MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL OF LAW at ANDOVER
SYLLABUS for Contracts – Spring 2008
Professor Diane M. Sullivan
Instructor:
Professor Sullivan
Email: dianes@mslaw.edu
Phone: 978.681.0800 ext 120
Text:
1. Studies in Contract Law, Murphy, Speidel, Ayres (6th Edition);
Class Times: Monday, Wednesday & Friday 2.30 p.m. – 3.50 p.m., or Monday &
Wednesday 9:00 p.m. – 10:20 p.m., and Friday at 7:30 p.m. – 8:50 p.m.
Purpose
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to core ideas about
& Course
the law. Accordingly, my basic goals include:
Description: 1. Providing a forum for case analysis and synthesis in the common law
tradition.
2. Also, I attempt to instill in students a desire to perform their professional
studies and duties with pride. I attempt to ensure students develop good
reading skills and develop habits and perspective that will remain throughout
their lives.
Grading &
Criteria:
Mid-Term: Worth 20 points – 90 minutes
Final: Worth 70 points – 180 minutes
Interdisciplinary Project: Worth 10 points
ASSIGNMENTS DUE FOR EACH CLASS
Class 1
01/23
Topics
Page Numbers
The Consideration Requirement: Bargained For
and Given In Exchange
36-51
Cases Due: Kirksey v. Kirksey, Hamer v. Sidway, Langer v. Superior Steel
Corp., Bogigian v. Bogigian
Class 2
01/25
Mixed Motives and Nominal Consideration;
Adequacy of Values Exchanged.
52-79
Cases Due: In re Greene, Fiege v. Boehm, Haigh v.Brooks, Apfel v.
Prudential-Bache Securities,Inc.
Class 3
1/28
Pre-existing Duty Rule/ Mutuality of Obligation
79-108
Cases Due: Levine v. Blumenthal, Alaska Packers’ Assoc. v. Domenico,
Rehm-Zeiher Co. v. F.G.Walker Co., McMichael v. Price, Wood V. Lucy, Lady
Duff-Gordon, Onmi Group, Inc.v.Seattle-First National Bank
Class 4
01/30
Moral Obligation: Promise Plus Antecedent Benefit;
Restitution and the Scope of Quasi-Contract; Moral
109-127
Obligation; Restatement (Second) § 86 and the Future
of “Moral Obligation”
Cases Due: Mills v. Wyman, Manwill v. Oyler, Webb v. McGowin, Harrington
v. Taylor
Class 5
02/01
Promissory Estoppel (Writing Assignment)
128-164
Cases Due: Ricketts v. Scothorn, Allegheny College v. National Chautauqua
County Bank of Jamestown, Feinberg v. Pfeiffer Co., Grouse v. Group Health
Plan, Inc., Cohen v.Cowles Media Co., All-Tech Telecom, Inc. v. Amway
Corporation
Class 6
02/04
The Statute of Frauds; General Scope and Effect;
“Within the Statute”; The “One Year “ Clause;
164-190
North Shore Bottling Co, v. C. Schmidt & Sons, Inc.;
Contracts for the Sale of Goods; Interests in Realty;
Compliance With the Statute; Effect of Non-compliance
Cases Due: Crabtree v. Elizabeth Arden Sales Corp., DF Activities
Corporation v. Brown
Class 7
02/06
An Introduction to Contract Remedies; Basic Policies;
191-210
Measuring and Compensating Loss Resulting From a
Breach; Restitution as a Remedy for Breach of Contract
Cases Due: Sullivan v. O’Connor, Curtice Brothers Co. v. Catts, Hadley v.
