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Role and Functions of Law

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Role and Functions of Law Paper
Kelly Barnes
Law 421
November 19, 2012
John Cross

Role and Function of Law Paper
Introduction
Law has a big role in business and society. Laws help society run smoothly, by regulating social behavior. Law functions to maintain social control and protects public order by solving problems in a proper manner. Law gives the people guidelines on ethical standards and expectations, rules of conduct, procedures to enforce those rules, and ways for settling disputes. If there was not law, society would be dysfunctional and people would suffer.
Cipollone v. Liggett Group, Inc Cipollone (plaintiff) was suing the Liggett Group, Inc (defendant) because he thought the cause of his mother’s death was from the hazards of smoking. Cipollone was accusing Liggett and other cigarette manufacturers for false advertising, fraudulently misrepresenting the hazards of smoking, and conspiracy to deprive the public of medical and scientific information about smoking (Melvin. 2011). The Liggett Group believed two federal laws, which are the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act of 1965, and the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act of 1969 protected them. U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Cipollone, stating that federal law preempted his claims that were relying on state law (Melvin. 2011).
Functions of Law in Business Most businesses depend on external legal help, but changes in the business environment have made giving businesses the opportunity to hire internal legal counsel. Companies have lawyers in the company’s budget for business purposes through prepaid legal services. These changes have affected the business environment by increasing business cost on many companies (Vitez. 2012). Business law has made it possible for companies to receive legal advice when making business decisions to avoid legal liabilities when selling

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