Write a case brief on Lucy v. Zehmer using the case study in chapter 6 of the Business Law (14the Ed.) by Kenneth W Clarkson, Kenneth Clarkson, Roger LeRoy Miller, Roger Miller, Frank B Cross, and Frank Cross.
Write a case brief on Lucy v. Zehmer using the case study in chapter 6 of the Business Law (14the Ed.) by Kenneth W Clarkson, Kenneth Clarkson, Roger LeRoy Miller, Roger Miller, Frank B Cross, and Frank Cross.
Facts:
Issue: The issue is determining whether the contract between Zehmer and Lucy is enforceable in a court of law.
Rules: Objective theory of contracts. “In the field of contracts, as generally elsewhere, we must look to the outward expression of a person as manifesting his intention rather than to his secret and unexpressed intention. That law imputes to a person an intention corresponding to the reasonable meaning of his words and acts.”
Application: The court reviewed the facts and circumstances surrounding the formation of the Lucy-Zehmer agreement: what the parties said, how the parties acted, and the circumstances surrounding the formation of the alleged contract. The court noted that: (1) the parties wrote out a contract; (2) the discussion lasted 40 minutes or more before the agreement was signed; (3) Lucy objected to the first draft because it was written in the singular, and he wanted Mrs Zehmer to sign the agreement also; (4) the agreement was rewritten to meet the objection; (5) there was a discussion as to what was to be included in the sale; (6) the parties provided for examination of title; and, finally, (7) Zehmer provided Lucy with the written agreement and never asked for it back. All of these facts suggest that the parties had a serious, objective intent to be bound by their words and actions. The court reasoned that the parties had entered into a binding contract for the sale of the Ferguson Farm – their agreement was not a joke or a jest.
Conclusion: The court found for Lucy, overturning the trial court. The Zehmers were required to follow through with the sale of the Ferguson Farm to Lucy (specific performance).
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Published On: 01-01-1970
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