Baxendale
Class 8
02/08
Mental Anguish and Punitive Damages
211-229
Cases Due: Bohac v. Department of Agriculture, Acquista v. New York Life
Insurance Company, Boise Dodge, Inc. v. Clark
Class 9
02/11
The Bargain Relationship - The Agreement Process:
Manifestation of Mutual Assent; Ascertation of Assent;
Offer
230-252
Cases Due: Embry v. Hargadine, Mckittrick Dry Goods Co., Lucy v. Zehmer,
Cohen v. Cowles Media Company, Lonergan v. Scolnick, Lefkowitz v. Great
Minneapolis Surplus Store,
Class 10
02/13
Offer (continued)
257-284
Cases Due: Leonard v. Pepsico, Inc., Southworth v. Oliver, Bretz v. Portland
General Electric Co., Equitable Life Assurance Society of the U.S v. First
National Bank
Class 11
02/15
Acceptance: Exercise of Power of Acceptance;
Acceptance by Promise; Acceptance by Performance
Not by Promise; Acceptance by Conduct or Silence
284-319
Cases Due: La Salle National Bank v. Vega, Hendricks v. Behee, Ever-Tite
Roofing Corp. v. Green, Corinthian Pharmaceutical Systems, Inc. v. Lederle
Laboratories, Carill v. Carbolic Smoke Ball Co., Glover v. Jewish War Veterans
of U.S., Industrial America Inc.v. Fulton Industries, Inc., Russell v. Texas Co.
Ammons v. Wilson & Co.
Class 12
02/18
Time When Acceptance is Effective; Nature and Effect
of Counter-Offer
320-348
Cases Due: Adams v. Lindsell, Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway Co. v.
Columbus Rolling-Mill Co., Leonard Pevar Co. v. Evans Products Co., Textile
Unlimited, Inc. v. A.. BMH and Company, Inc., Hill v. Gateway 2000, Klocek v.
Gateway
Class 13
02/20
Assent in Electronic Commerce; Termination of Offer:
Destruction of Power of Acceptance
348-370
Cases Due: Specht v. Netscape Communications, Hendricks v. Behee,
Dickinson v. Dodds
Problem Due: The Case of the Rejection, Revocation and Acceptance Race
Class 14
02/22
Irrevocable Offer: Option Contracts
370-391
Cases Due: Humble Oil & Refining Co. v. Westside Investment Corp.,
Marchiondo v. Scheck, James Baird Co. v. Gimbel Brothers, Inc., Drennan v.
Star Paving Co., SKB Industries, Inv. v. Insite
Problems Due: Effect of First Refusal, Creation of Reliance Options, The Case
of Professor Fuzzy’s Well
Class 15
02/25
Insufficient Agreement; Defective Formulation and
Expression of Agreement; Indefinite Agreements;
Incomplete and Deferred Agreement; Remedies where
Agreement Incomplete or indefinite
391-449
Cases Due: Raffles v. Wichelhaus, Konic International Corp. v. Spokane
Computer Services, Inc., Varney v. Ditmars, Lefkowitz v. Great Minneapolis
Surplus Store, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. v. Scheider, Joseph Martin, Jr.,
Delicatessen, Inc. v.Shumacher, Oglebay Norton Company v. Armco, Inc.,
Empro Manufacturing Co., Inc. v. Ball – Co MFG. Co., Hoffman v. Red Owl
Stores, Inc., Copeland v. Baskin Robbins U.S.A.
Class 16
02/27
Capacity to Contract; Mental Incompetence
450-469
Cases Due: Bowling v. Sperry, Heights Realty, Ltd. V. Phillips, CitiFinancial,
Inc. v. Brown, Ervin v. Hosanna Ministry, Inc.
Class 17
02/29
Defects in Bargaining Process; Unilateral and Mutual
Mistake
470-497
Cases Due: Boise Jr. College District v. Mattefs Construction Co.,
Beachcomber Coins, Inc. v. Boskett, Sherwood v. Walker, Lenawee County
Board of Health v. Messerly, Ayer v. Western Union Telegraph Co.
