Table of Contents

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  • The Concept of Contract
    • Introduction
    • Obligations and the Law
      • Basic Tools: Appellate Cases
        • Evolution of the Common Law
        • The Meaning of the Common Law
        • How to Analyze an Opinion
        • Laidlaw v. Organ
          • The Court's Opinion: Laidlaw v. Organ
          • Thoughts and Questions on Laidlaw v. Organ
      • Legal Documents and Instruments
        • Contracts and Writing
        • Interpretation as an Essential Element in Contracts
          • Introduction
          • The Secret Code
          • 100% Pure Fescue
          • Restatement 2d Contracts § 202
        • Standard Form Contracts: Introduction
          • Which Paradigm?
          • Contracts of Adhesion
        • Sara's Laptop
          • Introduction to the Problem
          • The Customer Service Rep
          • The Problem
        • Norcia v. Samsung Telcoms. Am., LLC
          • The Court’s Opinion: Norcia v. Samsung Telcoms. Am., LLC
          • Thoughts and Questions on Norcia v. Samsung Telcoms. Am., LLC and the Sara’s Laptop Problem
  • Expectation
    • Introduction
    • The Aristotle Model
      • Justification for Contract Remedies
      • Fuller & Perdue
      • Aristotle's Equilibrium Theory
      • Applying the Aristotle Model
        • Introduction
        • Bad Policy
      • Restatement 2d Contracts § 373
  • What Promises Do We Enforce?
    • Introduction
      • The Seal in Anglo American Law
    • Contract as Bargain
      • Bargain: The Classic Paradigm
      • Hamer v. Sidway
        • The Court's Opinion: Hamer v. Sidway
        • Thoughts and Questions on Hamer v. Sidway
        • Measure of Persuasiveness
        • Testing the Measure of Persuasiveness
      • Variations of Hamer
        • Hamer v. Sidway: First Scenario
        • Hamer v. Sidway: A Variation
      • Dougherty v. Salt
        • The Court's Opinion: Dougherty v. Salt
      • Other Legal Materials
        • What is the Restatement?
    • The Law's Response
      • The Professor's Offer
      • Defining the Classical Bargain
      • The Elements of Consideration
        • The Tent Hypo
      • Langer v. Superior Steel Corp.
        • The Court's Opinion: Langer v. Superior Steel Corp.
        • Thoughts and Questions on Langer v. Superior Steel Corp.
      • Fiege v. Boehm
        • Thinking in Different Terms
        • The Court's Opinion: Fiege v. Boehm
        • Thoughts and Questions on Fiege v. Boehm
    • What Does Bargain Exclude?
      • United States v. Meadors
        • The Court's Opinion: United States v. Meadors
        • Thoughts and Questions on United States v. Meadors
      • Professor Commentary
        • Colloquium
        • Professor James Gordley
    • Other Issues in Bargained For Exchange
      • The Psychic Hotline
      • Nominal Consideration
    • Undercurrents
      • Fossilization
        • What is Fossilization?
        • Thoughts and Questions on Fossilization
      • Legitimation
        • The Concept of Legitimation
        • Examples of Legitimation
  • The Waning of Consideration
    • Introduction
    • The Doctrine of Mutuality
      • The Start Up
      • The Traditional Meaning of Mutuality
        • Introduction
          • McMichael v. Price
      • The Modern Meaning of Mutuality
        • Territorial Dispute
        • Wood v. Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon
        • Thoughts and Questions on Wood v. Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon
      • Good Faith
        • Implication and Imposition
        • Exclusive Dealing Contracts
        • Requirement and Output Contracts
          • UCC Section 2-306
          • Thoughts and Questions on Requirements and Output Contracts
        • Personal Satisfaction and Termination Clauses
          • Background on Personal Satisfaction and Termination Clauses
          • Omni Group v. Seattle-First National Bank
            • Omni Group v. Seattle-First National Bank
        • What is an "Illusory" Promise?
          • Has the Definition of Illusory Promises Changed?
