Exam 7: Requirement of Consideration

Victor has breakfast at the Kute Kafey. From the menu, he orders buttered muffins "homemade like your mother's," jam "made with loving care and fresh ingredients," and tea "fresh-picked from the cool hillsides of an Indian plantation." Actually, the muffins are nothing like Victor's mum's muffins and are baked in a factory, the jam is mass-produced from industrial-quality frozen fruit, and the tea is made with no-name tea bags. Victor has a good case for breach of contract.

Mookie, a professional baseball player, negotiated with the Soxville Eagles for a one-year contract. He was given one week to consider the offer and was to sign it by the opening day of the season, one week away. Mookie, in the meantime, was offered a better contract with the Baxton Bulldogs, which he accepted. On opening day, Mookie walked onto the field in the uniform of Baxton. Soxville can sue Mookie for a breach of contract.

Giardetti, a retailer, placed an advertisement in a local newspaper on May 5^th that read: "Special Sale! New 16" portable TV set available for sale to the first 10 customers at my store on May 10^th at a sale price of $100 each. Regular price $199. First come, first served!" Don was the 10^th customer in the store on May 10^th, but Giardetti refused to sell him a TV set for $100. If Giardetti had placed a notice on his shop door on May 9^th which read: "Sale cancelled," his notice would revoke the offer made in the newspaper on May 5^th.

Giardetti, a retailer, placed an advertisement in a local newspaper on May 5^th that read: "Special Sale! New 16" portable TV set available for sale to the first 10 customers at my store on May 10^th at a sale price of $100 each. Regular price $199. First come, first served!" Don was the 10^th customer in the store on May 10^th, but Giardetti refused to sell him a TV set for $100. The advertisement is not an offer because Giardetti did not express the intention to be bound by the statements in the advertisement.

Which of the following elements does not constitute a legal relationship in contract?

If GA Stereos sends a fax to Wholesale HiFi Equipment ordering ten car stereos at a particular catalogue price, requesting delivery by courier (or some other means), the fax would not constitute an offer to purchase.

Johnson became a member of the Book-a-Month Club under an agreement by which members agree to pay for any monthly selection that they have not notified the Club they do not want. Johnson forgets to tell them when he decides he does not want "How to Cook Small Rodents" and the book arrives at his house.

It was almost time for the Heeleys to renew the mortgage on their home and they were considering their options. The mortgage was currently held by the Big Bank and the Heeleys were not satisfied with the service they had received from the Big Bank's mortgage staff. Recently, the local radio station had been airing commercials for the Little Bank, which suggested that people switch their mortgages to Little Bank to take advantage of better rates and more personal service. As a special incentive, the commercials stated that, for a limited time, for every mortgage over $50,000 which was brought to Little Bank from another financial institution, Little Bank would give the customer an all-expense-paid trip to Mexico. Feeling in need of a vacation, the Heeleys decided to take advantage of this incentive and made an appointment to see the manager of Little Bank. During their meeting the manager explained that the Mexico trip would be given on mortgages brought within the next month. The Heeleys mortgage did not expire at Big Bank for another six weeks, however the manager said it should not be a problem awarding them the trip for having made the commitment within the advertised period to transfer their mortgage. At the end of the six weeks, the Heeleys transferred their mortgage to Little Bank and delivered the paperwork needed by the bank to set up their trip. Several days later the Heeleys received a telephone call from the head office of the Little Bank informing them that they were not eligible to receive the trip as their mortgage had not been transferred within the offer period. Discuss the legal issues that arise as a result of this case. What legal principles might the Heeleys and the bank apply to support their respective positions, and what would be the likely result should legal action ensue?

Ian offered to sell his horse to Wanda for $3,500. Wanda wanted to think about it and let Ian know by email. Ian agreed. Wanda emailed Ian at 11:45 that night. At 6 a.m. Ian accepted an offer to sell the horse to William for $3,700. He read his email at 8 a.m. Can Wanda sue Ian for breach of contract?

The world of commerce requires that the intention to create a legal relationship be proven before any contract can be found to exist between the parties.

