PROMISES & AGREEMENTS Flashcards
A owes B $50. In exchange for A’s payment of the debt, B makes a promise. Is this promise enforceable? 17(1)
No. B’s promise is without consideration.
A signs a negotiable promissory note payable to B’s order, and C signs his name on the back without more. Is there a contract? 201(2)
Yes. Under Uniform Commercial Code § 3-402, C’s signature is an indorsement, and evidence of a contrary understanding is not admissible except for the purpose of reformation of the instrument. This conclusion does not rest on interpretation of the writing.
If A writes to B, “I can quote you flour at $5 a barrel in carload lots.” in response to an inquiry specifying detailed terms, ending in “for immediate acceptance.” is this an offer? 26(3)
Yes, this is an offer. Without the immediate acceptance part, it is still probably considered an offer.
A sends a letter to B stating the terms of a proposed contract. At the end he writes, “You can accept this offer only by signing on the dotted line below my own signature.” A replies by telegram, “I accept your offer.” Is there a contract? 30(1)
No, there is no contract.
A, a clothing merchant, advertises overcoats of a certain kind for sale at $50. Is this an offer? 26
No, this is not an offer, but an invitation to the public to come and purchase.
A writes to B, “I can quote you flour at $5 a
barrel in carload lots.” Is this an offer? 26.
No. This is not an offer, in view of the word “quote”
and incompleteness of the terms.
A writes B, “I am eager to sell my house. I
would consider $20,000 for it.” B promptly
answers, “I will buy your house for $20,000
cash.” Is this a contract? 26.
There is no contract. A’s letter is a request
or suggestion that an offer be made to him.
B has made an offer.
A sends B an offer through the mail to sell A’s
horse for $500. While this offer is in the mail,
B, in ignorance thereof, mails to A an offer to
pay $500 for the horse. Is there a contract? 23.
No, there is no contract.
A writes to B, “I can quote you flour at $5 a
barrel in carload lots” made in
response to an inquiry specifying detailed terms. Is this an offer? 26.
Probably.
A sends to B an offer to sell a specified lot for
$5,000, also stating terms as to Antime of
payment, mortgage security, taxes and
insurance. B is so anxious to buy the lot that,
without reading any of these additional terms,
he sends to A an unconditional acceptance. Is there a contract?
Yes, there is a contract on the terms stated in
A’s offer.
A, a clothing merchant, advertises
overcoats of a certain kind for sale at $50. Is this an offer? 26.
No. This is not an offer, but an invitation to the
public to come and purchase.
A writes to B, “I can quote you flour at $5 a
barrel in carload lots” made in response to an inquiry specifying detailed terms. Is this an offer? 26.
Probably.
A writes to B, “I can quote you flour at $5 a
barrel in carload lots” with the addition of the following words: “for immediate acceptance”. 26.
This is an offer; the intent to make an offer is
unmistakable.
A, a clothing merchant, advertises
overcoats of a certain kind for sale at $50. The advertisement contains the following
additional words “Out they go Saturday; First
Come First Served.” Is this an offer? 26.
Maybe. This might make the advertisement an offer.
A promises to sell and B to buy all goods of a certain character which B shall need in his business during the ensuing year. Is providing the quantity to be sold sufficient enough to provide a basis for remedy to make this a certain and definite bargain? 33.
The quantity to be sold is sufficiently definite to provide a basis for remedy, since the promises are interpreted to refer to B’s actual good-faith requirements
A sends a letter to B stating the terms of a
proposed contract. At the end he writes, “You
can accept this offer only by signing on the
dotted line below my own signature.” A
replies by telegram, “I accept your offer.” Is there a contract?
No. There is no contract.
A writes B, “If you will mow my lawn next week, I
will pay you $10.” How can B accept this offer?
B can accept A’s offer either by promptly
promising to mow the lawn or by mowing it as
requested.
