SEM:  Advanced Torts
Schedule of Class Meetings, Reading Assignments, and Deadlines (Spring 2013)

Class No.

DATES

Topics

Academic Legal Writing

CLASS ACTIVITY and DEADLINES (in bold)

1

T 1/15

Manuel R. Ramos, Legal Malpractice:  The Profession's Dirty Little Secret, 47 Vand. L. Rev. 1657 (1994).

Articles and Student Notes:  The Basics (pp. 9-38)

Administrative Matters; discuss reading assignments

2

Th 1/17

Vincent R. Johnson & Shawn M. Lovorn, Misrepresentation By Lawyers About Credentials or Experience, 57 Okla. L. Rev. 529 (2004).

class discussion facilitated by co-teachers (2-3 students)

3

T 1/22

C. Chase Senk, Another Missed Opportunity in Shoemaker v. Gindleberger:  Strict Privity Lives On In Ohio Legal Malpractice Cases, 43 Akron L. Rev. 291 (2010).

Finding a Topic
(pp. 84-87);
Research
(pp. 89-100)

Discuss potential topics; class discussion of assigned readings facilitated by co-teachers (2-3 students)

Th 1/24

No class meeting

4

T /29

Dwayne J. Hermes, Jeffrey W. Kemp, and Paul B. Moore, Leveling the Legal Malpractice Playing Field:  Reverse Bifurcation of Trials, 36 St. Mary's L.J. 879 (2004).

class discussion facilitated by co-teachers (2-3 students)

5

Th 1/31

Charles W. Wolfram, A Cautionary Tale:  Fiduciary Breach as Legal Malpractice, 34 Hofstra L. Rev. 689 (2005).

Choosing a Claim; writing a thesis; Organizing the Article
(pp. 9-13; 39-41)

Identify Topics; class discussion of assigned readings facilitated by co-teachers (2-3 students)

T 2/5 & Th 2/7

No class meetings

Thesis and Bibliography due to me on T 2/5 no later than 12:00 p.m.

6

T 2/12

An Attorney's Liability for the Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, 58 Fordham L. Rev. 1309 (1989).

Writing the Introduction; Organizing the Article
(pp. 39-54)

class discussion facilitated by co-teachers (2-3 students)

7

Th 2/14

Charles Marshall Thatcher, Recovery of "Lost Punitive Damages" as "Compensatory Damages" in Legal Malpractice Actions:  Transference of Liability or Transformation of Character?, 49 S.D. L. Rev. 1 (2003).

class discussion facilitated by co-teachers (2-3 students)

T 2/19 & Th 2/21

No class meetings

Introduction and Outline due to me on T 2/19 no later than 12:0 p.m.

8

T 2/26

Vincent R. Johnson and Stephen C. Loomis, Malpractice Liability Related to Foreign Outsourcing of Legal Services, 2 St. Mary's J. on Legal Malpractice & Ethics, 262 (2012).

Budgeting Your Time; Deciding What to Set Aside; Choosing a Title
(pp. 73-82)

class discussion facilitated by co-teachers (2-3 students)

9

Th 2/28

 J. Mark Cooney, Benching the Monday-Morning Quarterback:  The "Attorney Judgment" Defense to Legal-Malpractice Claims, 52 Wayne L. Rev. 1051 (2006).

class discussion facilitated by co-teachers (2-3 students)

10

T 3/5

The Consequences of Arbitrating a Legal Malpractice Claim:  Rebuilding Faith in the Legal Profession, 35 Hofstra L. Rev. 327 (2006).

class discussion facilitated by co-teachers (2-3 students)

11

Th 3/7

George S. Mahaffey, Jr., Cause-In-Fact and the Plaintiff's Burden of Proof with Regard to Causation and Damages in Transactional Legal Malpractice Matters:  The Necessity of Demonstrating the Better Deal, 37 Suffolk U. L. Rev. 393 (2004).

class discussion facilitated by co-teachers (2-3 students)

T 3/12 & Th 3/14

No class meetings –
Spring Break

Writing
(pp. 102-09)

Work on your first draft!!

T 3/19 & Th 3/21

No class meetings

First Drafts due on T 3/19 no later than 12:00 p.m.

T 3/26 & Th 3/28

No class meetings

Using Evidence Correctly
(pp. 134-44);
Clumsy Words and Phrases
(pp. 261-68)

Individual meetings with me regarding first drafts

12 & 13

T 4/2 & Th 4/4

presentation of papers and critiques

class presentations – 3 students

14 & 15

T 4/9 & Th 4/11

presentation of papers and critiques

class presentations – 3 students

16 & 17

T 4/16 & Th 4/18

presentation of papers and critiques

class presentations – 3 students

18 & 19

T 4/23 & Th 4/25

presentation of papers and critiques

class presentations – 3 students

F 5/10

Final Papers due

Final Drafts due to me no later than 5:00 p.m.