MASSACHUSETTSSCHOOL OF LAW at ANDOVER
SYLLABUS for Contracts – Spring 2017
Professor Diane M. Sullivan & Professor Amy Dimitriadis
Instructor:Professor Sullivan- Email:
Phone: 978.681.0800 ext.120
Professor Dimitriadis – Email:
Phone: 978.681.0800 ext. 130
Text:1. Studies in Contract Law, Ayres, Klass(8th Edition);
ISBN 978-1-60930-117-0
Class Times:Monday, Wednesday9:00 a.m. – 10.15 a.m., Fridays 1:00 – 2:15 p.m.
Monday, Wednesday 6:00 p.m. – 7:20 p.m.,Fridays 7:30 – 8:50 p.m.
PurposeThe purpose of this course is to introduce students to core ideas about
& Course the law. Accordingly, my basic goals include:
Description:1. Providing a forum for case analysis and synthesis in the common law tradition.
2. Also, I attempt to instill in students a desire to perform their professional studies and duties with pride. I attempt to ensure students develop good reading skills and develop habits and perspective that will remain throughout their lives.
GradingMid-Term: Worth 15 points – 90 minutes
Criteria:Quizzes: Worth 5 points
Final: Worth 70 points – 180 minutes
Interdisciplinary Project: Worth 10 points
ASSIGNMENTS DUE FOR EACH CLASS
TopicsPage Numbers
Class 1The Consideration Requirement: Bargained For59-78
01/18and Given In Exchange
Cases Due: Kirksey v. Kirksey, Hamer v. Sidway, Langer v. Superior Steel Corp., Pennsy Supply, Inc. v. American Ash Recycling Corp.
Class 2Intent to Contract;Mixed Motives and Adequacy of 79-109
01/20Consideration
Cases Due: In re Greene, Cohen v. Cowles Media Co., Thomas v. Thomas, Browning v. Johnson, Apfelv.Prudential-Bache Securities, Inc.
Class 3Pre-existing Duty Rule, Discretion, Mutuality110-140
1/23
Cases Due: Levine v. Blumenthal, Alaska Packers’ Assoc. v. Domenico,
Angel v. Murray, Rehm-Zeiher Co. v. F.G.Walker Co., McMichael v. Price,Wood V. LucyLady Duff-Gordon,Onmi Group, Inc. v.Seattle-First National Bank
Class 4 Promissory Estoppel140-160
01/25
Cases Due: Ricketts V. Scothorn,Langer v. Superior Steel Corp.,
Allegheny College v. National Chautauqua Count Bank of Jamestown,
Congregation KadimahToras-Moshe v. Robert A. DeLeo
Class 5 Moral Obligation160-175
01/27
Cases Due: First Hawaiian Bank v. Zuckerkorn, Mills v. Wyman,
Webb v. McGowin,
Class 6The Agreement Process: Manifestation of Mutual 176-198
01/30Assent; Ascertaining Assent: The “Objective” Test”;
Implied-In-Fact Agreement
Cases Due: Embry v. Hargadine, Lucy v.Zehmer, Raffles v. Wichelhaus;
Wrench, LLC v. Taco Bell Corp.
Class 7Offers199-225
02/01
Cases Due: Lonergan v. Scholnick, J.W. Southworth v. Oliver,
Lefkowitz v. MinnneapolisSurplus Store, Leonard v. Pepsico, Inv.
Modes of Acceptance225-239
Cases Due: L.R. Bretz v. Portland General Electric Co., La Salle
National Bank v.Mel Vega, Hendricks v. Behee, Carlill v. Carbolic Smoke Ball Co.,
Class 8Quiz 1 and Quiz 2 – Review and Questions
02/03(NO make ups without medical documentation)
Class 9Modes of Acceptance240-247
02/06
Cases Due: Corinthian Phamaceutical Systems, Inc. v. Lederle Laboratories, Industrial America, Inc. v. Fulton Industries, Inc.
Acceptance By Performance, Acceptance By Conduct247-269
or Silence
Cases Due: Glover v. Jewish War Veterans of United States,
Ever-Tite Roofing Corp. v. G.T Green, Russell v. Texas Co.,
R.L. Ammons v.Wilson Co., Beneficial National Bank, U.S.A. v. Obie Payton
Class 10Termination of Offers270-300
02/08
Cases Due:Dickinson v. Dodds, Humble Oil &
Refining Co. v. Westside Investment Corp., Marchiondo v. Scheck;
Baird v. Gimbel Brothers, Inc., Drennan v. Star Paving Co.
Timing Issues; Counteroffers (§2-207)301-311
Cases Due: Adams v. Lindsell, Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway Co. v. Columbus Rolling-Mill Co.
