Week 6 Discussion – Contracts
Each of us makes promises all the time; most we keep, but some we don’t. The question this week focuses on when a promise is-or is not-enforceable. Said
differently, when will the law make a person keep a promise? Choose one of the scenarios below and explain whether you think that the promise made is
enforceable. Be sure to think about the concepts of offer, acceptance, consideration, legality, and capacity.
• Uncle John promises his nephew that he will give the nephew $10,000 on his 18th birthday if the nephew doesn’t drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, do illegal
drugs, or engage in any immoral behaviors.
• Bill asks Sally to marry him, and she answers yes. Bill then sells his favorite sports car and pays upfront for a lavish wedding ceremony and a three-week trip to
Europe.
• Keith agrees to transport ceramic figurines from Los Angeles to New York City in his moving truck. What he doesn’t know is that each figurine is filled with
packets of cocaine.
• Maria and Jennifer are having drinks at a local bar, and both are a bit tipsy. As the night goes on. Maria asks Jennifer to trade Jennifer’s three-carat diamond
ring for Maria’s 1978 Ford Duster, and Jennifer agrees to the deal.
Each of us makes promises all the time; most we keep, but some we don’t. The question this week focuses on when a promise is-or is not-enforceable.