Contracts Professor Keith A. Rowley William S. Boyd School of Law University of Nevada Las Vegas Reading List (Version 4.0) I. Introduction to Contract Law A. Basic Concepts: Terminology, Pedagogy, and Theory Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. vii-viii, 1-24 & 800-803 Byse, Introductory Comments to the First-Year Class in Contracts, 78 B.U. L. REV. 59 (1998) Cohen, The Basis of Contract, 46 HARV. L. REV. 553, 571-85 (1933) SMITH, CONTRACT THEORY 3-6 & 41-53 (2004) BENSON, THE THEORY OF CONTRACT LAW: NEW ESSAYS 1-8 (2001) Restatement (Second) of Contracts 1-3 UCC 1-201(b)(3), (12), (26) & (27), * 1-303 & 2-106(1) ** B. Basic Concepts: Governing Law Burton & Eisenberg, pp. iii-ix UCC 1-102, 1-103(b), 1-108, 2-102, 2-105(1) & 2-107(1)-(2) UETA 2(1), (4), (5), (7), (8), (13) & (16), 3 & 5 E-SIGN 7001(a) & 7002(a) CISG arts. 1-3, 6 & 10 In re Trailer & Plumbing Supplies, 578 A.2d 343 (N.H. 1990) Care Display, Inc. v. Didde-Glaser, Inc., 589 P.2d 599 (Kan. 1979) Tivoli Enterprises, Inc. v. Brunswick Bowling & Billiards Corp., 646 N.E.2d 943 (Ill. App. Ct. 1995) Anthony Pools v. Sheehan, 455 A.2d 434 (Md. 1983) Midwest Mfg. Holding LLC v. Donnelly Corp., 975 F. Supp. 1061 (N.D. Ill. 1997) Feingold v. Win-Vent, Inc., 562 A.2d 830 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1989) American Mint LLC v. GOSoftware, Inc., 2006 WL 42090 (M.D. Pa. 2006) Asante Technologies, Inc. v. PMC-Sierra, Inc., 164 F. Supp. 2d 1142 (N.D. Cal. 2001) * The American Law Institute (ALI) and the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Law (NCCUSL) comprehensively revised UCC Article 1 in 2001. As of January 1, 2011, thirty-nine states, including Nevada, have enacted their own versions of Revised Article 1. The 2010 Burton & Eisenberg supplement reproduces the uniform version at pp. 3-19. Unless I tell you otherwise, we will study uniform Revised Article 1. ** ALI and NCCUSL extensively amended UCC Article 2 in 2003. To date, only Oklahoma has enacted any of the 2003 amendments; every state except Louisiana has enacted its own version of pre-amended Article 2. Unless I tell you otherwise, we will study uniform pre-amended Article 2, which the 2010 Burton & Eisenberg supplement reproduces at pp. 21-107.
II. Contract Formation A. Mutual Assent Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 39-66 Rowley, You Asked For It, You Got It Toy Yoda: Practical Jokes, Prizes, and Contract Law, 3 NEV. L.J. 526, 526-548 (2003) Restatement (Second) 4 & 17-23 U.C.C. 2-204 B. Offer: Basic Principles Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 66-81 & 135-139 Rowley, You Asked For It, pp. 548-552 Restatement (Second) 24, 26-27, 29 & 31-34 CISG arts. 14, 15(1) & 24 Lefkowitz v. Great Minneapolis Supply Store, 86 N.W.2d 689 (Minn. 1957) Donovan v. RRL Corp., 27 P.3d 702 (Cal. 2001) C. Terminating the Offer Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 81-98 Restatement (Second) 35-44, 46 & 48-49 CISG arts. 16(1) & 17 D. Preserving the Offer Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 98-108 Restatement (Second) 25 & 87 UCC 2-205 CISG arts. 15(2) & 16(2) Norca Corp. v. Tokheim Corp., 643 N.Y.S.2d 139 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996) Scoular Co. v. Denney, 151 P.3d 615 (Colo. Ct. App. 2006) E. Acceptance: General Principles Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 108-135 Restatement (Second) 30, 32, 50, 52, 56-61, 63-68 & 70 UCC 2-206 UETA 15 CISG arts. 18 & 20-23 F. Non-Promissory Acceptance Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 135-152 & 24-31 Restatement (Second) 45, 51, 53-54, 62 & 69 Petterson v. Pattberg, 161 N.E. 428 (N.Y. 1928) Bio-Tech Pharmacal, Inc. v. International Business Connections, LLC, 184 S.W.3d 447 (Ark. Ct. App. 2004) ProCD, Inc. v. Zeidenberg, 86 F.3d 1447 (7th Cir. 1996) Rowley/K Readings (ver. 4.0) 2