Class 18
03/03
Class 19
03/05
*MID-TERM*
Fraud and the Duty to Disclose; Duress and Undue
497-532 Influence
Cases Due: Laidlaw v. Organ, Vokes v. Arthur Murray, Inc., Hill v. Jones,
Rubenstein v. Rubenstein, Austin Instrument, Inc. v. Loral Corp., Machinery
Hauling, Inc. v. Steel of West Virginia
Class 20
03/07
Unconscionability; Unconscionability in Commercial
Transactions
534-571
Cases Due: Williams v. Walker-Thomas Furniture Co., Jones v. Star Credit
Corp., Fleet v. United States Consumer Council, Inc., Ferguson v.
Countrywide Credit Industries, Inc., Weaver v. American Oil Co., Zapatha v.
Dairy Mart, Inc., Coursey v. Caterpillar, Inc.
* SRRING BREAK – MARCH 9, 2008 – MARCH 16, 2008 *
Class 21
03/17
Illegality: Agreements Unenforceable on Grounds of
Public Policy, Baby M
572-613
Cases Due: Sinnar v. Le Roy, Homami v. Iranzadi, Data Management Inc. v.
Greene, Watts v. Watts, Wallis v. Smith
Class 22
03/19
Determining Scope and Content of Obligation;
Integrated Writings and the Parol Evidence Rule;
Interpretation
614-654
Cases Due: Mitchell v. Lath, Masterson v. Sine, Alaska Northern
Development, Inc. v. Aleyeska Pipeline Service, Luther Williams, Jr., Inc. v.
Johnson, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. v. G.W. Thomas Drayage & Rigging Co., A.
Kemp Fisheries, Inc. v. Castle & Cooke, Inc., Frigaliment Importing CO. v.
B.N.S. International Sales Corp.
Class 23
03/21
The Duty of Good Faith; Scope and Content of Good
658-688
Faith Duty; Prevention, Hindrance and the Duty of
Cooperation
Cases Due: Centronics Corporation v. Genicom Corp., Patterson v.
Meyerhofer, Iron Trade Products Co. V. Wilkoff Co., KW Plastics v. United
States Can Co., Stockton v. Sowerwine, Market Street Associates Limited
Partnership v. Frey
Class 24
03/24
Exercise of Reserved Discretion
689-702
Cases Due: Omni Group, Inc. v. Seattle-First National Bank, Billman v.
Hensel, Neumiller Farms, Inc. v. Cornett, Feld v. Henry S. Levy & Sons, Inc.
Class 25
03/26
Modification; Termination of Contractual Relations for
703-722
Other Than Breach Comment: Erosion of “Employment
at Will” Doctrine
Cases Due: Angel v. Murray, Roth Steel Products v. Sharon Steel Corp.,
Zapatha v. Dairy Mart, Inc., Hillesland v. Federal Land Bank Association of
Grand Forks
Class 26
03/28
Representations and Warranties of Quality; Express
723-753
Warranties; Implied Warranties; Limitations of Warranties
and Remedies; Express Conditions; Nature and Effect;
Cases Due: In re Carter’s Claim, Henningsen v. Bloomfield Motors, Murray v.
Holiday Rambler, Inc., Dove v. Rose Acre Farms, Inc., Wal-Noon Corp. v. Hill,
Omni Group Inc. v. Seattle–First National Bank
Class 27
03/31
Excuse of Express Conditions; Constructive Conditions
of Exchange; Historical Development
754-779
Cases Due: Clark v. West, Ferguson v. Phoenix Assurance Company of New
York, Kingston v. Preston, Goodison v. Nunn, Palmer v. Fox
Class 28
04/02
The Avoidance of Forfeiture
779-802
Cases Due: Jacob & Youngs v. Kent, O.W. Grun Roofing and Construction Co.
v. Cope, Lowy v. United Pacific Insurance Co., Britton v. Turner
Class 29
04/04
Changed Circumstances; Impracticability and
803-843
Frustration of Purpose; Existing Impracticability;
Supervening Impracticability; Comment: Take-or-Pay Contracts,
Reopener Clauses in Long-Term Supply Contracts
Cases Due: Mineral Park Land Co. v. Howard, United States v. Wegematic
Corp., Taylor v. Caldwell, Canadian Industrial Alcohol Co. v. Dunbar Molasses
Co., Dills v. Town of Enfield, U.S. v. Winstar, Bolin Farms v. American Cotton
Shippers Ass’n. , Kaiser-Francis Oil Co. v. Producer’s Gas Co., Paradine v.
