Business and Personal Law

Chapter 2: Criminal Law

Case Study Extended Practice

1. Scott was at a party when he drank some punch. He did not know that the punch contained PCP. A little later, Scott began to hallucinate. He believed that the life of the President was in danger and he attempted to steal several motor vehicles to warn him. He was charged, tried, and convicted of two counts of attempted theft. Will Scott's conviction be overturned? Why or why not? People v. Scott, 194 Cal. Rptr. 633 (CA).
2. An employee of a self-service liquor store watched Lee pick up two bottles of cognac worth $16.47 each. Lee concealed one of the bottles in his pants and held the other in his hand. When approached by the employee, Lee returned both bottles to the shelf and fled. He was chased by the employee, who flagged down a police cruiser. Lee was arrested for shoplifting. Is he guilty of shoplifting? Why or why not? Lee v. State, 474 A.2d 537 (MD).
3. A man is charged with intentionally trafficking counterfeit Rolex watches. He knew the watches were fake, but he did not know selling fake watches was against the law. He appealed his criminal conviction and claimed that he did not know what he was doing was illegal. Should his conviction be reversed? United States v. Baker, 807 F.2d 427 (5th Cir.).
4. Two men rob a business while their partner waits in the getaway car. After they leave with the money, the owner of the business, suffering from heart disease, dies of a heart attack. The three men (including the driver) are charged with murder. They appeal the conviction for murder on the basis that they only robbed the store and did not murder the owner. Should their convictions be reversed? People v. Stamp, 2 Cal. App. 3d 203.