdecisionminm1884:m“ThemcrewmofmanmEnglishmyacht.weremcastmawaymin
amstormmonmthemhighmseasm.m.m.mandmweremcompelledmtomputmintomanmopenmboat.
..............................................................................................................................Theymhadmnomsupply
ofmwatermandmnomsupplymofmfood.m.m.m.mThatmonmthemeighteenthmdaym.m.m.mthey
........................................................................................................................ suggestedmthatmone
shouldmbemsacrificedmtomsavemthemrest.m.m.m.mThatmnextmdaym.m.m.mtheym.m.m.mwentmtomthemboy putmamknife
intomhismthroatmandmkilledmhimm.m.m.mthemthreemmenmfedmuponmthembody
............................................................................................................... ofmthemboymformfourmdays;m[then]
themboatmwasmpickedmupmbymampassingmvessel,mandm[they]mweremrescued.m.m.m.mandmcommittedmformtrial
.m.m.m.
ifmthemmenmhadmnotmfedmuponmthembodymofmthemboymtheymwouldmprobablymnotmhavemsurvivedmto
mbemsom pickedmupmandmrescued,mbutmwould
............................................................ havemdiedmofmfamine.mThemboy,mbeingminmammuchmweake
r
condition,mwasmlikelymtomhavemdiedmbeforemthem ....Themrealmquestionminmthismcasem[is]mwhethermkilling
undermthemconditionsmsetmforth .... bemormbemnotmmurder.”mDomyoumconsidermthemactsmtombemimmoral?
[Reginamv.mDudleymandmStephens,m14mQueensmBenchmDivisionm273m(1884)]
Answer:mThismpointsmoutmthatmthemlegalmsystemmhasmlimits.mItsmacceptabilitymismdictatedmbymlegalmculture--
©m2022mCengage.mAllmRightsmReserved.mMaymnotmbemscanned,mcopiedmormduplicated,mormpostedmtomampublicl 1
ymaccessible
website,minmwholemorminmpart.
, whichmdeterminesmwhethermlawmwillmbemenforced,mobeyed,mavoided,mormabused.mItmismlimitedmbymthemi
nformalmrulesmofmthemsociety--
itsmcustomsmandmvalues.mOnemlimitmismthemextentmtomwhichmsocietymwillmallowmthemformalmrulesmtombem
imposedmwhenmamcrimemismcommittedminmoddmcircumstances.mHeremtheremwasmanmintentionalmmurder
.mDoesmthemmotivemformthemmurder,mthemeffortmtomsavemseveralmlivesmbymsacrificingmone
©m2022mCengage.mAllmRightsmReserved.mMaymnotmbemscanned,mcopiedmormduplicated,mormpostedmtomampublicl 2
ymaccessible
website,minmwholemorminmpart.
, life,mmakemitmamcrimemthatmshouldmbempunished?mNotmallmcrimesmaremtreatedmthemsame.mItmalsomraisesmq
uestionsmaboutmthemdesirabilitymofmnotmgivingmjudgesmflexibilityminmsentencing.
TheremwasmamprecedentmformamlightmsentenceminmthismcaseminmU.S.mlaw:mU.S.mv.mHolmes,m20mF.mCas.
m360m(No.m15383)m(C.C.E.D.mPa.m1842).mThemcaseminvolvedmamsinkingm oceanmliner.mSeveralmpassen
gersmmademitmtomthemonlymlifeboat,mwhichmwasmfarmtoomovercrowded.mThemcaptainmdecidedmtomsavemth
emwomenmandmchildrenmandmthrewmseveralmmenmoverboard.mThemlifeboatmwasm rescued.mThem grandm j
urymrefusedmtomindictmthemcaptainmfrommmurder,monlymformmanslaughter.mHemgotmamsixmmonthmsenten
ce.
ThemBritishmjudgeminmthemcasemheremimposedmthemdeathmpenaltymuponmthempersonmwhomsurvived.
mThem judgemfoundmitmdifficultmtomrulemthatmeverymmanmonmboardmhadmthemrightmtommakemlawmbymhis
mownmhand.m ThemCrownmreducedmthemsentencemtomsixmmonths.