Jane, Krell v. Henry, Washington State Hop Producers, Inc. v. Goschie Farms,
Inc.
Class 30
04/07
Frustration of Purpose
844-861
Cases Due: Paradine v. Jane, Krell v. Henry, Washington State Hop
Producers, Inc. v. Goschie Farms, Inc.,
Class 31
04/09
Right to Suspend Performance or Cancel Upon
Prospective Inability or Breach
862-888
Cases Due: Hochster v. De La Tour, Taylor v. Johnston, AMF, Inc. v.
McDonald’s Corp., Plotnick v. Pennsylvania Smelting & Refining Co.
Class 32
04/11
Compensatory Damages; Contract Remedies
889-927
Cases Due: John Hancock Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Cohen, American
Mechanical Corp. v. Union Machine Co. of Lynn, Inc., Lowy v. United Pacific
Insurance Co., New Era Homes Corp. v. Forster, Bernstein v. Nemeyer, Locks
v. Wade, Inchaustegui v. 666 5th Avenue Limited Partnership, Reliance
Cooperage Corp. v. Treat
Class 33
04/14
Breach or Repudiation by Payor; Breach of
928-948
Contract by Supplier of Goods, Services, or Construction;
The Lost Volume Seller Under UCC Article 2
Jacob & Youngs v. Kent; Rivers v. Deane, Peevyhouse v. Garland Coal &
Mining Company; American Standard, Inc. v. Schectman
Seller’s Remedies Under UCC 2-708(2)
Class 34
04/16
Consequential Damages: Foreseeability; Mitigation;
Certainty; Incidental Reliance
949-967
Cases Due: Hadley v. Baxendale, Spang Industries, Inc. Fort Pitt Bridge
Division v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co., Hydraform Products Corp. v.
American Steel and Aluminum Corp.
Class 35
04/18
Equitable Remedies for Breach of Contract:
968-999
Prohibitory Injunction and Specific Performance; Effect
of Agreement Liquidating Damages or Altering the Scope
Liability or Remedy
Cases Due: Curtice Brothers Co. v. Catts, Laclede Gas Co. v. Amoco Oil Co.,
Northern Indiana Public Service Co. v. Carbon County Coal Co., Walgreen Co.
v. Sara Creek Property Co., American Broadcasting Companies v. Wolf
04/21
* NO CLASS – PATRIOTS DAY *
Class 36
04/23
Liquidated Damages; Disclaimer; Exception and
Under-Liquidated
1000-1028
Cases Due: Southwest Engineering Co. v. United States, United Air Lines,
Inc. v. Austin Travel Corp., Leeber v. Deltona Corp., Lewis Refrigeration Co.
v. Sawyer Fruit, Vegetable And Cold Storage Co.
Class 37
04/25
Assignments and Delegation; Assignment of Rights
1077-1096
Cases Due: Fitzroy v. Cave, Allhusen v. Caristo Contruction Corp., Owen v.
CNA Insurance/Continental Casualty Company, Continental Purchasing Co. v.
Van Raalte Co.
Class 38
04/28
Delegation of Duties
1097-1108
Cases Due: Sally Beauty Co. v. Nexxus Products Co., Inc.
Class 39
04/30
Third Party Beneficiaries
1109-1122
Cases Due: KMART Corporation v. Balfour Beatty, Inc., Johnson v. Holmes
Tuttle Lincoln-Mercury, Inc., Hale v. Groce, Zigas v. Superior Court,
Tweeddale v. Tweeddale
Class 40
05/02
Contract Summary Video
Class 41
05/05
Contract Summary Video
Additional Assignment:
C:\My Docs\diane\contracts\Syllabus File\2008.Spring.doc
Interdisciplinary Project – Contracts and Torts
Dates Assigned. Worth 10 points.