Business 18
Solano College
Mr. Anderson
Due Date: Thursday October 15, 2015
Senior Prom
In exchange for her promise to go with him to the Vacaville High School homecoming
dance on November 20, 2014, 17 year old Debi, the most popular student at Vacaville
High School, and 17 year old Michael, a, star football player and one of the most popular
senior students at Vacaville High, and the son of the Principal of Vacaville High School,
agreed to escort Debi to Vacaville High’s Senior Prom at the Rancho Solano Country
Club that would be held on Saturday May 23, 2015. Michael only agreed to escort Debi
to the Prom to make his friend Lisa jealous. Michael would be celebrating his 18th
birthday the day after Vacaville High’s Prom.
Michael knew Lisa who also attended Vacaville High would be at the homecoming dance
because she was Vacaville High’s homecoming queen. Michael’s plan was to gain
enough attention from Lisa whereby she would ask him to the Vacaville High School
Senior Prom. Debi kept her end of the bargain and attended the homecoming dance with
Michael. At the homecoming dance, Lisa and Debi got into an ugly altercation. After the
altercation between Lisa and Debi, Lisa asked Michael to escort her to the Vacaville High
Senior Prom and Michael agreed.
Months later, Debi still expected Michael to escort her to the Vacaville High Prom and
she was unaware that Michael also had agreed to escort Lisa to the Prom. Because of
Debi’s immense popularity and in an effort to create the proper impression for the most
popular student at Vacaville High, Debi spent lavishly preparing for her Prom. She
purchased the Prom tickets ($75 each). She rented a tuxedo for Michael ($175.00). She
purchased a new evening gown and new shoes for herself from Nordstrom. She also
spent over $350 for a facial, a manicure, a pedicure and for her hair to be styled. Debi
also arranged for a personal videographer to videotape the evening’s festivities.
Michael rented a stretch Hummer Limo for the evening’s transportation. On the Tuesday
before the Prom, Debi texted Michael to confirm their date. Michael never responded to
Debi’s text. On the day before the Prom Debi dropped off Michael’s tuxedo at his home.
There, she briefly spoke with Michaels mother, Vacaville High’s principal. Michael’s
mother was somewhat confused because she knew Michael would be escorting Lisa to
the Prom. She failed to mention this to Debi and told Debi she would let Michael know
that she had dropped off the tux. Michael also failed to inform Debi that he would also be
escorting Lisa to the Prom.
On the night of the Prom Michael got dressed in the Tux that Debi had provided and then
proceeded to Lisa’s house to pick her up in the stretch limo. They then proceeded to
Business 18
Solano College
Mr. Anderson
Debi’s house to pick her up. As Debi was entering the limo she saw Lisa and became
very angry, irate and upset and told Michael she would not be attending the Prom with
him if Lisa was also going to be his prom date. Michael told Debi that Lisa was going to
be his prom date too and if she did not like it she could stay at home. Debi decided to
forego Prom and to stay at home.
Under what legal theory or theories can Debi sue Michael or the Michael’s mother to
recover her Prom expenses? What, if any Prom expenses can Debi recover? Should Debi
succeed? Please Explain.
SENIOR PROM SUGGESTIONS
Courts usually prefer to avoid becoming involved in Romance and Relationship disputes.
But it is not fair - or accurate - to say that a Court will never get involved with these
issues.
Can you think of some Romance or Relationship agreements, contracts, or Promises the
Court would likely stay away from? Can you think of some Romance or Relationship
disputes the Court might choose to try to resolve?
Hint: is there a difference between a date and agreement to meet after the High School
football or basketball game for a burger and fries or pizza? Why or why not? Is there a
difference between the Promise often offered on a first date where a man states “I'll still
love you in the morning," and the Promise after a year of dating, to show up for a
wedding ceremony? Why or why not?
You do not need to find much law in the textbook for this homework assignment. Here,
could you use some basic common sense? Or do you have to apply a rule or two about
contracts that we have discussed in class. Focus on the concept of what a reasonable
person would expect in various romance/relationship situations. The concept of
Reasonable Expectations is a common one Courts use to help resolve disputes. Ask
yourself, as you look at the many possibilities in this problem, what would a reasonable
person expect here?