Personal Acknowledgments

xvii

Acknowledgments

xix

Table of Cases

xxiii

Other Texts

xxvii

Introduction to Contract Law

(110)

The Study of Contract Law

(23)

Note--On the History of Contract Law

(7)

H.J. Coolidge vs. Pua'aiki and Kea

(3)

Note--Anatomy of a Judicial Decision

(11)

Three Principles of Contract Law

(87)

The Bargain Principle

(2)

Kirksey v. Kirksey

(1)

O. Henry (William Sydney Porter), The Gift of the Magi

(4)

John Elemans, The Gift Economy

(2)

Note--On Markets and Market Ideologies

(1)

Note--Neo-Classical Economics and Contract Law

(4)

Curtis C. Flood vs. Bowie K. Kuhn et al.

(12)

Statement of Ted Williams

(1)

Note--Baseball, Law, and the Market

(3)

Bargain and Injury

(1)

Vanessa Redgrave v. Boston Symphony Orchestra, Inc.

(8)

Note--On Bargain, Injury, and Expectation Damages

(2)

Reliance: Trust, Responsibility, Injury

(1)

Laurie Kuribayashi, Freeway Poem

(2)

Andrew Ricketts v. Katie Scothorn

(3)

John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath

(6)

State Bank of Standish v. Robert N. and Kathleen Curry

(11)

Note--On Farming in the United States

(2)

Restitution: Unjust Enrichment and the Duty to Right Other Wrongs

(2)

Alasdair Maclntyre, A Disquieting Suggestion

(2)

Executor of the Estate of Enoch F. Sceva v. Fanny True

(6)

Howard E. Bailey v. Richard E. West

103

(4)

Enid Bagnold, National Velvet

107

(3)

Lyle Dews v. Halliburton Industries, Inc.

110

(3)

Contract Formation

113

(150)

Difference and Meaning in Communication

113

(47)

The Objective Theory of Interpretation

114

(1)

Charles R. Embry v. Hargadine, McKittrick Dry Goods Co.

114

(4)

Arthur Miller, The Death of a Salesman

118

(2)

United Steelworkers of America, Local 1330 v. United States Steel

120

(5)

Sue Doro, Blue Collar Goodbyes

125

(1)

In the Matter of the Estate of Virgil A. Steffes

126

(11)

Note--On Informal Contracts and the Objective Theory

137

(3)

Patricia J. Williams, Alchemical Notes

140

(3)

A Subjective Theory of Interpretation: The Doctrine of Misunderstanding

143

(1)

Konic International Corp. v. Spokane Computer Services, Inc.

143

(3)

Bud Abbott & Lou Costello, Who's on First?

146

(4)

Dr. Werner Oswald v. Jane B. Allen

150

(1)

Herlinda Marie Acedo v. State of Arizona, Department of Public Welfare

151

(4)

Note--On Revocation of Consent to Adoption

155

(2)

S & J Associates v. Jay's Trucking Co.

157

(3)

Offer and Acceptance: The Mechanics of Contract Formation

160

(84)

Note--On the Polarity of the Offer-Acceptance Model

161

(1)

Michael M. Normile and Wawie Kurniawan v. Hazel Elizabeth Miller

161

(4)

Was There an Offer?

165

(1)

J. W. Southworth v. Joseph C. Oliver and Arlene G. Oliver

165

(7)

Ahmad Izadi v. Machado (Gus) Ford, Inc.

172

(4)

John Leonard v. Pepsico, Inc.

176

(12)

Note--On Interpretation and Context

188

(1)

The Assent Invited: Acceptance

188

(1)

Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Co. v. Nowlin Smith, Jr.

189

(2)

The Manner of Acceptance

191

(1)

Beard Implement Co. v. Krusa

192

(4)

Theodore B. Russell v. Texas Co.

196

(2)

Multicare Medical Center v. State of Washington

198

(5)

The Content of an Acceptance

203

(1)

Jom, Inc, d/b/a Chipco International, Ltd. v. Adell Plastics, Inc.

204

(9)

Step-Saver Data Systems, Inc. v. Wyse Technology

213

(10)

Rich Hill et al. v. Gateway 2000, Inc.