        • Modified Contracts
          • Modification and Extortion
            • Introduction
            • Johnny Guitar
              • Version 1 of Johnny Guitar
              • Version 2 of Johnny Guitar
            • Origins of the Legal Duty Rule
            • Levine v. Blumenthal
              • The Court's Opinion: Levine v. Blumenthal
              • Thoughts and Questions on Levine v. Blumenthal
            • UCC Section 2-209
            • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 89
      • Professor Commentary
        • Professor Amy Chua
      • Formality
        • Formality, the Restatement, and the UCC
        • Firm Offers
    • The Future of Consideration
      • What Does the Future Hold?
      • Professor Colloquium
      • Practitioner Perspective
      • Revisiting Defining the Classical Bargain
  • Beyond Consideration
    • The Dangers of Categorization
    • Restitution
      • Introduction
        • Background on Restitution
        • Gigi
      • The Historical Role of Restitution
        • Restitution and Quasi Contracts
        • Glenn v. Savage
        • Cotnam v. Wisdom
        • Thoughts and Questions on Glenn v. Savage and Cotnam v. Wisdom
      • The Elements of Restitution
        • Introduction
        • Restitution as an Independent Cause of Action
        • Restitution as a Contract Remedy
        • Components of a Restitution Claim
          • Enrichment
          • Injustice
          • The Effect of a Contract
          • The Effect of an Unenforceable Contract
        • Special Items
          • Adrienne Davis
          • Slave Policies: New York Times Article
      • Promissory Restitution (Moral Obligation)
        • Introduction
        • Past Consideration
          • Mills v. Wyman
          • Webb v. McGowin
          • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 86
        • Thoughts and Questions on MIlls v. Wyman and Webb v. McGowin
    • Promissory Estoppel
      • Introduction
      • The Restoration of Reliance
        • Introduction
        • The Emergence of Promissory Estoppel
          • The Good, the Bad, and the BMW
          • Ricketts v. Scothern
          • Thoughts and Questions on Ricketts v. Scothern
        • Elements of Promissory Estoppel
          • The Restatements
          • Reliance Under the Restatements
            • The First Restatement of Contracts Section 90
            • The Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 90
            • Reliance Elements
            • Other Restatement Provisions
          • Thoughts and Questions on Promissory Estoppel
          • It's Yours
          • Feinberg v. Pfeiffer Co.
          • Thoughts and Questions on Feinberg v. Pfeiffer Co.
        • At-Will Employment
          • Forrer v. Sears, Roebuck & Co.
          • Grouse v. Group Help Plan, Inc.
          • Thoughts and Questions on Forrer v. Sears, Roebuck & Co. and Grouse v. Group Health Plan, Inc.
      • Other Dimensions
        • Professor Commentary on Justice and Fairness
          • Professor James Gordley
          • Honorable Frank Easterbrook
          • Professor James Gordley
        • Hoffman v. Red Owl Stores, Inc.
          • The Court's Opinion: Hoffman v. Red Owl Stores, Inc.
          • Thoughts and Questions on Hoffman v. Red Owl Stores, Inc.
          • Professor Amy Chua
      • Colloquium
  • Contracts and Public Policy
    • Freedom of Contract
    • Contracts and Illegality
      • The Notion of Illegality
        • Introduction
        • Other Thoughts on Illegality
      • Holland v. Morse Diesel International, Inc.
        • The Court's Opinion: Holland v. Morse Diesel International, Inc.
        • Thoughts and Questions on Holland v. Morse Diesel International, Inc.
    • Who Can Contract
      • The Issue of Capacity
      • Halbman v. Lemke
        • The Court's Opinion: Halbman v. Lemke
        • Thoughts and Questions on Halbman v. Lemke
    • Unequal Bargains
      • Jennifer's Mom
      • Batsakis v. Demotsis
        • The Court's Opinion: Batsakis v. Demotsis
        • Thoughts and Questions on Batsakis v. Demotsis
      • How Absolute is the No Inquiry Rule?
      • More on Unequal Bargains
      • Beyond the Doctrine
        • Do we save businesses from major mistakes?
