ST. THOMAS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
SYLLABUS
PROFESSOR:
Stephen Plass
COURSE:
Contracts I
SEMESTER:
Fall 2010
This is a course in contracts law. Students are expected to be
regular and punctual in attendance and thoroughly prepared for
each class. The assigned readings represent minimum coverage
projected for a particular week so students are advised to stay
one (1) week ahead in their reading. When appropriate, the
Uniform Commercial Code should be carefully read in conjunction
with the cases. Students should stay away from study aides and
utilize the professor if they have questions.
There will be one final exam. The exam likely will consist of
both essays and multiple choice questions. All materials covered
during the term will be considered in drafting the exam, hence
students should not omit studying any particular topic. The exam
will be closed book. Students may be eligible for an upgrade for
meaningful classroom participation.
TEXT: Cases and Problems on Contracts, 5th Edition by Calamari
and Perillo
Uniform Commercial Code, Official Text, pages 967-1022
Week 1
The Agreement Process, Chapter 1, pages 1-16
Offers Distinguished From Expressions of Opinions,
Advertisements, etc., Chapter 1, pages 16-33
Week 2
Bids And Auction Sales, Chapter 1, pages 34-42
Intent To Memorialize And Indefiniteness, Chapter 1, pages 42-56
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Week 3
Employment Contracts - The Employment At Will Doctrine,
Wagenseller v. Scottsdale Memorial Hospital, Text at pages 56-68
Intent To Memorialize, Chapter 1, pages 68-101
Week 4
Acceptance, Preliminary problems, Chapter 1, pages 101-118
Acceptance by Silence and Conduct, Chapter 1, pages 119-136
Week 5
Offers Looking To Unilateral Contracts And Revocation, Chapter 1,
pages 136-144
Offers Looking To Bilateral Contracts, Indifferent Offers,
The Mail Box Rule and Transmission Mistakes, Text, pages 144-153
Termination of A Revocable Offer, Text at ' 8, pages 153-160
Week 6
Counter Offers and Battle of the Forms (2-207), pages 160-186
Dorton case (handout)
Week 7
E-Commerce, Chapter 1, pages 186-197
Option Contracts, pages 197-201
Consideration, Chapter 2, ' 1, pages 201-214
Plantation Key case (handout)
Week 8
Consideration, pages 214-227
Batsakis case (handout)
Week 9
The Pre-Existing Duty Rule, ' 2, pages 228-245
Duress And Statutory Changes Regarding Modification, ' 3, pages
246-260
UCC ' 2-207 and 2-209
Week 10
Consideration In Bilateral Contracts And Mutuality of Obligation,
' 4, pages 260-284, UCC ' 2-306
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Week 11
Moral Obligation And Consideration, Chapter 3, pages 285-299
Week 12
Promissory Estoppel, Chapter 4, pages 300-327
Problems and exam problem, pages 327-332
Week 13
Parol Evidence Rule, pages 333-347
Week 14
Parol Evidence Rule, cont'd
Problems, pages 347-372
Week 15
Review
m:Plass\Contracts I Fall 2010 Syllabus
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