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Essentials of Business Law and the Legal Environment, 14th Edition

Richard A. Mann, Barry S. Roberts

  • Copyright 2025
  • {{checkPublicationMessage('Published', '2024-05-20T00:00:00+0000')}}
Starting At $74.95 See pricing and ISBN options
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Essentials of Business Law and the Legal Environment 14th Edition by Richard A. Mann/Barry S. Roberts
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Overview

Known to be relevant, current, and straightforward, Mann/Roberts's “Essentials of Business Law and the Legal Environment” 14e illustrates how to apply legal concepts to business situations with over 220 classroom-tested figures, tables, and diagrams. This, abridged version of “Smith and Roberson’s Business Law” sets the standard with concise yet sufficient depth of content to ensure comprehension while its student-focused organization and relatable examples engage students. The authors emphasize the scope, extent, and importance of the law as students examine the laws impacting today’s businesses through both landmark and recent cases which have been carefully summarized to increase student’s understanding. The comprehensive coverage and numerous critical thinking features that help students strengthen their analytical skills make this text an excellent resource for CPA Exam Preparation.

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Meet the Authors

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Richard A. Mann

Richard A. Mann, J.D., received a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School. He is professor emeritus of business law at the Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is past president of the Southeastern Regional Business Law Association. Professor Mann is a member of Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Law, and the North Carolina Bar (inactive). He has written extensively, covering a number of legal topics including bankruptcy, sales, secured transactions, real property, insurance law and business associations. Professor Mann has received the American Business Law Journal's award both for the best article and for the best comment and has served as a reviewer and staff editor for the publication. He is the co-author of SMITH & ROBERSON'S BUSINESS LAW, BUSINESS LAW AND THE REGULATION OF BUSINESS, ESSENTIALS OF BUSINESS LAW AND THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT, and CONTEMPORARY BUSINESS LAW.

Barry S. Roberts

Barry S. Roberts, J.D., LL.M., received a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Pennsylvania State University, a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Laws degree from Harvard Law School. He served as a judicial clerk for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court prior to practicing law in Pittsburgh. Professor Roberts is professor emeritus of business law at the Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and he is a member of Who's Who in American Law and the North Carolina and Pennsylvania Bars (inactive). He has written numerous articles on such topics as antitrust, products liability, constitutional law, banking law, employment law and business associations. Professor Roberts has been a reviewer and staff editor for the American Business Law Journal. He is the co-author of SMITH & ROBERSON'S BUSINESS LAW, BUSINESS LAW AND THE REGULATION OF BUSINESS, ESSENTIALS OF BUSINESS LAW AND THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT, and CONTEMPORARY BUSINESS LAW.

What's New

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  • Discusses the recent Supreme Court decisions that limited the Chevron doctrine holding that the Secretary of Education does not have the authority to cancel student loan principal.
  • Coverage of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's rules regarding primary direct floor listings, smaller reporting companies and accredited investors.
  • All new "Going Global" feature integrates international business law content, enabling students to consider international aspects of legal issues as they are covered.
  • Excellent resource for CPA exam preparation with updated coverage of federal law and regulation, agency, contract, debtor-creditor relationships, and business structure.
  • Business Connection blog highlight today’s trending topics and ethical dilemmas in business law impacting businesses helping to increase relevance and engagement without adding to your workload.