    • Contracts and Social Choice
      • The Frozen Embryo Dilemma
      • Kass v. Kass
        • The Court's Opinion: Kass v. Kass
      • AZ v. BZ
        • The Court's Opinion: AZ v. BZ
        • Thoughts and Questions
      • Professor Commentary
        • Professor Stanley Hauerwas
        • Professor Dorianne Lambelet Coleman
        • Srobona Chatterjee, MD
      • Beyond the Doctrine
        • Talk of the Nation
      • Professor Commentary
        • Colloquium on Freedom of Contract
        • Markets and Globalization
  • The Objective Theory
    • Introduction
    • The Subjective Objective Dichotomy
    • The Subjective Theory
      • 100% Pure Fescue
      • The Secret Code
      • Raffles v. Wichelhaus
        • The Court's Opinion: Raffles v. Wichelhaus
        • Thoughts and Questions on Raffles v. Wichelhaus
    • The Objective Theory
      • Embry v. Hargardine McKittrick Dry Goods Co.
        • The Court's Opinion: Embry v. Hargardine McKittrick Dry Goods Co.
        • Variations on Embry
      • Lucy v. Zehmer
        • The Court's Opinion: Lucy v. Zehmer
        • A Modern Version Lucy v. Zehmer
        • Thoughts and Questions on Lucy v. Zehmer
    • Professor Commentary
      • Professor Walter Brueggemann
    • Issues in Cognition
      • Puffery in Advertising
      • Limitations on Cognition
      • Readings on Human Cognition
  • Information and Disappointment
    • Information and Contract Formation
    • What Degree of Honesty is Required
      • Information and Selling
      • Fraud and Intentional Misrepresentation
        • The Issue of Fraud
        • Vokes v. Arthur Murray, Inc.
          • The Court's Opinion: Vokes v. Arthur Murray, Inc.
          • Thoughts and Questions on Vokes v. Arthur Murray Inc
        • A Different Perspective on Vokes
        • Intent to Deceive
        • A Note on Intent in Fraud
      • Misrepresentation Without Fraud
        • A Better Engine
        • Norton v. Poplos
          • The Court's Opinion: Norton v. Poplos
          • Thoughts and Questions on Norton v. Poplos
        • Contracting Out of One's Own Misrepresentations
        • Special Items
          • The Law's Preoccupation With Fault
      • Warranties
        • Discussing the Sale
        • The Meaning of Warranty
        • Warranties and the UCC
          • UCC Warranties
          • Thoughts and Questions on UCC Warranties
    • What Must be Disclosed
      • Laidlaw v. Organ
        • The Court's Opinion: Laidlaw v. Organ
        • Thoughts and Questions on Laidlaw v. Organ
      • Caveat Emptor
        • Notes on the Doctrine of Caveat Emptor
      • Theories of Disclosure
      • Hill v. Jones
      • Richey v. Patrick
        • The Court's Opinion: Richey v. Patrick
        • Thoughts and Questions on Richey v. Patrick
      • Documents Relating to Disclosure
        • North Carolina Real Estate Contract
        • General Real Estate Disclosure Form
        • Article What Health Problems Do Meth Labs Cause
        • Dave Ramsey Excerpt
        • Massachusetts Psychologically Impacted Properties Statute
      • Puzzles and Problems
        • The Violin Puzzle
        • Value Enhancing Information
        • Repeat Sellers
        • Is Disclosure Logically Compelled?
      • Professor Commentary
        • Professor Richard A Epstein
        • Professor James Gordley
      • Beyond the Doctrine
        • Attorney Deborah Hylton
    • Good Faith
      • Introduction
        • Preliminary Questions
        • Lake City Beer
      • Carmichael v. Adirondack Bottled Gas Corp.
        • The Court's Opinion: Carmichael v. Adirondack Bottled Gas Corp
        • Hardly the Time
      • Market Street Associates v. Frey
        • The Court's Opinion: Market Street Associates v. Frey
        • Honorable Richard Posner
      • The Content of the Duty of Good Faith
      • The Scope of the Duty
        • Understanding the Concept
        • Professor James Gordley
      • Employment at Will Contracts
        • Problems in Termination
          • Take this Job
        • Fortune v. the National Cash Register Co
          • The Court's Opinion: Fortune v. National Cash Register Co.