223

(4)

Note--On Termination of an Offer and the Power to Accept

227

(1)

Revocation of the Offer Prior to Acceptance

227

(1)

George Dickinson v. John Dodds

227

(4)

State of Washington v. Richard Lee Wheeler

231

(2)

Note--On Revocation of Offers

233

(2)

Sharon Yvonne Holland v. Earl G. Graves Publishing Co.

235

(4)

Note--On offers ``becoming irrevocable,''

239

(1)

Karl Llewellyn, Our Case-Law of Contract: Offer and Acceptance

240

(1)

Drennan v. Star Paving Co.

241

(3)

Complicating Assent: ``Indefinite'' Agreements

244

(19)

George A. Varney v. Isaac E. Ditmars

245

(4)

Community Design Corp. v. Joseph D. Antonell

249

(1)

Cobble Hill Nursing Home, Inc. v. Henry and Warren Corp.

250

(5)

Mary Gordon, Final Payments

255

(1)

Oglebay Norton Co. v. Armco, Inc.

256

(7)

Consideration

263

(108)

The Consideration Doctrine

263

(77)

Origins of the Consideration Doctrine

264

(1)

The Early View of Consideration

264

(1)

A.W.B. Simpson, A History of the Common Law of Contract

265

(5)

The Classical Reformulation

270

(2)

The Reinterpretation of Consideration as One among Many

272

(2)

An Emerging Use of Consideration as a Tool for Implementing Fairness and a Variety of Other Public Policies

274

(2)

Applications of the Consideration Doctrine and Its Corollary Rules

276

(1)

Langer v. Superior Steel Corp.

277

(3)

``Courts Will Not Inquire into the Adequacy of Consideration''

280

(1)

Hamer v. Sidway

280

(3)

Carl Jessee v. Dana (Mrs. Larry) Smith

283

(2)

Note--Consideration and the Market

285

(3)

Myrna Greenfield, Alternative Trade: Giving Coffee a New Flavor

288

(4)

``Nominal Consideration is Not Sufficient''

292

(1)

In re Greene

292

(4)

Clare Dalton, An Essay in the Deconstruction of Contract Doctrine

296

(1)

``Illusory Promises'' and ``Mutuality of Obligation''

297

(3)

Agnes Maszewski v. John Piskadlo

300

(3)

John Prine, Hello in There

303

(1)

Ethel Lawrence et al. v. Ingham Country Health Department Family Planning/Pre-Natal Clinic et al.

304

(6)

Note--On Sovereign Immunity and Public Health Care

310

(1)

Paulette Childress White, Getting The Facts of Life

311

(6)

The ``Pre-Existing Duty Rule''--A First Look

317

(1)

Angela White v. Village of Homewood

318

(3)

Profile: Engine Company Number Three

321

(2)

``Public Policy'' and ``Disfavored'' Contract Terms

323

(1)

Jay H. Romack v. Public Service Company of Indiana, Inc.

324

(4)

Note--Romack Reversed and Reinterpreted--Controversy and the Courts

328

(2)

Note--On the At-Will Employment Doctrine

330

(1)

Howard C. Ellis, Employment-at-Will and Contract Principles

331

(6)

Richard E. Freeman v. The Duluth Clinic, Ltd.

337

(3)

Promises Made in Recognition of Past Benefits

340

(13)

Mills v. Wyman

341

(3)

Joe Webb v. Floyd McGowin

344

(3)

Harrington v. Taylor

347

(2)

Realty Associates of Sedona v. Valley National Bank of Arizona

349

(4)

A Brief History of Jurisprudence

353

(18)

Bailey Kuklin & Jeffrey W. Stempel, Foundations of the Law

353

(18)

Promissory Estoppel: Section 90

371

(90)

A History of Promissory Estoppel

371

(16)

Jay M. Feinman, Promissory Estoppel and Judicial Method

372

(4)

Allegheny College v. National Chautauqua Country Bank of Jamestown

376

(6)

Note--On Charitable Contributions and Contract Law

382

(1)

Richard B. Schmitt, Uncharitable Acts: If Donors Fail to Give

382

(4)

Laura Williamson, Nonprofit Organizations Face Cuts in Aid

386

(1)

Contemporary Applications of Promissory Estoppel: Promise and Reasonable Reliance

387

(50)

The Promise

388

(1)

Joseph Hoffman v. Red Own Stores, Inc.

