American Contract Law for a Global Age, 2017a

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illogical, in these circumstances, to undermine the public policy underlying business invitee law and allow skiers to bear risks they have no ability or right to control. 1 Dalury v. S-K-I, Ltd., supra. Further, the agreement at issue was a standardized adhesion contract offered to the plaintiff on a “take it or leave it” basis. The most salient feature of adhesion contracts is that they are not subject to the normal bargaining processes of ordinary contracts. See BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY (7TH ED. 1999) (defining adhesion contract as “[a] standard form contract prepared by one party, to be signed by the party in a weaker position, [usually] a consumer, who has little choice about the terms”). Not only was the plaintiff unable to negotiate the terms of the agreement, but the defendants also did not offer him the option of procuring protection against negligence at an additional reasonable cost. See Restatement (Third), Torts, Apportionment of Liability § 2, comment (e), p. 21 (2000) (factor relevant to enforcement of contractual limit on liability is “whether the party seeking exculpation was willing to provide greater protection against tortious conduct for a reasonable, additional fee”). Moreover, the defendants did not inform prospective snowtubers prior to their arrival at Powder Ridge that they would have to waive important common-law rights as a condition of participation. Thus, the plaintiff, who traveled to Powder Ridge in anticipation of snowtubing that day, was faced with the dilemma of either signing the defendants’ proffered waiver of prospective liability or forgoing completely the opportunity to snowtube at Powder Ridge. Under the present factual circumstances, it would ignore reality to conclude that the plaintiff wielded the same bargaining power as the defendants. In the present case, the defendants held themselves out as a provider of a healthy, fun, family activity. After the plaintiff and his family arrived at Powder Ridge eager to participate in the activity, however, the defendants informed the plaintiff that, not only would they be immune from claims arising from the inherent risks of the activity, but they would not be responsible for injuries resulting from their own carelessness and negligence in the operation of the snowtubing facility. We recognize that the plaintiff had the option of walking away. We cannot say, however, that the defendants had no bargaining advantage under these circumstances. 1 [By the court] Exculpatory agreements, like the one at issue in the present matter, shift the costs of injuries from the tortfeasor to the person injured. As a consequence, health care insurance providers or the state, through its provision of medicaid benefits, absorb the costs of the tortfeasor’s negligence. These costs necessarily are passed on to the population of the state through higher health care premiums and state taxes. Accordingly, in the present matter, it ultimately would be the population generally, and not the snowtube operators and their patrons, who would bear the costs if these agreements were to be enforced. ______________________________________________________________________________ 314 CHAPTER V: CONTRACT DEFENSES
For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the agreement in the present matter affects the public interest adversely and, therefore, is unenforceable because it violates public policy. Accordingly, the trial court improperly rendered summary judgment in favor of the defendants. The defendants and the dissent point out that our conclusion represents the “distinct minority view” and is inconsistent with the majority of sister state authority upholding exculpatory agreements in similar recreational settings. We acknowledge that most states uphold adhesion contracts releasing recreational operators from prospective liability for personal injuries caused by their own negligent conduct. Put simply, we disagree with these decisions for the reasons already explained in this opinion. The judgment is reversed and the case is remanded for further proceedings according to law. NORCOTT, J., dissenting. I would follow the overwhelming majority of our sister states and would conclude that prospective releases from liability for negligence are permissible in the context of recreational activities. Accordingly, I respectfully dissent from the majority’s decision to take a road that is, for many persuasive reasons, far less traveled. [The dissent applies the Tunkl factors, noting that snowtubing, unlike skiing, is not generally regulated in Connecticut; that snowtubing, unlike medical services, child care, banking, and real estate services, is not an “important public service”; that snowboarding is a purely personal, recreational activity that causes no harm if not engaged in; and that the essence of snowtubing is that one races down a hill without being under the control of the provider.] In sum, I conclude that, under the Tunkl factors, the defendants’ release at issue in this case does not violate public policy with respect to the sport of snowtubing. This conclusion is consistent with the vast majority of sister state authority, which upholds releases of liability in a variety of recreational or athletic settings that are akin to snowtubing as not violative of public policy. It also is consistent with the view of the American Law Institute, as embodied in Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 195 (1981). 2 I, therefore, respectfully dissent. 2 [By the court] Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 195 (1981) provides in relevant part: (2) A term exempting a party from tort liability for harm caused negligently is unenforceable on grounds of public policy if (a) the term exempts an employer from liability to an employee for injury in the course of his employment; ______________________________________________________________________________ UNIT 16: POLICY-BASED DEFENSES 315
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Notices This is the first edition o
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About CALI eLangdell Press The Cent
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Unit 19: Conditions ...............