Features

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  • EXCERPTED CASES BALANCE CLARITY WITH AUTHENTICITY. Case facts and decisions are summarized for clarity, while the opinion is carefully edited to preserve the court's language. Following every case is an interpretation to clarify the case's significance and how it relates to the chapter. Then, students strengthen their analytical skills with Critical Thinking Questions.
  • INSIGHTFUL ILLUSTRATIONS CLARIFY CONCEPTS. More than 220 classroom-tested figures, diagrams, charts, tables and chapter summaries help students conceptualize the many abstract concepts in the law.
  • "APPLYING THE LAW" FEATURE HELPS STUDENTS EFFECTIVELY APPLY LEGAL REASONING TO CASES AND LEGAL ISSUES. Students sharpen their legal reasoning skills by using the Issue, Rule, Application and Conclusion (IRAC) method when analyzing cases. This practical "Applying the Law" feature depicts a realistic situation focusing on a single concept presented in the chapter.
  • CONCEPT REVIEWS ENSURE COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING. More than 50 Concept Reviews summarize prior concepts and clarify the key relationships between different legal rules. Also, each chapter ends with a summary in the form of an annotated outline of the entire chapter, including key terms.
  • "Applying the Law" and "Business Law in Action" demonstrate how to practically apply concepts helping students develop legal reasoning skills.
  • "Practical Advice" feature illustrates how students can apply legal concepts to common, relevant, real-world, business situations.
  • Emphasis on ethics challenges readers to examine ethical implications of legal decisions with ethics questions following many cases and ethical dilemma scenario in more than 67% of chapters.
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Table of Contents

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Part I: INTRODUCTION TO LAW AND ETHICS.
1. Introduction to Law.
2. Business Ethics.
Part II: THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS.
3. Civil Dispute Resolution.
4. Constitutional Law.
5. Administrative Law.
6. Criminal Law.
7. Intentional Torts.
8. Negligence and Strict Liability.
Part III: CONTRACTS.
9. Introduction to Contracts.
10. Mutual Assent.
11. Conduct Invalidating Assent.
12. Consideration.
13. Illegal Bargains.
14. Contractual Capacity.
15. Contracts in Writing.
16. Third Parties to Contracts.
17. Performance, Breach, and Discharge.
18. Contract Remedies.
Part IV: SALES.
19. Introduction to Sales and Leases.
20. Performance.
21. Transfer of Title and Risk of Loss.
22. Product Liability: Warranties and Strict Liability.
23. Sales Remedies.
Part V: NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS.
24. Form and Content.
25. Transfer and Holder in Due Course.
26. Liability of Parties.
27. Bank Deposits, Collections, and Funds Transfers.
Part VI: AGENCY.
28. Relationship of Principal and Agent.
29. Relationship with Third Parties.
Part VII: BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS.
30. Formation and Internal Relations of General Partnerships.
31. Operation and Dissolution of General Partnerships.
32. Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies.
33. Nature and Formation of Corporations.
34. Financial Structure of Corporations.
35. Management Structure of Corporations.
36. Fundamental Changes of Corporations.
Part VIII: DEBTOR AND CREDITOR RELATIONS.
37. Secured Transactions and Suretyship.
38. Bankruptcy.
Part IX: REGULATION OF BUSINESS.
39. Securities Regulation.
40. Intellectual Property.
41. Employment Law.
42. Antitrust.
43. Accountants’ Legal Liability.
44. Consumer Protection.
45. Environmental Law.
46. International Business Law.
Part X: PROPERTY.
47. Introduction to Property, Property Insurance, Bailments, and Documents of Title.
48. Interests in Real Property.
49. Transfer and Control of Real Property.
50. Trusts and Wills.
Appendix A: The Constitution of the United States of America.
Appendix B: Dictionary of Legal Terms.

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  • ISBN-10: 8214034248
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  • ISBN-10: 0357987853
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Cengage provides a range of supplements that are updated in coordination with the main title selection. For more information about these supplements, contact your Learning Consultant.

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ISBN: 9798214034249
MindTap for Mann/Roberts “Essentials of Business Law and the Legal Environment” 14e is the digital learning solution that closes the gap between the classroom and the real-world helping students to think and act like a businessperson and preparing them for their future careers. MindTap gives you complete control over your course allowing you empower your students to accelerate their learning with engaging content and application focused activities that encourages the development of critical thinking skills.

MindTap for Mann/Roberts' Essentials of Business Law and the Legal Environment, 2 terms Instant Access

ISBN: 9798214034263
MindTap for Mann/Roberts “Essentials of Business Law and the Legal Environment” 14e is the digital learning solution that closes the gap between the classroom and the real-world helping students to think and act like a businessperson and preparing them for their future careers. MindTap gives you complete control over your course allowing you empower your students to accelerate their learning with engaging content and application focused activities that encourages the development of critical thinking skills.