Case Study : Business Law 201

Final Paper
Business Law 201
Keith S. Ferguson

This is a complex case, involving multiple parties and several variables that need to be examined thoroughly. The parties mentioned include Knarles operator of the facility maintenance company, his son Barkley, their employee, a licensed plumber, and Mr. Chetum. Although in the end Chetum is suing the facilities maintenance firm for a breach of contract, all factors must be examined to determine proper fault.
Knarles’ company is based in Maryland and does business in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Ian Chetum’s building is located and the work to be done is in North Virginia. Each territory in the United States, including Washington D.C. has it’s own state courts. If the breach of contract was filed within the first month of business where Mr. Chetum likely only paid between $2000-$4000, this claim could have been filed in a Limited Jurisdiction trial court or a small claims court. Upon the injury of multiple people due to Carbon Monoxide poisoning it is likely that the dollar amount will increase significantly this and the fact that there are multiple state jurisdictions involved will also change how it is handled. This case could be heard in U.S. Federal court if Knarles deems it necessary. Otherwise it will likely be heard in Virginia’s state court. This is so because as stated in our textbooks “State court’s and the courts of Washington D.C. territories of the United States have jurisdiction to hear cases that federal courts do not have jurisdiction to hear.”(Cheeseman pg 31).
Another factor to consider is if the hospitalized parties sue Mr. Chetum for negligence. Knarles would be involved in this case as well since it was his firm who did the maintenance. This would likely s...

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...e actions of his company and the work they do in the line of duty. He has also employed a plumber without a license and may be found to be at fault for that plumber’s lack of a license. Although Mr. Chetum deserves to be brought to justice it seems that just about everyone who has a hand in the wrong can be held liable even for just following orders. Knarles would be wise to re-evaluate just who he puts his faith in before leaving the state and his business in the hands of a seventeen year old again.

Works Cited
Business Law 201 Henry Cheeseman Legal environment, Online Commerce, Business Ethics, and International Issues. http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/breach+of+contract http://images.findlaw.com/optimost/accident-injury-law/elements-of-a-negligence-case-2.html

http://e-lawresources.co.uk/Duty-of-care.php