2. Smokingmismamseriousmhealthmhazard.mCigarettesmaremlegal.mShouldmcigarettemmanufacturersmbemlia
blemformthemseriousmillnessesmandmuntimelymdeathsmcausedmbymtheirmunavoidablymdangerousmproduc
ts,mevenmthoughmtheympostmamwarningmonmthempackagemandmconsumersmvoluntarilymassumemthemhea
lthmrisksmbymsmoking?m[Cipollonemv.mLiggettmGroup,mInc.,m505mU.S.m504m(1992)]
Answer:mThemgeneralmrulemthatmexistsmnowmismthatmsincemthemgovernmentmhasmorderedmthempostingmofmwa
rningmlabelsmonmcigarettes,mandmsincemthemdangersmofmsmokingmaremwellmknown,mconsumersmhavemb
eenmwarnedmandmaremnotmduemcompensationmifmtheymkillmthemselvesmbymsmoking.mThemCippolinemca
se,msincemreviewedmbymthemSuprememCourt,mappearsmtombemofmlimitedmimpactmsincemthemvictimmwasm
adjudgedmtomhavembecomemaddictedmtomcigarettesmbeforemthemwarningmlabelmwasmorderedminm1964.m
Ifmcigarettemmakersmweremheldmresponsiblemformallmhealthmproblemsmassociatedmwithmcigarettes,mthen
,mlikemalcoholmandmothermdangerousmproducts,mthemdamagesmwouldmlikelymbemsomhighmitmwouldmeffect
ivelymbanmthemproducts.mPresumably,minmamfreemsocietymifmadultsmaremclearlyminformedmofmthemrisksmo
fmproductsmthatmcannotmbemmademsafe,mtheymacceptmthemrisk.mTobaccomandmalcoholmproducersmcann
otmtakemthemdangersmoutmofmthemproductsmexceptmatmthemmarginmbymencouragingmresponsiblemdrinkin
gmandmthemlike.mAremdrugsmlikemcocainemdifferent?
3. Twomeight-year-oldmboysmweremseriouslyminjuredmwhenmridingmHondammini-
trailmbikes.mThemboysmweremridingmonmpublicmstreets,mranmamstopmsign,mandmweremhitmbymamtruck.mThe
mbikesmhadmclearmwarningmlabelsmonmthemfrontmstatingmtheymweremonlymformoff-
roadmuse.mThemmanualmstatedmthembikesmweremnotmtombemusedmonmpublicmstreets.mThemparentsmsued
mHonda.mThemsuprememcourtmofmWashingtonmsaidmonembasicmissuemexisted:m“Ismammanufacturermliabl
emwhenmchildrenmareminjuredmwhilemridingmonemofmitsmmini-
trailmbikesmonmampublicmroadminmviolationmofmmanufacturermandmparentalmwarnings?”mIsmitmunethicalmto
mmakemproductsmlikemmini-
trailmbikesmchildrenmwillmusemwhenmwemknowmaccidentsmlikemthismwillmhappen?m[Baughnmv.mHondamM
otormCo.,m727mP.2dm655mSup.mCt,mWash.,m(1986)]
Answer:mThemcourtmfoundmnomliabilitymformthemmanufacturers.mTheremwasmnomdefect;mthemproductmwasmsa
femformintendedmuse.mSafetyminstructionsmweremclear;mthemparentsmletmthemboysmridemthembikes.mAnythi
ngmcanmbemdangerous--
baseballsmaremdangerousmwhenmtheymhitmthemhead,mswingsmaremdangerousmwhenmkidsmjumpmoutmofmt
hem;mtheremismonlymsommuchmthatmcanmbemdonemtommakemthemgovernmentmthem―nationalmnanny‖masmt
hemWashingtonmPostmoncemsaidmaboutmexcessivemconsumermprotection.mParentsmmustmacceptmamhig
hmdegreemofmresponsiblemformtheirmownmchildren.
4. JohnsonmControlsmadoptedmam“fetalmprotectionmpolicy”mthatmwomenmofmchildbearingmagemcouldmnotm
workminmthembattery-
makingmdivisionmofmthemcompany.mExposuremtomleadminmthembatterymoperationmcouldmcausemharmmtom
unbornmbabies.mThemcompanymwasmconcernedmaboutmpossiblemlegalmliabilitymforminjurymsufferedmbymb
abiesmofmmothersmwhomhadmworkedminmthembatterymdivision.mThemSuprememCourtmheldmthemcompany
policymwasmillegal.mItmwasmanm“excusemformdenyingmwomenmequalmemploymentmopportunities.”mIsmth
m
emCourtmforcingmthemcompanymtombemunethicalmbymallowingmpregnantmwomenmwhomignoremthemwarni
ngsmtomexposemtheirmbabiesmtomthemlead?m[UnitedmAutomWorkersmv.mJohnsonmControls,m499mU.S.m18
7m(1991)]
©m2022mCengage.mAllmRightsmReserved.mMaymnotmbemscanned,mcopiedmormduplicated,mormpostedmtomampublicl 3
ymaccessible
website,minmwholemorminmpart.
, Answer:mThemCourtmheldmitmamformmofmsexmdiscriminationmtompreventmwomenmofmchild-
bearingmagemfrommholdingmthemmoremdangerousmjobs.mThemcompanymarguedmthatmitmdidmthismtompro
tectmitselfmfrommpossiblemliabilityminmcasemofmdamagemtombabiesmandmthatmthemdecisionmwasmethical.m
Themreplacementsmformthesemworkersmweremoftenmmenmormmoremseniormwomen,mwhomtendedmtombe
mhighermincomemworkers,msomthis
©m2022mCengage.mAllmRightsmReserved.mMaymnotmbemscanned,mcopiedmormduplicated,mormpostedmtomampublicl 4
ymaccessible
website,minmwholemorminmpart.