388

(7)

Gillian K. Hadfield, Problematic Relations

395

(10)

Violet E. Neiss v. Kenneth E. Ehlers and Jill A. Ehlers

405

(8)

Dayton Malleable Clears $5 Million Capital Outlay

413

(1)

Abbington v. Dayton Malleable, Inc.

414

(10)

Barbara Kingsolver, Why I am a Danger to the Public

424

(3)

Reliance: Action or Forbearance on the Part of the Promisee or a Third Person

427

(1)

Jo Laverne Alden v. Elvis Presley

427

(4)

Elvis Presley and Vera Matson, Love Me Tender

431

(1)

General Aviation, Inc. v. The Cessna Aircraft Co.

432

(5)

Extending Reliance

437

(16)

Farash v. Sykes Datatronics, Inc.

437

(6)

Note--A Brief Introduction to Statutes of Frauds

443

(4)

Guy Kinoshita v. Canadian Pacific Airlines

447

(6)

Review of Bases of Liability in Contract and Restitution

453

(8)

William Edwin Van Brunt III v. Robert Rauschenberg

454

(7)

Defenses: Explicit Political, Economic, and Moral Controls on Contracting

461

(198)

Illegality and Violation of Public Policy

462

(57)

Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale

463

(2)

In the Matter Of Baby ``M'' 217 N.J. Super. 313, 525 A.2d 1128 (1987)

465

(17)

In the Matter Of Baby ``M'' 109 N.J. 396, 537 A.2d 1227 (1988)

482

(13)

Richard A. Posner, Sex and Reason

495

(5)

A.C. v. C.B.

500

(5)

Donald L. DeMuth v. Daniel C. Miller

505

(11)

James B. Stewart, Gentleman's Agreement

516

(3)

Lack of Capacity

519

(33)

Children

522

(1)

Note--On Children's Capacity to Contract

522

(1)

Don Oldenburg, Consummate Consumer; Children's Business

523

(3)

James Halbman, Jr. v. Michael Lemke

526

(6)

Toshio Mori, Through Anger and Love

532

(3)

Brooke Shields v. Garry Gross

535

(7)

Mental Incapacity

542

(1)

Shoals Ford, Inc. v. Maxine Clardy

542

(6)

Oliver Sacks, Rebecca

548

(4)

Duress

552

(15)

United States for the Use of the Trane Co. v. Lorna D. Bond

553

(7)

Theodore Rosegarten, All God's Dangers: The Life of Nate Shaw

560

(1)

Note--On Wife-Beating, Financing Practices, and Third Party Duress

561

(2)

Toni E. Sosnoff v. Jason D. Carter and Julia Vance Carter

563

(4)

Undue Influence

567

(4)

Nancy Ferguson v. John F. Jeanes

568

(3)

Misrepresentation and Failure to Disclose

571

(38)

Audrey E. Vokes v. Arthur Murray, Inc.

573

(3)

Robert W. Gordon, Unfreezing Legal Reality

576

(3)

Note--On the Aftermath of Vokes v. Arthur Murray

579

(2)

Flight Concepts Limited Partnership et al. v. Boeing Co.

581

(4)

Lawrence S. C. Kang v. W. Dewey Harrington

585

(4)

Michael I. Meyerson, The Reunification of Contract Law

589

(4)

Note--On the Duty to Disclose Information

593

(1)

Marcus Cicero, De Officiis, Book III

593

(2)

Warren G. Hill and Gloria R. Hill v. Ora G. Jones and Barbara R. Jones

595

(6)

Jeffrey M. Stambovsky v. Helen v. Ackley and Ellis Realty

601

(5)

Fei Xiaotong, A World Without Ghosts

606

(3)

Unconscionability

609

(50)

Ora Lee Williams v. Walker-Thomas Furniture Co.