          • Thoughts and Questions on At Will Employment
        • Policy Issues
          • Professor Richard A Epstein
        • A Comparative Law Perspective
    • Mutual Mistake
      • The Yard Sale
      • Beachcomber Coins, Inc. v. Boskett
        • The Court's Opinion: Beachcomber Coins, Inc. v. Boskett
        • Thoughts and Questions on Beachcomber Coins, Inc. v. Boskett
      • Lenawee County Board of Health v. Messerly
        • The Court's Opinion: Lenawee County Board of Health v. Messerly
        • Thought and Questions on Lenawee County Board of Health v. Messerly
      • When is the Risk Allocated?
    • Changed Circumstances
      • Uncertainty
      • Impossibility and Impracticability
        • Stranded
        • Taylor v. Caldwell
          • The Court's Opinion: Taylor v. Caldwell
          • Thoughts and Questions on Taylor v. Caldwell
        • Canadian Industrial Alcohol Company, Ltd. v. Dunbar Molasses Co.
          • The Court's Opinion: Canadian Industrial Alcohol Company, Ltd. v. Dunbar Molasses Co.
          • Thoughts and Questions on Canadian Industrial Alcohol Co. v. Dunbar Molasses Co.
        • The UCC Provisions
        • The Problem of Increased Costs
      • Frustration of Purpose
        • The Company Picnic
        • 7200 Scottsdale Rd. General Partners v. Kuhn Farm Machinery
          • The Court's Opinion: 7200 Scottsdale Rd. General Partners v. Kuhn Farm Machinery
          • Thoughts and Questions on 7200 Scottsdale Rd. General Partners v. Kuhn Farm Machinery
    • Revisiting Jennifer's Mom
  • Offer and Acceptance
    • Introduction
      • Preliminary Issues
      • The Classical Paradigm
      • Tell Ya What I Can Do
    • Offer
      • Introduction
        • What is an Offer?
        • "No! We Have a Deal!" Version 1
        • "No! We Have a Deal!" Version 2
      • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 24 and 26
      • Lonergan v. Skolnick
        • The Court's Opinion: Lonergan v. Skolnick
        • A Chronology
        • Thoughts and Questions on Offers
      • The Catalogue Order
      • Dickinson v. Dodds
        • The Court's Opinion: Dickinson v. Dodds
        • Thoughts and Questions on Revocation of Offers
    • Acceptance
      • Introduction
        • Issues in Acceptance
        • Second Thoughts
        • Restatement (2d)of Contracts Section 32 and A Problem
        • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 33
        • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 50
        • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 51
        • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 53
        • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 54
        • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 56
        • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 58
        • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 59
        • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 60
        • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 61
        • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 62
        • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 63
        • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 65
        • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 67
        • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 68
        • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 69
      • Acceptance by Promise
        • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 50
        • UCC Section 2-206
        • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Sections 63 and 66
        • Morrison v. Thoelke
          • The Court's Opinion: Morrison v. Thoelke
          • Thoughts and Questions on the Mailbox Rule
          • Arguments about the Mailbox Rule
        • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 69
      • Acceptance by Performance
        • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 45
        • Petterson v. Pattberg
          • The Court's Opinion: Petterson v. Pattberg
          • Thoughts and Questions on Petterson v. Pattberg
      • Mutual Assent and Consideration
        • My First Big Sale
        • Glover v. Jewish War Veterans
          • She Got What She Wanted
          • The Court's Opinion: Glover v. Jewish War Veterans
          • Thoughts and Questions on Glover v. Jewish War Veterans
        • Industrial America, Inc. v. Fulton Industries, Inc.
          • The Court's Opinion: Industrial America, Inc. v. Fulton Industries, Inc.
          • Thoughts and Questions on Industrial America, Inc. v. Fulton Industries, Inc.