A says to B: “If you finish that table you are
making and deliver it to my house today, I will
give you $100 for it.” B replies, “I’ll do it.” Is there a contract?
Yes. There is a contract. B could also accept by
delivering the table as requested.
A mails a written order to B, offering to buy on
specified terms a machine of a type which B
regularly sells from stock. The order provides,
“Ship at once.” B immediately mails a letter of
acceptance. Is this an acceptance?
Yes. This is an acceptance by promise, even
though B might have accepted by
performance.
A writes B, “If you will mow my lawn next week, I
will pay you $10.” How can B accept this offer? 32
B can accept A’s offer either by promptly
promising to mow the lawn or by mowing it as
requested.
A says to B: “If you finish that table you are
making and deliver it to my house today, I will
give you $100 for it.” B replies, “I’ll do it.” Is there a contract? 32
Yes. There is a contract. B could also accept by
delivering the table as requested.
A mails a written order to B, offering to buy on
specified terms a machine of a type which B
regularly sells from stock. The order provides,
“Ship at once.” B immediately mails a letter of
acceptance. Is this an acceptance? 50
Yes. This is an acceptance by promise, even
though B might have accepted by
performance.
A publishes the following offer: “I will pay $50
for the return of my diamond bracelet lost
yesterday on State Street.” B sees this
advertisement and at once sends a letter to A,
saying “I accept your offer and will search for
this bracelet.” Is this an acceptance? 32
No. There is no acceptance.
A writes to B, his nephew aged 16, that if B will
refrain from drinking, using tobacco, swearing,
and playing cards or billiards for money until he
becomes 21 years of age, A will pay B $5,000. B
makes a written reply promising so to refrain. Is there a contract? 32
There is probably no contract.
A writes to B, his nephew aged 16, that if B will
refrain from drinking, using tobacco, swearing,
and playing cards or billiards for money until he
becomes 21 years of age, A will pay B $5,000. B
makes a written reply promising so to refrain. B begins to refrain. Is there a contract? 32
Maybe. A may be bound by an option contract under § 45.
A writes to B, his nephew aged 16, that if B will
refrain from drinking, using tobacco, swearing,
and playing cards or billiards for money until he
becomes 21 years of age, A will pay B $5,000. B
makes a written reply promising so to refrain. B refrains until he becomes 21. Is there a contract? 32
Yes. A is bound to pay him $5,000.
A mails a written order to B, offering to buy
specified machinery on specified terms. The
order provides, “Ship at once.” B immediately
ships the machinery as requested. Is this sufficient acceptance? 32
Yes. This is a sufficient acceptance to form a
contract.
A mails a written order to B, offering to buy
specified machinery on specified terms. The
order provides, “Ship at once.” B immediately
mails a letter to A, saying “I accept your offer
and will ship at once.” Is this sufficient acceptance? 32
Yes. This is a sufficient acceptance to form a
contract.
A mails a written order to B, offering to buy
specified machinery on specified terms. The
order provides, “Ship at once.” B immediately
mails a letter to A, saying “I accept your offer
and will ship at once.” B ships non‐
conforming machinery. Is this a sufficient acceptance? 32
YES. The shipment is both an acceptance forming a contract and a breach of that contract.
A mails a written order to B, offering to buy
specified machinery on specified terms. The
order provides, “Ship at once.” B immediately
mails a letter to A, saying “I accept your offer
and will ship at once.” B ships non‐
conforming machinery. B promptly notifies A that the
shipment is offered only as an
accommodation to A. Is this a sufficient acceptance? 32
No. This is a sale of goods. The shipment is a counteroffer that A has the power to accept.
A, who is about to leave on a month’s
vacation, tells B that A will pay B $50 if B will
paint A’s porch while A is away. B says he may
not have time, and A says B may decide after
A leaves. If B begins the painting, is there an acceptance? 50
Yes, there is an acceptance by performance which operates as a promise to complete the job.