Giardetti, a retailer, placed an advertisement in a local newspaper on May 5^th that read: "Special Sale! New 16" portable TV set available for sale to the first 10 customers at my store on May 10^th at a sale price of $100 each. Regular price $199. First come, first served!" Don was the 10^th customer in the store on May 10^th, but Giardetti refused to sell him a TV set for $100. Giardetti's advertisement was a valid offer to sell, which Don accepted by being one of the first 10 customers at the store on May 10^th, and verbally accepting the offer.

Jill has been negotiating the purchase of a speedboat with Sandi during the past two weeks. Two days ago, she wrote to Sandi, saying "I won't go any higher than $8,000. Take it or leave it, but that's my final offer." By coincidence, Sandi sent a letter the same day which said "I won't take less than $8,000, so if you can't accept that, I'll have to look elsewhere for a buyer." The letters have both arrived today at their destinations. There is a contract between Jill and Sandi.

Craig makes an offer to Josie by mail, because she cannot be reached by telephone. She replies by mail, accepting the offer. Canada Post mislays her reply for several weeks. Craig, who has given up waiting to hear from her, has entered into the contract with someone else after waiting for a reasonable time. Josie can sue Craig for breach of contract.

Rahul met Jones at a street corner and made a verbal offer to buy his canoe for $200. Jones replied that he would "think about it." Rahul nodded affirmatively. The two then went about their separate business. Later in the day, Rahul met Brown, who also had a canoe for sale, and Rahul offered to purchase Brown's canoe for $175. Brown agreed to sell Rahul his canoe. At 4 p.m. the same afternoon, after Rahul and Brown had made their arrangement, Jones telephoned Rahul to say he would accept Rahul's offer to buy his canoe. Rahul and Jones established a binding contract when Jones telephoned Rahul and accepted Rahul's offer to buy his canoe for $200.

Rahul met Jones at a street corner and made a verbal offer to buy his canoe for $200. Jones replied that he would "think about it." Rahul nodded affirmatively. The two then went about their separate business. Later in the day, Rahul met Brown, who also had a canoe for sale, and Rahul offered to purchase Brown's canoe for $175. Brown agreed to sell Rahul his canoe. At 4 p.m. the same afternoon, after Rahul and Brown had made their arrangement, Jones telephoned Rahul to say he would accept Rahul's offer to buy his canoe. Rahul's offer lapsed when Rahul agreed to purchase Brown's canoe.

A trader on the floor of the Stock Exchange makes a deal with another trader by hand signals for the sale of a block of shares. This is a binding contract.

Giardetti, a retailer, placed an advertisement in a local newspaper on May 5^th that read: "Special Sale! New 16" portable TV set available for sale to the first 10 customers at my store on May 10^th at a sale price of $100 each. Regular price $199. First come, first served!" Don was the 10^th customer in the store on May 10^th, but Giardetti refused to sell him a TV set for $100. Giardetti's advertisement was only an invitation to do business, and not a valid offer to sell.

Tom offers to buy Jenny's fishing tackle for $500, but she says she wants $600. Tom then proposes a price of $550, but Jenny says she is not interested. Tom is afraid she will walk away from a deal, so he says "OK. I'll accept your offer to sell for $600." There is now a contract between them.

Rahul met Jones at a street corner and made a verbal offer to buy his canoe for $200. Jones replied that he would "think about it." Rahul nodded affirmatively. The two then went about their separate business. Later in the day, Rahul met Brown, who also had a canoe for sale, and Rahul offered to purchase Brown's canoe for $175. Brown agreed to sell Rahul his canoe. At 4 p.m. the same afternoon, after Rahul and Brown had made their arrangement, Jones telephoned Rahul to say he would accept Rahul's offer to buy his canoe. Rahul's offer to buy the canoe from Jones was a genuine expression of his intention to create a legal relationship.

Microsoft uses a click wrap agreement with a clause requiring all disputes to be heard in the state of Washington, U.S.A. Microsoft has its head office in Redmond, Washington. A consumer resides in Ontario. Is this click wrap agreement binding?