LAW4196 - Consumer law

Leader(s): Justin Malbon

Offered

Clayton First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

The unit will consider the main issues facing consumers purchasing goods or services:

1. misinformation;
2. unsatisfactory goods and services;
3. defective and dangerous goods; and
4. unfair contracts. The unit will consider the various regulatory responses to these issues, typically:
   1. non-legal controls e.g. codes of conduct;
   2. private law e.g. manufacturers' and retailers' liability for goods; unconscionable conduct;
   3. public law e.g. Trade Practices Act 1974. The course will consider how these various responses impact upon particular factual problems and will crucially assess the merits of the various responses to consumer issues using, economic and welfarist perspectives.

Objectives

The jurisdictions to be examined will be: Common Law: Australia, New Zealand, Canada; Common Law/Civil law: South Africa.

Assessment

Final examination (2 hours writing time plus 30 minutes reading and noting time): 70% Research essay (2,400 words): 30% OR the option of a final examination (3 hours writing time plus 30 minutes reading and noting time): 100%.

Contact hours

Three hours of lectures per week

Prerequisites

LAW1100 or LAW1101 and LAW1102 OR LAW1104; LAW2100 or LAW2101 and LAW2102