Week 1 Discussion
Before beginning work on this week’s discussion forum, please review the link “Doing Discussion Questions Right,” the expanded grading rubric for the forum, and any specific instructions for this week’s topic.
By the due date assigned, submit your answers to this Discussion Area. Post the assignment directly in the discussion thread and label the answers with the appropriate scenario number. Do not copy the scenarios into the thread with the answers. Start reviewing and responding to your classmates as early in the week as possible. You should review and critique the work of other students, as outlined in the rubric, by the end of the week.
Select two of the scenarios listed below and explain the best solution for each. Include comments related to any ethical issues that arise. Support your responses with appropriate cases, laws and other relevant examples by using at least one scholarly source from the SUO Library in addition to your textbook for each scenario.
Scenario I—Law and Ethics
CourseHero.com is one of the many websites where students submit assignments and pay an unknown person located anywhere in the world to write papers the students can submit to their professors.
A student posted a message on CourseHero.com requesting preparation of a 12-page paper that explained the importance of the university’s academic integrity policy and the various reasons for not cheating. The student offered to pay $50 for the paper.
What legal and ethical issues do you see with the student posting the assignment so someone else can prepare the paper?
Hint:
Consult your student handbook, starting with the section titled “Academic Integrity, Intellectual Property and Copyright Policies,” for both ethical and legal ramifications of posting an assignment from the South University to another website. The legal portion starts around page 30.
Scenario II—Second Amendment
You accepted a job with Generic Hospital located in your city. The hospital is part of the Well Care system of for-profit hospitals. The employee handbook prohibits employees from possessing firearms on any company property. Generic Hospital is located in an area of town that is known for high crime rates, and you work the second shift, which means you will be leaving work late in the evening. You have a permit to carry a firearm in your car and believe the handbook’s provision violates your rights.
- Summarize your state’s parking lot laws related to firearms.
- If you challenge your employer, which party will prevail? Provide arguments for both sides, determine which party wins, and provide support for your decision.
Scenario III–First Amendment
Sullivan, a student at Shelby County Middle School, learned he received a D in English, which meant he would be required to attend summer school. While in the school library, Sullivan posted on Facebook that his English teacher should be shot. Sullivan also posted a cartoon that showed the teacher’s head on a bloody dead body. Three days later, Sullivan’s mother instructed her son to remove the post. Before the post was removed, a student printed the post and showed it to the principal, who suspended Sullivan for the last two weeks of school. Law enforcement was not involved in the situation.
Determine whether Sullivan’s statement and the resulting action by the school violate the First Amendment. Provide at least one case to support your answer.
Scenario IV – Jurisdiction
Ima Little, 4’2″ tall, visited Southern Subs Restaurant (SSR) in Montgomery, Alabama. SSR’s corporate headquarters is located in Savannah, Georgia. Little was three months pregnant and craved a sandwich with anchovies. She took the receipt after ordering her food and reviewed it while walking to a table. Little noticed the receipt contained the words “Fat Midget” printed by customer name. Before she could get to her table, Little stepped in some sauce, slipped, and fell, sustaining injuries to her back and arms. She suffered a miscarriage 24 hours after falling at the restaurant.
Discuss each of the following possibilities for filing a lawsuit, select the best option and support your choice.
- Alabama State Court
- Alabama Federal District Court
- Georgia State Court
- Georgia Federal District Court