Lesson 1:
Inheriting the Fruits of Sin
Can murderers inherit from their victims? This act of chutzpah is recorded in the Bible, and still crops up in court today. This lesson compares the approaches of Jewish and secular law to this audacious claim.
Lesson 2:
The Accidental Treasure
Your contractor demolishes a bathroom wall and discovers a rusting lockbox containing cash. You had no idea there was money stashed in the wall of your hundred-year-old house, and your home has passed through many hands, making it impossible to determine the original owner. Who gets to enjoy this unexpected windfall?
Lesson 3:
Will the Real Owner Please Rise?
You bought and paid for a car, but when you come to pick it up, it is already gone from the showroom. The absentminded salesman sold the same car to two people and is unable to remember to whom he sold it first. Is there any way out of this quagmire?
Lesson 4:
The Neighbor Advantage
Jewish law dictates that when a property is sold, the neighbors must be given the first option of purchase. Must one sell to their neighbor if there is a higher bidder? And just who is considered a neighbor in this context?
Lesson 5:
You’re Fired!
Under what circumstances can one legally fire an employee? When one terminates employment, is there any ethical obligation to provide severance or compensation?
Lesson 6:
The Arm-Twister
An old business partner, who wants to buy your house, threatens to reveal information that could lead to your arrest if you do not sell it to him. If you agree to a sale under duress, is the sale valid and binding?