Class 11 Quiz 3 and Quiz 4 – 2-207 Problems and Review
02/10(NO make ups without medical documentation)
Class 12 Timing Issues; Counteroffers (§2-207)312-324
02/13
Cases Due: DTE Energy Technologies, Inc. v. Briggs Electric, Inc., Textile Unlimited, Inc. v. A.. BMH and Company, Inc.
Shrinkwrap and Browsewrap 325-347
Cases Due: Hill v. Gateway 2000, Klocek v. Gateway, Specht v. Netscape Communications Corp., Cairo, Inv. Crossmedia Services, Inc.
Class 13Indefinite Agreements and Gaps348-369
02/15
Cases Due: Varney v. Ditmars, Oglebaly Norton Company v. Armco, Inc., Blinn v. Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center, Inc.
Class 14Quiz 5 – Review and Questions
02/17(NO make ups without medical documentation)
Class 15Precontractual Liability369-397
02/20
Cases Due: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. v. Scheider, Joseph Martin, Jr., Delicatessen, Inc. v.Shumacher, Hoffman v. Red Owl Stores, Inc.
Empro Manufacturing Co., Inc. v. Ball-Co Manufacturing, Inc.,
Dixon v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Recovery Without Agreement: Unjust Enrichment398-401
Cases Due: Bailey v. West, Kossian v. American National Insurance Co.
Class 16Formation Defenses, The Statute of Frauds 405-439
02/22
Cases Due: Professional Bull Riders, Inc. v. AutoZone, Inc.,Crabtree v.Elizabeth Arden Sales Corp.,Sullivan v. Porter, DF ActivitiesCorp. v. Brown
Capacity: Infancy, Mental Incompetence and Intoxication 440-456
Cases Due: Bowling v. Sperry, Heights Realty, Ltd. v. E.A. Phillips,
Ervin v. Hosanna Ministry, Inc.
Class 17Midterm Review
02/24
Class 18 *MID-TERM*
02/27
Class 19Mistake456-486
03/01
Cases Due: Boise Junior College District v. Mattefs Construction Co.,
Beachcomber Coins, Inc. v. Ron Boskett, Sherwood, v. Walker, Lenawee County Board of Health v. Messerly, OneBeacon America Insurance Co. v. Travelers Indemnity Co. of Illinois, Ayer v. Western Union Telegraph Co.
Class 20Fraud and Nondisclosure, Duress and Undue Influences487-524
03/03Public Policy, Baby M
Cases Due: Laidlaw v. Organ, Vokes v. Murray, Inc., Hill v. Jones,
Rubenstein v. Rubenstein, Austin Instrument, Inc. v. Loral Corp., Machinery Hauling, Inc. v. Steel of West Virginia
Class 21Unconscionability525-556
03/06
Cases Due: Williams v. Walker-Thomas Furniture Co., Jones v.
Star Credit Corp., In re Louis Fleet v. United States Consumer Council,
Ferguson v. Countrywide Credit Industries, Inc., Zapatha v. Dairy Mart, Inc.,
Coursey v. Caterpillar
Class 22Illegality and Public Policy556-612
03/08
Cases Due: Sinnar v. Le Roy, Homani v. Iranzadi, Broadley v.
Mashpee Neck Marina, Inc., Data Management, Inc. v. Greene,
Watts v. Watts, Kass v. Kass, A.Z. v. B.Z., Wallis v. Smith
Class 23Parol Evidence612-650
03/10
Cases Due: Mitchill v. Lath, Masterson v. Sine, Alaska Northern
Development, Inc. v. Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., Suburban Leisure Center, Inc. v. AMF Bowling Products, Inc.,Pacific Gas & Electric Co. v. G.W. Thomas Drayage & Rigging Co., Stolt-Nielsen, S.A. v. Animalfeeds International Corp.,
Frigaliment Importing Co. v. B.N.S. International Sales Corp.
* SRRING BREAK – MARCH 13, 2017 – MARCH 19, 2017 *
Class 24Parol Evidence and Insurance Contracts651-668
03/20
Cases Due: In re Katrina Canal Breaches Litigation, Omni Berkshire Corp. v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Duty of Good Faith, Prevention, Hindrance and the669-708
Duty of Cooperation
Cases Due: Centronics Corporation v Genicom Corporation, Patterson v.
Meyerhofer,Market Street Associates Limited Partnership v. Frey
Class 25Duty of Good Faith, Prevention, Hindrance and the669-708
03/22Duty of Cooperation
Cases Due: OmniGroup, Inc. v. Seattle-First National Bank, Billman v. Hensel, Neumiller Farms, Inc. v. Cornett, Feld v. Levy & Sons, Inc.
