Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Business Law
Ch. 9
41
Law
Graduate
10/12/2013

Additional Law Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Civil Law
Definition

Party who brings suit: he person who suffered harm

Wrongful act: causing harm to a person or to a person's property

Burden of proof: preponderance of the evidence

Verdict: three-fourths majority (typically)

Remedy: damages to compensate for the harm or a decree to achieve an equitable result

Term
Criminal Law
Definition

Party who brings suit: the state

Wrongful act: violating a statute that prohibits some type of activity

Burden of proof: beyond a reasonable doubt

Verdict: unanimous (almost always)

Remedy: punishment (fine, imprisonment, or death)

Term
Classification of Crimes
Definition

Felony: serious crime punishable by prison > 1 year

Misdemeanor: less serious crimes punishable by jail < 1 year

*A wrongful act can lead to both civil and criminal consequences

Term
Criminal Liability
Definition
To be convicted of a crime, the state must prove that the person committed a criminal act (actus reus) or with the required mental state (mens rea) during the act
Term
Criminal Liability
Definition

Required mental state is listed in statute--

Criminal negligence means defendant failed to use standard of care that reasonable person would use in circumstances

Criminal recklessness means defendant consciously disregarded substantial risk

Term
Criminal Liability
Definition
Court may impose strict liability when statute says nothing about mental state--only in statutes that affect public health or safety
Term
Corporate Criminal Liability
Definition
A corporation can be convicted of crime for wrongful acts of its agent--corporation cannot be imprisoned but can be fined or denied legal privileges such as a license
Term
Liability of Corporate Entity
Definition
Corporation may be guilty of crime if activity is within agent/employee's scope of employment, corporation fails to perform a legally required duty, principal/officer had knowledge of wrongful act and failed to prevent it, or principal/officer authorized activity
Term
Liability of Corporate Officers and Directors
Definition
Individuals are always personally liable for crimes they commit; officer or director may be liable for crime committed by employees, even if did not know about crime
Term
Types of Crimes
Definition
Violent crime, property crime, white collar crime
Term
Property Crime
Definition
Theft (larceny) is taking of another's property with intent to permanently deprive owner of possession.
Term
Property Crime--Possession of Stolen Property
Definition
Possession of stolen property is possession of property with knowledge it is stolen
Term
Property Crime--Forgery
Definition
Making or altering a legal writing in a way that changes another person's legal right or duty--writing can be electronic.  Includes falsifying public records, trademarks, counterfeiting
Term
White Collar Crime
Definition
Non-violent crime in legitimate business world--cost to society of white collar crime is must higher than that of violent crime
Term
White Collar Crime--Embezzlement
Definition
Theft through deception committed by person entrusted with property of another
Term
White Collar Crime--Fraud
Definition
Misrepresentation of material fact made with knowledge of its falsity and with intent to deceive, upon which victim relies and suffers injury
Term
White Collar Crime--Mail Fraud
Definition
Use of mail to commit fraud
Term
White Collar Crime--Wire Fraud
Definition
Use of interstate wire (TV, radio, Internet) to commit fraud--these are "catch all" charges
Term
White Collar Crime--False Statement to Government
Definition
Knowingly to make false claim to government official or agency
Term
White Collor Crime--qui tam lawsuit
Definition
A private party whistleblower can get 25% of damages awarded--powerful tool to prosecute defense-contract, mortgage, health care fraud
Term
White Collar Crime--Bribery
Definition
Offer or acceptance of something of legal value in attempy to obtain unwarranted favor--public official or commerical; Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Term
White Collar Crime--Insider Trading
Definition
Trading a security on basis of material, non-public information
Term
White Collor Crime--Theft of Intellectual Property
Definition
Such as copyright, patent or trademark infringement may be a crime
Term
White Collar Crime--Theft of a Trade Secret
Definition
A crime
Term
White Collar Crime--Obstruction of Justice
Definition
Destroying or altering evidence when investigation is pending, or tampering with witness or jury during trial
Term
White Collar Crime--Honest Services
Definition
Violation of honest services statute is to deprive another of right to receive honest services--applies only to bribery cases
Term
Organized Crime
Definition
Money laundering is process of hiding the source of money obtained from criminal activities--"dirty" (illegal) money is 
washed" (passed through legitamate business) in order to appear "clean" (legal)
Term
Organized Crime
Definition
RICO is federal statute that imposes civil and/or criminal liability for participation in pattern of racketeering activities (illegal gambling, forgery, bribery, theft, fraud, money laundering, etc.)--defendant may be required to forfeit assets involved in illegal activity
Term
Defenses to Criminal Liability
Definition
Defendant may argue in defense: justification, lack of required mental state, procedural violation, statute of limitations expired, immunity
Term
Criminal Liability
Definition
Statute of limitations is time period in which complaint must be filed
Term
Criminal Liability--Plea Agreement
Definition
Contract between government and defendant whereby defendant pleads guilty to lesser charge and state grants immunity--defendant may agree to testify against co-defendants
Term
Criminal Procedures
Definition
Criminal procedures are designed to protect a person's constitutional rights against the arbitrary use of power by government
Term
Constitutional Protections
Definition
4th Amendment protects a person against unreasonable search and seizure--warrant for search or arrest must be based on probable cause
Term
The Exclusionary Rule
Definition
Evidence knowingly obtained in violation of 4th Amendment is excluded from trial--purpose is to deter police from over-reaching
Term
Constitutional Protections--5th Amendment
Definition
Says no person shall be deprived of "life, liberty, or property without due process of law."  Prohibits double jeopardy which means charging someone twice in same court for same crime.  Prohibits a person from being forced to testify against himself in a criminal trial
Term
Constitutional Protections--6th Amendment
Definition
Guarantees a speedy public trial by jury, right to confront witnesses, right to attorney
Term
Criminal Process
Definition
At sentencing, judge has discretion to increase penalty for aggravating factors or decrease penalty for mitigating factors
Term
Criminal Process
Definition
When defendant is a business entity, aggravating or mitigating factors are: history of past violations, cooperation with investigation, policy/program to prevent violations
Term
Cyber Crime
Definition
Not a new crime, it just means using computers to commit a crime--regular law applies
Term
Cyber Crime--Identity Theft
Definition
Theft of a form of identification (name, SSN) to access victim's financial resources or alter legal rights
Term
Cyber Crime--Computer Tampering
Definition
To access a computer without authorization--federal crime if computer is connected to internet; computer fraud when it is obtaining confidential information without authorization
Supporting users have an ad free experience!