G. Special Case: The Battle of the Forms Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 152-182 (skip Egger v. Nesbit) UCC 2-207 CISG art. 19 Poel & Arnold v. Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co., 110 N.E. 619 (N.Y. 1915) ilan Systems, Inc. v. Netscout Service Level Corp., 183 F. Supp. 2d 328 (D. Mass. 2002) Brown Machine v. Hercules, Inc., 770 S.W.2d 416 (Mo. Ct. App. 1989) Dale R. Horning Co. v. Falconer Glass Industries, Inc., 730 F. Supp. 962 (S.D. Ind. 1990) Ionics, Inc. v. Elmwood Sensors, Inc., 110 F.3d 184 (1st Cir. 1997) Filanto, S.p.A. v. Chilewich Int l Corp., 789 F. Supp. 1229 (S.D.N.Y. 1992) H. Consideration Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 233-277 Rowley, You Asked For It, pp. 552-559 Restatement (Second) 71-79, 81 & 89 UCC 2-209 Dougherty v. Salt, 125 N.E. 94 (N.Y. 1919) Batsakis v. Demotsis, 226 S.W.2d 673 (Tex. Civ. App. 1949) Plowman v. Indian Refining Co., 20 F. Supp. 1 (E.D. Ill. 1937) III. Formation Defenses A. Lack of Capacity Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 338 & 376-383 Restatement (Second) 7-8, 12-16 & 48 RESTATEMENT (THIRD) OF AGENCY 1.01, 2.01, 2.03 & 2.05 (2006) Dodson v. Shrader, 824 S.W.2d 545 (Tenn. 1992) Hauer v. Union State Bank, 532 N.W.2d 456 (Wis. Ct. App. 1995) Robertson v. C.O.D. Garage Co., 199 P. 356 (Nev. 1921) B. Mutual Misunderstanding Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 183-187 Griffith v. Clear Lakes Trout Co., 152 P.3d 604 (Idaho 2007) Restatement (Second) 17 & 20 C. Mistake Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 439-456 Restatement (Second) 151-155 Optional: Rowley, To Err is Human, 104 MICH. L. REV. 1407 (2006) D. Material Misrepresentation Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 361-376 Restatement (Second) 159-164 & 166-172 Rowley/K Readings (ver. 4.0) 3
E. Duress and Undue Influence Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 383-402 Restatement (Second) 175-177 F. Unconscionability Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 427-439 & 31-37 Restatement (Second) 208 UCC 2-302 G. Illegality and Public Policy Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 403-427 Restatement (Second) 178-181, 184 & 186-188 IV. Statutes of Frauds A. Common Law Statutes of Frauds Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 339-345 (to Note 3.1) Restatement (Second) 110-112, 124-125, 130-132 & 134-137 Crabtree v. Elizabeth Arden Sales Corp., 110 N.E.2d 551 (N.Y. 1953) Harriott v. Tronvold, 671 N.W.2d 417 (Iowa 2003) B. Sale of Goods Statutes of Frauds & Electronic Contracting Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 345 (from Note 3.2)-352 UCC 1-201(b)(37) & (43) & 2-201 UETA 5, 7 & 8(a) E-SIGN 7001(a), 7002(a)(1), 7003(a)(1)-(3) & 7006 CISG art. 11 International Casings Group, Inc v. Premium Standard Farms, Inc., 358 F. Supp. 2d 863 (W.D. Mo. 2005) Bazak Int l Corp. v. Tarrant Apparel Corp., 378 F. Supp. 2d 377 (S.D.N.Y. 2005) Donovan v. RRL Corp., 27 P.3d 702 (Cal. 2001) Lohman v. Wagner, 862 A.2d 1042 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 2004) GPL Treatment, Ltd. v. Louisiana-Pacific Corp., 914 P.2d 682 (Or. 1996) Rowley/K Readings (ver. 4.0) 4
V. Contract Terms A. Introduction to Construction and Interpretation Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 457-465 Rowley, Contract Construction and Interpretation: From the Four Corners to the Parol Evidence Rule, 69 MISS. L.J. 73, 79-90 (1999) Restatement (Second) 200 & 201 B. Key Concept: Integration Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 466-473 Rowley, pp. 100-113 Restatement (Second) 209-212 C. Key Concept: Ambiguity Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 498-506 & 509-519 Rowley, pp. 90-100 Restatement (Second) 219-223 D. Interpretive Principles Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 528-532 Rowley, pp. 113-163 Restatement (Second) 202-203 & 206-207 E. The Common Law Parol Evidence Rule Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 519-527 Rowley, pp. 238-267 Restatement (Second) 213-215 Pacific Gas & Electric Co. v. G. W. Thomas Drayage & Rigging Co., 62 Cal. Rptr. 203 (Cal. Ct. App. 1967), rev d, 442 P.2d 641 (Cal. 1968) [read both] F. The Parol Evidence Rule in Sales of Goods Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 480-486, 488-498 & 506-508 Rowley, pp. 308-342 UCC 1-303 & 2-202 G. Parol Evidence Rule Exceptions Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 474-479 & 486-488 Rowley, pp. 268-308 Restatement (Second) 216-218 Mercury Investment Co. v. F.W. Woolworth Co., 706 P.2d 523 (Okla. 1985) Rowley/K Readings (ver. 4.0) 5