610

(6)

Deborah Waire Post, The Square Deal Furniture Company

616

(1)

Muriel Morisey Spence, Teaching Williams v. Walker-Thomas Furniture Co.

617

(4)

James Alan Mcpherson, A Loaf of Bread

621

(7)

Tony Brower v. Gateway 2000

628

(5)

Procedural Unconscionability

633

(1)

Brooklyn Union Gas Co. v. Rafael Jimeniz

633

(3)

In Re Marriage of Gene M. Gudmundson and Geng Hui Gudmundson

636

(2)

Note--On the Many Languages Spoken by U.S. Citizens

638

(1)

Substantive Unconscionability

639

(1)

Robert W. Ryan v. Norman D. Weiner

639

(10)

Nez Perce Tribe of Indians v. The United States

649

(8)

Sherman Alexie, Imagining the Reservation

657

(2)

Content of the Contract

659

(136)

Implied Terms - Unspoken Understandings and Expectations

660

(63)

Trade Practices, Community Norms, and Other Regular Routines

660

(1)

Nanakuli Paving and Rock Co. v. Shell Oil Co., Inc.

661

(10)

Fisher v. Congregation Bnai Yitzhok

671

(2)

Best Efforts, Good Faith, and Similar Communal Norms

673

(1)

Wood v. Lucy, Lady Duff Gordon

674

(1)

Meredith Etherington-Smith and Jeremy Pilcher, The ``IT'' Girls

675

(5)

Atlantic Track & Turnour Co. v. Perini Corp.

680

(5)

Larese v. Creamland Dairies, Inc.

685

(2)

Peter Dalton v. Educational Testing Service

687

(8)

Amy Tan, Mother Tongue

695

(4)

Note--On the Existence and Definition of the Duty of Good Faith

699

(2)

Paul Reid and Mary J. Reid v. Key Bank of Southern Maine, Inc.

701

(7)

Note--On Legal Realism and the Duty of Good Faith

708

(1)

Interpretive Presumptions and Implied Terms

708

(1)

Mary Rowe v. Montgomery Ward & Co.

708

(14)

Louise Harmon, Privacy and the Parking Lot Faces

722

(1)

Interpreting Express Terms

723

(30)

Formal and Contextual Approaches

723

(1)

Formal Maxims

723

(1)

Edwin Patterson, The Interpretation and Construction of Contracts

723

(2)

Contextual Meaning

725

(1)

Robert Braucher, Interpretation and Legal Effect in the Second Restatement

725

(1)

John Cheever, Artemis, the Honest Well Digger

726

(3)

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. v. G. W. Thomas

729

(3)

Trident Center v. Connecticut General Life Insurance Co.

732

(5)

Frigaliment Importing Co. v. B.N.S. International Sales Corp.

737

(5)

Note--On the United Nations Sales Convention

742

(2)

The Reasonable Expectation Doctrine and ``Blanket Assent''--Interpretation of Standard Form Contracts

744

(1)

Regional Bank of Colorado, N.A. v. St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance

745

(4)

Laurie Kindel Fett, The Reasonable Expectations Doctrine

749

(1)

Karl Llewellyn, The Form or Boiler-Plate ``Agreement''

750

(3)

Parol Evidence Rule

753

(22)

Betaco, Inc. v. Cessna Aircraft Co.

755

(12)

Kelly Merk et al. v. Jewel Food Stores

767

(8)

Categorizing Terms: Promises, Conditions, Promissory Conditions, and Insignificant Terms

775

(20)

Promise, Condition, Promissory Condition, or Insignificant Term?

777

(2)

Internatio-Rotterdam, Inc. v. River Brand Rice Mills, Inc.

779

(3)

Conditions of Satisfaction: Objectivity Revisited

782

(1)

Incomm, Inc. v. Thermo-Spa, Inc

783

(4)

Terry and Robert Muzzy v. Chevrolet Division

787

(8)

Mistake of Fact, Changed Circumstances, and Agreed Modifications

795

(72)

Mistake of Fact

795

(17)

Mutual Mistake

796

(1)

Beachcomber Coins, Inc. v. Ron Boskett, t/a R & B Coins

796

(2)

Major-League Dispute Kid who paid $12 for $1,200 baseball card settles with shop owner

798

(2)

Piano tuner finds problem: stashed cash (1993)

800

(1)

Unilateral Mistake

800

(1)

Jeffery G. McWaters v. Thomas Lee Parker and Creasy Trucking, Inc.

