6-1 Case Analysis: Lucy v. Zehmer Courtney Thompson Southern New Hampshire University Amanda Braun Feburary 18, 2024
Contractual Element Claimed by Zehmer; Zehmer claims that there was no serious intention to enter into a contract, claiming that the offer to sell the farm was a joke. In contract law, one of the key elements necessary for the formation of a contract is the intention to create legal relations. Zehmer's argument was that he did not possess the required intent for a valid contract, suggesting that the signing of the contract was not meant to be taken seriously but was a playful act during a night of drinking. Court Ruling and Reason: The court ruled in favor of Lucy, reversing the lower court's decision, and remanding the case. The court reasoned that the outward expression of agreement by Zehmer, including the written and signed contract, constituted a binding agreement. By judging the contract objectively, the court determined that Zehmer's undisclosed intent at joking was irrelevant. Justice Buchanan highlighted the principle that the law judges an agreement based on the communicated intentions expressed between the contracting party rather than secrets and unexpressed intentions. Agreement with the Ruling: I agree with the court's ruling in this case. The objective standard applied by the court ensures that contracts are not subject to the whims of one party's undisclosed intentions. The ruling reinforces the importance of a person's words and actions when forming agreements. By holding individuals accountable to their actions, the ruling upholds the integrity and reliability of business transactions, which is fundamental to contract law. Personal Experience with Contractual Elements
There was a time that I verbally agreed to do some work for a friend. At the time, I thought of it as a casual favor, not as a binding contract. The essential elements of a contract were there: the offer, the acceptance, the intent to create legal relations, and consideration. The only thing missing was the formal documentation and clarity of terms that accompany formal contracts. Looking back, this experience calls attention to the importance of clear communication and documentation in even the most informal of agreements to avoid misunderstandings.