    • Pragmatic Alternatives
      • Introduction
      • Options
        • Traditional Options
        • Options Created by Reliance
          • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 25
          • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 45
          • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 87
          • UCC Section 2-205
      • Option Alternatives
      • Qualified Acceptance
        • Introduction
          • Overview
          • The Employee's Input
        • The Mirror Image Rule
          • Poel v. Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co. of NY
            • The Court's Opinion: Poel v. Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co. of NY
            • Thoughts and Questions on Poel v. Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co. of NY
          • Professor Commentary
            • Professor Melvin A. Eisenberg
        • The Battle of the Forms
          • UCC Section 2-207
      • Incomplete Agreements
        • Introduction
          • Overview
          • Pack the Place Out
        • Joseph Martin Jr. Delicatessen, Inc v. Schumacher
          • The Court's Opinion: Joseph Martin Jr. Delicatessen, Inc v. Schumacher
          • Thoughts and Questions on Joseph Martin Jr. Delicatessen, Inc v. Schumacher
        • Restatement (2d) of Contracts Section 33
        • UCC Section 2-204
        • Empro Manufacturing Co., Inc. v. Ball-Co Manufacturing, Inc.
          • The Court's Opinion: Empro Manufacturing Co., Inc. v. Ball-Co Manufacturing, Inc.
          • Thoughts and questions on Empro Manufacturing Co., Inc. v. Ball-Co
        • Professor Commentary
          • Professor Richard E. Speidel
          • Professor Girardeau A. Spann
          • Professor Richard E. Speidel
  • Bargaining and Power
    • Introduction
      • The Issue of Bargaining and Power
      • If You're Not Happy, We're Not Happy
    • Form Contracts Cases
      • Merit Music Service, Inc. v. Sonneborn
        • The Court's Opinion: Merit Music Service, Inc. v. Sonneborn
        • Thoughts and Questions on Merit Music Service, Inc. v. Sonneborn
        • Honorable Richard Posner
      • Norcia v. Samsung Telecommunications, LLC
    • Form Contracts: Commentary
      • The Uses of Form Contracts
      • Perspective on Form Contracts
      • Procedural Rights
        • Professor Paul Carrington
      • A Better Doctrinal Framework?
    • Unconscionability
      • Introduction
        • Overview
        • Vamoose
      • The Equitable Origins
      • UCC Section 2-302
      • The UCC and the Modern Doctrine
      • James v National Financial, LLC
      • Hanjy v Arvest Bank
  • Deference to Writings
    • Introduction
    • The Statute of Frauds
      • Historical Origins
      • The Original Statute of Frauds
      • CR Klewin, Inc. v. Flagship Properties, Inc.
        • The Court's Opinion: CR Klewin, Inc. v. Flagship Properties, Inc.
        • Thoughts and Questions on CR Klewin, Inc. v. Flagship Properties, Inc.
      • Keeping it Simple
      • UCC Section 2-201 and Restatement 2d Section 125
      • Professor Commentary
        • Professor John C. Weistart
    • The Parol Evidence Rule
      • The Delivery Date
      • Analyzing the Rule
      • Two Classic Cases
        • Mitchell v. Lath
        • Masterson v. Sine
        • Thoughts and Questions on Mitchell v. Lath and Masterson v. Sine
      • Contrasting the Two Doctrines
    • Ambiguity and Interpretation
      • Introduction
      • Previous Encounters with Meaning
        • 100% Pure Fescue
        • The Secret Code
      • Two Contrasting Cases
        • Pacific Gas and Electric Company v. G.W. Thomas Drayage & Rigging Company, Inc.
        • Trident Center v. Connecticut General Life Insurance Company
        • Thoughts and Questions on Plain Meaning
      • SCA Promotions, Inc. v Yahoo!, Inc.
      • Professor Colloquium
  • Remedies
    • When is There a Breach?