H. Implied Terms Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 542-565 (skip p. 547) Restatement (Second) 204-205 & 228 UCC 1-201(b)(20), 1-304, 2-103(1)(b) & 2-306 Morin Building Products v. Baystone Construction, 717 F.2d 413 (7th Cir. 1983) Silvestri v. Optus Software, Inc., 814 A.2d 602 (N.J. 2003) VI. Non-Performance and Excuse A. Introduction to Discharge and Breach Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 617-618 Restatement (Second) 235 B. Express and Implied Conditions Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 618-619 & 625-654 Restatement (Second) 224-227, 229, 231-234 & 245 C. Modification/Substitution/Accord/Disclaimer/Waiver Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 660-669 Restatement (Second) 89 & 278-281 UCC 2-209 Chappelow v. Savastano, 758 N.Y.S.2d 782 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2003) Centex Homes v. Buecher, 95 S.W.3d 266 (Tex. 2002) Golden v. Bank of Tallassee, 639 So. 2d 1366 (Ala. 1994) D. Impossibility, Impracticability, and Frustration of Purpose Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 670-688 Restatement (Second) 261-271 UCC 2-615 E. Material Breach Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 713-736 Restatement (Second) 236-238 & 240-243 UCC 2-601 Goldston v. AMI Investments, Inc., 655 P.2d 521 (Nev. 1982) F. Anticipatory Repudiation Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 691-713 Restatement (Second) 250-251, 253-254 & 256-257 UCC 2-609 to 2-611 Optional: Rowley, A Brief History of Anticipatory Repudiation in American Contract Law, 69 U. CIN. L. REV. 565 (2001) Rowley/K Readings (ver. 4.0) 6
VII. Remedies A. Introduction to Remedies Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 759-760 & 737-747 Restatement (Second) 344-345 & 378 B. Specific Performance and Agreed Remedies Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 760-771, 777-781 & 793-794 Restatement (Second) 356-362, 364-365 & 367 Russo v. NCS Pearson, Inc., 462 F. Supp. 2d 981 (D. Minn. 2006) Mason v. Fakhimi, 865 P.2d 333 (Nev. 1993) Sutton v. Epperson, 631 So.2d 832 (Ala. 1993) C. Money Damages Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 799-830 Restatement (Second) 346-349 & 353-355 TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE 38.001 CytoGenix, Inc. v. Waldroff, 213 S.W.3d 479 (Tex. App. 2006) D. Foreseeability, Causation, and Certainty Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 831-838 & 846-861 Restatement (Second) 351-352 Bank of America v. C.D. Smith Motor Co., 106 S.W.3d 425 (Ark. 2003) E. Mitigation of Damages Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 861-882 Restatement (Second) 350 Rockingham County v. Luten Bridge Co., 35 F.2d 301 (4th Cir. 1929) F. Restitutionary Remedies (With and Without a Contract) Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 882-885 & 988-998 Restatement (Second) 370-371, 373-377 & 384 Lancellotti v. Thomas, 491 A.2d 117 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1985) VIII. Enforceability in the Absence of a Contract A. Promissory Estoppel Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 292-313, 330-338 & 352-361 Restatement (Second) 90, 129 & 139 B. Pre-Acceptance Reliance Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 329 & 218-231 Restatement (Second) 87(2) Hoffman v. Red Owl Stores, Inc., 133 N.W.2d 267 (Wis. 1965) Rowley/K Readings (ver. 4.0) 7
C. Promissory Restitution Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 277-291 & 987-88 Restatement (Second) 82 & 84-86 D. Quasi-Contract and Non-Promissory Restitution Epstein, Markell & Ponoroff, pp. 955-982 RESTATEMENT OF RESTITUTION 1-2, 112 & 116-117 (1937) *** IX. Third Party Rights and Duties A. Third Party Beneficiaries EMP, pp. 911-932 Restatement (Second) 302, 304, 307-309, 311 & 315 B. Assignment and Delegation EMP, pp. 932-945 Restatement (Second) 317-318, 321-322, 326, 328, 332, 336, 338 Herzog v. Irace, 594 A.2d 1106 (Me. 1991) *** The ALI is in the process of finalizing a Restatement (Third) of Restitution and Unjust Enrichment. (There is no Second Restatement on the subject: due to the passage of time, the ALI decided to call this a Third Restatement because most of the other recent and current Restatement projects are Third Restatements.) If I can locate a version of the relevant provisions of the Restatement (Third) by the time we get to this topic, I will provide you with the corresponding provisions. There won t be any case law applying the Third Restatement; but the similarities and differences between the first and Third Restatements may be illuminating. Rowley/K Readings (ver. 4.0) 8