Spring 2020 Course Syllabus Course: LGLA-1345- Section: 71 Civil Litigation

Instructor Information
Instructor	Doneane Beckcom
E-mail	beckcomde@lamarpa.edu
Phone	(409) 984-6548
Office	Location: Student Center - Room: 415 Hours: MW 10AM - 11AM; TR 9AM - Noon; F 9AM - 11AM; otherwise by appointment
Department	Business and Industrial Technology Chair: Sheila Guillot E-mail: guillsr@lamarpa.edu Phone: (409) 984-6381 If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.
Course Information
Description	Presents fundamental concepts and procedures of civil litigation including pretrial, trial, and post-trial phases of litigation and emphasizes the paralegal's role in civil litigation.
Prerequisites	LGLA 1307 or concurrent enrollment
Learning Outcomes	(Related PSLO in parenthesis) PSLO Alpha measured by pretest/posttest. All other PSLOs measured by embedded test questions and online discussion board. 1. Use terminology relating to civil litigation (ALPHA, 1) 2. Analyze sources relating to civil litigation and applicable court rules (ALPHA, 1, 2) 3. Draft documents used in civil litigation (2, 4) 4. Analyze the ethical considerations of the paralegal in relating to civil litigation (1, 3)
Core Objectives
Program Student Learning Outcomes	PSLO ALPHA: Reading skills: demonstrates comprehension of content (legal) area. PSLO 1: understand legal terms and the paralegal's role in the legal environment. PSLO 2: apply correct drafting procedures to transactional and court documents. PSLO 3: demonstrate appropriate ethics and professionalism in the legal environment. PSLO 4: exhibit the ability to use computer skills.
Textbooks	Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer. Civil Litigation, Kerley latest edition Delmar Publishing Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.
Lecture Topics Outline	See weekly calendar of topics below. We will do a discussion board once per week FOR A GRADE. We will also do chapter assignments at the end of each chapter FOR A GRADE. These will be due the date of each exam for the chapters that the exam covers (example, test 1 covers chapters 1 - 4, chapter assignments for chapters 1 - 4 due on the date of the test).
Major Assignments Schedule	Week 1 Orientation (THERE WILL BE AN ORIENTATION MEETING ON CAMPUS FACE TO FACE THAT YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED ABOUT VIA EMAIL) Chapter 1: Litigation and the Paralegal Overview of litigation process and role of paralegal DISCUSSION BOARD Week 2 Chapter 1: Litigation and the Paralegal Overview of litigation process and role of paralegal (continued) DISCUSSION BOARD Week 3 Chapter 2: The Courts and Jurisdiction Structure and function of federal courts; subject matter jurisdiction and personal jurisdiction of courts DISCUSSION BOARD Week 4 Chapter 3: Preliminary Considerations and Procedures Chapter 4: Investigation and Evidence Cause of actions, statutes of limitation, ethical considerations; interviewing and investigation; overview of Federal Rules of Evidence DISCUSSION BOARD Week 5 Chapter 5: The Complaint Drafting and filing the complaint and summons; service of process Test 1 chapters 1 - 4 CHAPTER ASSIGNMENTS DUE FOR 1 - 4 Week 6 Chapter 6: Responses to the Complaint DISCUSSION BOARD Chapter 7: Motion Practice Drafting and serving answers, counter claims, cross claims and third party actions; defaults; overview of pretrial, trial and posttrial motions; drafting motions DISCUSSION BOARD Week 7 Chapter 7: Motion Practice continued DISCUSSION BOARD Week 8: SPRING BREAK (Nothing is due this week! Take a break!) Week 9 Chapter 8: Overview of the Discovery Process Nature and extent of discovery including ESI; mutual disclosure under federal rules; obligation to cooperate DISCUSSION BOARD Week 10 Chapter 9: Depositions Nature of oral depositions, depositions in an electronic age, paralegal role before, during and after the oral deposition; depositions on written questions Test 2 chapters 5 - 8 CHAPTER ASSIGNMENTS DUE FOR 5 - 8 Week 11 Chapter 10: Interrogatories Scope and purpose of interrogatories; drafting and responding to interrogatories, including use of ESI; objections to interrogatories; motions to compel DISCUSSION BOARD Week 12 Chapter 11: Physical and Mental Examinations Nature and purpose of physical and mental examinations; requesting and objecting to requests and motions for physical and mental examinations; role of the paralegal DISCUSSION BOARD Week 13 Chapter 12: Request for Documents Overview of document production; ESI and document production; drafting requests for production; responding to requests; privileges and protection of documents; organizing and indexing documents; inspection of property DISCUSSION BOARD Week 14 Chapter 13: Request for Admissions Purpose and uses of request for admissions; drafting and responding to the request Test 3 chapters 9 -12 CHAPTER ASSIGNMENTS DUE FOR 9 - 12 Week 15 Chapter 14: Settlements, Dismissals and ADR Chapter 15: Trial Techniques Settlement offers and agreements; dismissals and consent decrees; distribution of settlement funds; overview of trial procedure; role of paralegal at trial DISCUSSION BOARD Week 16 Chapter 16: Posttrial Practice Calculating due dates; posttrial motions; overview of appellate procedures; preparation of appellate brief DISCUSSION BOARD Final Exam CHAPTER ASSIGNMENTS DUE FOR 13 - 16
Final Exam Date	May 7, 2020 - 8:00 AM   Through  May 10, 2020 - 12:00 PM
Grading Scale	90 - 100=A    80 - 89=B    70 - 79=C     60 - 69=D    Below 59 = F
Determination of Final Grade	Three regular exams: 70% Final: 20% Chapter Assignments and Discussion Board: 10%
Course Policies
Instructor Policies	The best way to reach me is via email: beckcomde@lamarpa.edu. To discuss grades please make an appointment to see me either in person or via phone.
Attendance Policy	Students should log in to the course at least once per week. A student who is not logging in regularly will get behind in the materials and will not likely be successful in completing the class with a passing grade.
Academic Honesty	Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSC-PA policies (Section IX, subsection A, in the Faculty Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
Facility Policies	No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
Important Information
ADA Considerations	The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the the Office for Disability Services Coordinator, Room 231, in the Madison Monroe Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
MyLamarPA	Be sure to check your campus E-mail and Course Homepage using MyLamarPA campus web portal (My.LamarPA.edu). When you've logged in, click the email icon in the upper right-hand corner to check email, or click on the "My Courses" tab to get to your Course Homepage. Click the link to your course and review the information presented. It is important that you check your email and Course Homepage regularly. You can also access your grades, transcripts, and determine who your academic advisor is by using MyLamarPA.
Other
HB 2504	This syllabus is part of LSC-PA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.