800

(4)

Jump-Rope Rhyme

804

(1)

First Baptist Church of Moultrie v. Barber Contracting Co.

805

(4)

E. Annie Proulx, The Shipping News

809

(3)

Note on Mistake in Expression

812

(1)

Changed Circumstances

812

(36)

Impossibility [or Impracticability] of Performance

813

(1)

Specialty Tires of America v. The CIT Group/Equipment Financing, Inc.

813

(8)

Portland Section of the Council of Jewish Women v. Sisters of Charity

821

(5)

Roy Cazares and Thomas Tosdal v. Phil Saenz

826

(6)

Frustration of Purpose

832

(1)

Raymond Carver, A Small Good Thing

832

(7)

Robert J. Howard v. Terry Nicholson and George G. Nicholson

839

(5)

Brenner v. Little Red School House, Ltd.

844

(4)

Changed Circumstances in Different Legal Systems

848

(1)

Agreed Modifications and the Pre-Existing Duty Rule

848

(19)

Alaska Packers' Ass'n v. Domenico et al.

849

(7)

Hiroshi Wagatsuma & Arthur Rosett, Cultural Attitudes Towards Contract Law

856

(1)

Lester L. Quigley, Jr. and Veronna Kay Lovell v. Wilson

857

(3)

David Shribman, Iowa's Story is America's

860

(1)

Farm Equipment Store, Inc. v. White Farm Equipment Co.

861

(4)

Jane Smiley, A Thousand Acres

865

(2)

Breach of Contract

867

(48)

Constructive Conditions, Substantial Performance, and the Rule of Perfect Tender

867

(34)

John M. Shaw v. Mobil Oil Corp.

867

(4)

Spivey and Self v. Highview Farms

871

(5)

Jacob & Youngs, Inc. v. George Edward Kent

876

(4)

Richard Danzig, The Capability Problem in Contract Law

880

(5)

O.W. Grun Roofing and Construction Co. v. Mrs. Fred M. Cope

885

(4)

Peter Ho Davies, The Ugliest House in the World

889

(1)

Other Protections for Parties Who Must Perform First

890

(2)

On the Rule of Perfect Tender in the Uniform Commercial Code

892

(1)

Ernest Ramirez and Adele Ramirez v. Autosport

893

(7)

Note--Breach Provisions in the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods

900

(1)

Anticipatory Breach and Related Doctrines

901

(14)

H.B. Taylor v. Elizabeth and Ellwood Johnson

902

(7)

Song of the Horse

909

(1)

AMF, Incorporated v. McDonald's Corp.

909

(6)

Remedies

915

(86)

Damages for Breach of Contract

915

(72)

Expectation Damages and Alternative Measures of Restitution or Reliance

915

(1)

Alice Sullivan v. James H. O'Connor

916

(6)

Eric P. Nash, What's A Life Worth?

922

(2)

Source Direct, Inc. v. Donald J. Mantell

924

(5)

American Standard, Inc. et al. v. Harold Schectman et al.

929

(4)

Note on UCC Remedies

933

(2)

Three Limitations on Damages: Certainty, Foreseeability, and Mitigation

935

(1)

Reasonable Certainty

935

(1)

Pauline's Chicken Villa, Inc. v. KFC Corp.

936

(2)

Foreseeability

938

(1)

Hadley v. Baxendale

938

(2)

George Herbert, The Temple

940

(1)

Troxler Electronics Laboratories, Inc. v. Solitron Devices, Inc.

940

(4)

Mitigation

944

(1)

Shirley MacLaine Parker v. Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp.

944

(9)

Non-Pecuniary Loss: An Additional Limitation on Damages?

953

(1)

Carla Deitsch et al. v. The Music Co.