      • Anticipatory Repudiation
        • Hochster v. De La Tour
          • The Court’s Opinion in Hochster v. De La Tour
          • Thoughts and Questions on Hochster v. De La Tour
      • Substantial Performance
        • The Court’s Opinion in Jacob & Youngs, Inc. v. Kent
        • Variations on Jacob & Youngs
          • Version 1
          • Version 2
        • Thoughts and Questions on Jacob & Youngs, Inc. v. Kent
    • Introduction to Remedies
      • The Problem of Remedies
    • The Basic Formula
      • Introduction
      • Historical Perspective
      • Questioning the Norm
      • Commentary
        • Professor James R. Gordley
        • Professor Richard E. Speidel
        • Professor Elizabeth Hayes Patterson
        • Attorney J. Scott Merrell
    • The Mechanics of Damages
      • Calculating Damages
      • General Damages Problem
      • The UCC Approach
      • Seller's Remedies Problem
        • The Sandal Sale Problem
        • UCC Provisions
          • UCC Section 2-703
          • UCC Section 2-706
          • UCC Section 2-708
          • UCC Section 2-709
          • UCC Section 2-710
      • Buyer's Remedies Problem
        • The Robotic Painter Problem
        • UCC Provisions
          • UCC Section 2-711
          • UCC Section 2-712
          • UCC Section 2-713
          • UCC Section 2-714
          • UCC Section 2-715
          • UCC Section 2-716
          • UCC Section 2-717
    • Problems of Measurement
      • Uncertainty in Damages
        • The Child Care Dilemma
        • The Blue Camry
      • Economic Waste
        • Peevyhouse v. Garland Coal & Mining Company
        • Thoughts and Questions on Peevyhouse v. Garland Coal & Mining Company
      • Lost Volume Sales
        • Background on the Lost Volume Sales
        • Memo and a Problem on Lost Volume Issues in Retail Car Sales
    • Additional Losses
      • Consequential Damages
        • Race Day
        • Hadley v. Baxendale
          • The Court's Opinion: Hadley v. Baxendale
          • Thoughts and Questions on Hadley v. Baxendale
          • Professor James R. Gordley
        • The UCC Approach
    • Liquidated Damages
      • Introduction
      • Historical Perspective
      • Wasserman's Inc. and Jo-Ro, Inc. v. Township of Middletown
        • The Court's Opinion: Wasserman's Inc. and Jo-Ro, Inc. v. Township of Middletown
        • Thoughts and Questions on Wasserman's Inc. and Jo-Ro, Inc. v. Township of Middletown
      • Liquidated Damages Under the UCC and the Restatement, Second
      • Professor Commentary
        • Professors Broome, Epstein, Speidel, Chua, Baird, Hayes, Patterson, Eisenberg
    • Equitable Remedies
      • Introduction
        • Overview
        • The Ad Campaign
      • The Sale of Real Property
      • Van Wagner Advertising Corp. v. S&M Enterprises et al.
        • The Court's Opinion: Van Wagner Advertising Corp. v. S&M Enterprises et al.
        • Thoughts and Questions on Van Wagner Advertising Corp. v. S&M Enterprises et al.
      • The Next Plane
    • Covenants Not to Compete
      • Introduction
        • Overview
        • The Plumber's Covenant
      • Hopper v. All Pet Animal Clinic, Inc.
        • The Court's Opinion: Hopper v. All Pet Animal Clinic, Inc.
        • Thoughts and Questions on Hopper v. All Pet Animal Clinic, Inc.
      • Application Group Inc v Hunter Group Inc
        • The Court's Opinion: Application Group, Inc. v. Hunter Group, Inc.
        • Thoughts and Questions on Hopper v. All Pet Animal Clinic, Inc.
      • Covenants Not to Compete and Low-Wage Employees
        • Note: Are Covenants Not to Compete Enforceable Against Low-Wage Employees?
  • Appendix
    • The Acquisition
    • The Territorial Dispute (Second Version)
    • Technology Risks
    • Bad Policy
    • Reading Pipe
    • Keeping It Simple
    • The Inventory Software
    • The Suggestion Box
    • Payment Due
    • The Rare Book
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These materials are based on the multi-media project, The Contracts Experience, authored by Professors John Weistart, Girardeau A. Spann, and H. Jefferson Powell.

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