Jiliams ValentĂn BUS-206 Michael Shenkman 02/11/2024 6-1 Case Analysis: Lucy v. Zehmer In the case of Lucy v.s. Zehmer two friends that are out drinking having a conversation of a contract that was formed between both parties for the purchase of the Ferguson Farm from the Zehmer; Zehmer said that the important thing, real agreement or genuine assent, was not there when they talked about selling the farm. He thought the whole conversation and making the contract happened as a joke while they were joking and drunk. This means he didn't really want to make a serious deal with Lucy. Upon hearing the court decided that Lucy wins. They decided that having a proper contract is about what people do and show, not just what they feel. Even if Zehmer thought it was a joke because he was drunk, he led Lucy to believe his intention was to sell the farm due to negotiation, the court looked at what Lucy did, like getting money and legal help, to say it was a serious deal. So, they agreed there was a valid contract based on what they did and showed, not just how they felt. I agree with the court's decision. By focusing at what Lucy and the others did, not just what they thought. Doing things like getting money ready and talking to a lawyer showed that Lucy really believed the contract was real. The effects of alcohol didn't affect the judgment of
both parties which would have made the contract invalid. The ruling aligns with fundamental contract law principles, emphasizing the importance of actions and words in determining contractual intent. Once, when renting a room without a written agreement, the landlord and I discussed the terms verbally, including the rent amount. However, without a formal contract, things got complicated when the landlord later claimed that the rent had increased, leading to a dispute. The lack of a written record made it challenging to clarify the initial terms and resulted in disagreements about the agreed-upon rent. This situation emphasized the crucial role of having a written agreement, not only to outline the original terms but also to prevent misunderstandings regarding any changes, such as rent increases, ensuring a clear understanding and resolution of potential disputes.
References Kubasek, N., Browne, N. M., Herron, D., Dhooge, L., & Barkacs, L. (2019). Dynamic Business Law (5th ed.) [E-book]. McGraw-Hill Education.