953

(2)

Denise Chavez, The Wedding

955

(1)

Liberty Homes, Inc. v. Darniece B. Epperson and Fred R. Epperson

956

(3)

bell hooks, Homeplace: A Site of Resistance

959

(1)

Contract Terms Regarding Remedies

960

(1)

Liquidated Damage Clauses

960

(1)

Michael E. Kvassay, d/b/a Kvassay Exotic Foods v. Albert Murray, et al.

960

(4)

Note--On Liquidated Damage Clauses

964

(1)

Limitation of Liability Clauses

964

(1)

Jimmie Elsken, Administrator v. Network Multi-Family Security Corp.

964

(4)

Punitive Damages

968

(1)

Werner, Zaroff, Slotnick, Stern & Askenazy v. Donald R. Lewis

969

(2)

Orlando Cabrera et al. v. Jeno Jakabovitz et al.

971

(6)

Jon C. Dubin, From Junkyards to Gentrification

977

(10)

Specific Performance

987

(14)

Lawrence F. Clark, Jr. v. Pennsylvania State Police

987

(3)

Douglas Laycock, The Death of the Irreparable Injury Rule

990

(2)

Madison Square Garden Boxing, Inc. v. Earnie Shavers

992

(3)

Beverly Glen Music, Inc. v. Warner Communications, Inc. and Anita Baker

995

(1)

Lea S. VanderVelde, The Gendered Origins of the Lumley Doctrine

996

(5)

Third Party Interests

1001

(66)

Third Party Beneficiaries

1001

(34)

Thomas Devine v. Roche Biomedical Laboratories

1002

(3)

William F. Scarpitti, Jr. v. William Weborg

1005

(4)

Henry Horner Mothers Guild v. Chicago Housing Authority

1009

(5)

Dr. Erich Platzer et al. v. Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research

1014

(7)

Andrea Barrett, The Behavior of Hawkweeds

1021

(3)

Third Party Beneficiary Doctrine in Promissory Estoppel and Professional Malpractice Claims

1024

(2)

Alvin Stangland and Bruce Kintschi v. Norman D. Brock

1026

(7)

Charles Dickens, Bleak House

1033

(2)

Assignment of Rights and Delegation of Duties (and ``Assignment of a Contract'')

1035

(32)

Assignment of Rights

1035

(1)

Evening News Association v. Peterson

1036

(6)

Jill Schachner Chanen, Source of Comfort

1042

(3)

Equico Lessors, Inc. v. A. Moneim Ramadan

1045

(3)

Delegation of Duties, Including ``Assignment of a Contract''

1048

(1)

Sally Beauty Co., Inc. v. Nexxus Products Co., Inc.

1049

(10)

Hunter Tract Improvement Co. v. S. H. Stone

1059

(2)

Geyen v. Time Oil Co.

1061

(3)

Regina Austin, ``A Nation of Thieves''

1064

(3)

Appendix: Some Authoritative Texts in Contract Law

1067

(74)

A. Uniform Commercial Code

1067

(26)

Article 1 General Provisions.--Selected Sections

1067

(3)

Article 2 Sales.--Selected Sections

1070

(22)

Article 9 Secured Transactions--Selected Sections on Assignment

1092

(1)

B. United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods

1093

(2)

C. Restatement (Second) of Contracts (1981)

1095

(46)

Meaning of Terms

1095

(1)

Formation of Contracts--Parties and Capacity

1096

(1)

Formation of Contracts--Mutual Assent

1097

(6)

Formation of Contracts--Consideration

1103

(17)

The Statute of Frauds

1120

(1)

Mistake

1120

(1)

Misrepresentation, Duress and Undue Influence

1121

(3)

Unenforceability on Grounds of Public Policy

1124

(3)

The Scope of Contractual Obligations

1127

(5)

Performance and Non-Performance

1132

(1)

Impracticability of Performance and Frustration of Purpose

1133

(1)

Discharge by Assent or Alteration

1134

(1)

Joint and Several Promisors and Promisees

1134

(1)

Contract Beneficiaries

1134

(1)

Assignment and Delegation

1135

(1)

Remedies

1136

(5)

Index

1141

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

We're the #1 textbook rental company. Let us show you why.

Contracting Law

9780890898314

0890898316

Supplemental Materials

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Rewards Program