Modification By Agreement, Termination of Contractual709-739
Relations Other Than for Breach, Warranties and Representation of Fact
Cases Due: Roth SteelProducts v. Sharon Steel Corp., Zapathav.Dairy Mart, Inc.,Hillesland v. Federal Land Bank Association of Grand Forks, All-Tech Telecom, Inc. v. Amway Corporation
Class 26Quiz 6 – Review and Questions
03/24(NO make ups without medical documentation)
Class 27Conditions740-763
03/27
Cases Due: Dove v. Rose Acre Farms, Inc., In re Carter’s
Claim, Omni Group, Inc. v. Seattle-First National Bank, Clark v.
West,Dynamic Machine Works, Inc. v. Machine & Electrical
Consultants, Inc.
Class 28Conditions764-798
03/29
Cases Due: Ferguson v. Phoenix Assurance Company of New York,
Palmer v. Fox, Jacob & Youngs, Inc. v. Kent, Lowy v. United Pacific
Insurance Co., Britton v. Turner
Class 29Charged Circumstances: Impracticability799-833
03/31
Cases Due: United States v. Wegematic Corp., Taylor v. Caldwell,
Canadian Industrial Alcohol Co. v. Dunbar Molasses Co.,Dills v.
Town of Enfield, Centex Corporation v. Dalton, Bolin Farms v. American
Shippers Ass’n., Kaiser-Francis Oil Co. v. Producer’s Gas Co.
Class 30Frustration of Purpose834-873
04/03
Cases Due: Paradine v. Jane, Krell v. Henry, Washington State
Hop Producers, Inc. v. Goschie Farms, Inc., Hochster v. Edgar
De La Tour, Taylor v. Johnston, AMF, Inv. v. McDonald’s Corp.
Class 31Compensatory Damages; Contract Remedies876-915
04/05
Cases Due: Sullivan v. O’Connor, John Hancock Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Cohen, American Mechanical Corp. v. Union Machine Co. of Lynn, Inc., Lowy v. United Pacific Insurance Co., New Era Homes Corp. v. Forster, Bernstein v. Nemeyer, Glendale Federal Bank, FSB v. United States, Locks v. Wade, Inchaustegui v. 666 5th Avenue Limited Partnership
Class 32Quiz 7 – Review and Questions
04/07(NO make ups without medical documentation)
Class 33Breach or Repudiation by Supplier of Goods, Services915-938
04/10or Construction
Cases Due: Reliance Cooperage Corp. v. Treat, Rivers v. Deane,Peevyhouse v. Garland Coal & Mining Company; American Standard, Inc. v. Schectman
Seller’s Remedies Under UCC 2-708(2)
Consequential Damages: Foreseeability; Mitigation; 938-956
Certainty;IncidentalReliance
Cases Due: Hadley v. Baxendale, Spang Industries, Inc.FortPittBridge Division v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co., Hydraform Products Corp. v. American Steel and Aluminum Corp.
Class34Mental Anguish and Punitive Damages957-977
04/12
Cases Due: Bohac v. Department of Agriculture, Acquista v.
New York Life Insurance Company, Boise Dodge, Inc. v. Clark,
Rite Aid Corp. v. Lake Shore Investors
Class 35Equitable Remedies for Breach of Contract: 978-1009
04/14Prohibitory Injunction and Specific Performance; Effect
of Agreement Liquidating Damages or Altering the Scope
Liability or Remedy
Cases Due: Curtice Brothers Co. v. Catts, Northern Indiana Public Service Co. v. Carbon County Coal Co., Walgreen Co. v. Sara Creek Property Co., EdBertholet & Associates, Inc. v. Ed Stefanko, American Broadcasting Companies v. Wolf
04/17* NO CLASS – PATRIOTS DAY *
Class 36Liquidated Damages; Disclaimer; Exception and 1010-1035
04/19Under-Liquidated
Cases Due: Southwest Engineering Co. v. United States,CellphoneTermination, Lewis Refrigeration Co. v. Sawyer Fruit, Vegetable And
Cold Storage Co.
Assignments and Delegation; Assignment of Rights1077-1094
Cases Due: Allhusen v. CaristoContruction Corp., Owen v. CNA Insurance/Continental Casualty Company,Continental Purchasing Co. v. Van Raalte Co.
Class 37Quiz 8 – Review and Questions
04/21(NO make ups without medical documentation)
Class 38Delegation of Duties;Third Party Beneficiaries 1095-1118
04/24
Cases Due: Sally Beauty Co. v. Nexxus Products Co., Inc., KMART Corporation v. Balfour Beatty, Inc., Hale v. Groce, Zigas v. Superior Court, Tweeddale v. Tweeddale;
Class 39Final Exam Review
04/26
Class 40Contract Summary Video
04/28
Class 41Contract Summary Video
05/01
Additional Assignment:Interdisciplinary Project – Contracts and Torts
Dates Assigned. Worth10 points