FRS 001G - Sec. 001 - (1 unit) - CRN 75079 - M 1:40 – 3:30 pm - Room TBA
Law and Sports in America

Instructor: James Wright, Department of Physical Education, Division of Biological Sciences

Description: Seminar topics address the interaction between the American legal system and sport and its' institutions in the United States. Specific focus will be on Title IX of Educational Act of 1972, civil liability of public and private institutions and manufacturers in sport related tort actions, civil and criminal liability for violence in sport, issues related to athletes' constitutional rights, and issues related to the employment of athletes. The goals of the class are to provide the student with a basic legal framework with which to view and critically assess current topics and issues related to sport in the U.S.

Format: The seminar will meet for two hours each week for 5 weeks. The time will be a balance of lecture, discussion, presentations, and short papers. Reading material will be provided, including excerpts from appellate case law. There is no text for the course. Students will be required to prepare and present a short paper on a topic of interest to the student, related to the course, and approved by the instructor. Grading: Students will be assigned a letter grade based on the quality of the paper (40%), the quality of the presentation (20%), and the frequency and quality of participation in class (40%).

About the Instructor: James Wright is a retired attorney formerly specializing in civil litigation in northern California and is a graduate of UC Davis' Martin Luther King School of Law. Currently Mr. Wright is a lecturer in the Department of Physical Education at UC Davis and is also Head Coach of the UC Davis Women's Water Polo team. He is also Co-Head Coach of the Davis Water Polo Club and a former US Wo