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hired Corleone family thugs 4 or an
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described herein, and agrees to fre
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6. MARY BETH WHITEHEAD, Surrogate,
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Surrogate and WILLIAM STERN, Natura
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10. Consider paragraph 5. Should th
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The two court opinions that follow
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Venue Venue is a concept of place
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Their first child, Ryan, was born o
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Subsequent to entering into the sur
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The sixth and final argument sugges
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It is argued by amicus that the $ 1
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no stated public policy on surrogac
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IN RE BABY M Supreme Court of New J
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adoption; the sole purpose of the c
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The surrogacy contract violates the
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Problems Donald Donor is a single,
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An Introduction to CONTRACT FORMATI
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particular obligation? In Europe, i
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The evidence is undisputed that pla
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After some negotiation a price of $
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The answer of A.H. Zehmer admitted
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no, that is beer and liquor talking
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on the Zehmers as well as on himsel
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offer and of the reward and its sub
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your professor. You will come acros
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car title you’re holding there. I
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In the modern world, the question o
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pair of sunglasses. The drumroll th
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This letter was apparently sent onw
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Because these cases generally invol
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teenager’s schoolmates gape in ad
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Review Question 3. Note how Judge W
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cash in ten days,” it must be dee
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“Before a contract can be complet
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for the purpose of doing the work a
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accidentally being bound to unwante
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Here, we have a counter-offer. The
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parties.” Metropolitan Sports Fac
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court. See Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 10
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Thus, it clearly appears that the d
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with distribution. The parties ulti
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all essential terms. See, e.g., Sit
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Enclosed, we beg to hand you contra
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to call for an acceptance particula
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than identify himself, Dealer says,
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offer.” More often, they nod, sha
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The next attack will be my end, I a
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from all the facts and circumstance
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Notice to the agent, within the sco
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2. Written approval by United State
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contrary in the offer, the acceptan
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HOBBS v. MASSASOIT WHIP CO. Supreme
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stranger may impose a duty upon ano
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contract in this case come into exi
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An Introduction to CONSIDERATION Th
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and you are free to change your min
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Ridge Runner that she lacked the pr
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We conclude that the territory enco
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He further answered, that it was gi
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This action was brought upon an all
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consideration does in fact benefit
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Review Question 5. The promisors in
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The distinction between such a cond
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Vincent refuses. Fritz eventually s
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enefit was money received, the subs
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they stopped work in a body, and de
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supervise this building. Under the
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The day before trial the plaintiffs
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General rules of law established fo
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For the foregoing reasons we are al
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WEBB v. McGOWIN Court of Appeals of
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100 P. 631 (Kan. 1909); Edson v. Po
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McGowin’s adult child, would that
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efuses, saying, “We had a deal.
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Giles had no right to use it. But t
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BLICESTER: That’s crazy. JUDGE: N
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A. She took the piece of paper and
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According to the undisputed proof,
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We recognize that upon different fa
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was discussed with compensation to
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CONRAD v. FIELDS Court of Appeals o
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her job at Qwest and enroll in law
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Seth Wyman’s estranged son Levi i
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An Introduction to ALTERNATIVE REGI
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consistency. Some provisions have p
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TOUSLEY-BIXLER CONSTRUCTION CO. v.
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of goods within this Article whethe
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differently from other contracts? F
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nine units was delivered and paid f
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think they have struck a deal.” Q
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more sense for contract formation t
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COMMERCIAL CODE § 2-206:12 (3D ED.
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face of which appears the notation,
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Problem 10.3 On June 1, the sales d
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except for personal use. If, howeve
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[T]he plain reading of the statute
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not lubricated in any way. Without
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we also note that Best Bolt’s vic
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(c) are fit for the ordinary purpos
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This purchase order represents the
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provision would cause no “surpris
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FLENDER CORPORATION v. TIPPINS INTE
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well that the reservations each par
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The alternate approach, recognized
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(a) Is Ivy League University a “m
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and ratified a treaty called the Un
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(2) The fact that the parties have
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e. Manufacturer in Texas contracts
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an authorized distributor of Defend
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undisputed that each of these alleg
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Treaty Text Note. Read Articles 18,
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*4 (S.D. Ohio Mar. 26, 2009); see a
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perform a substantial part of his o
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shall be settled by binding arbitra
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An Introduction to CONTRACT DEFENSE
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which extended even to being able t
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Dickerson, 72 Ala. 318 (1882). In t
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loss from the transaction, includin
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this definition. Whether other area
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ORTELERE v. TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT
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medicine, this physician “judged
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The avoidance of duties under an ag
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7. What is my total service credit?
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Review Question 5. In McGovern v. C
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will pay the full listed price of $
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endeavoured to be upheld by Perjury
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Y Contracts that cannot be performe
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Page 274 and 275: NICKELS, J., dissenting. I disagree
Page 276 and 277: contracts. What is the real purpose
Page 278 and 279: At the ensuing trial, defendant den
Page 280 and 281: There may be cases in which it woul
Page 282 and 283: professional. Things were really ge
Page 284 and 285: GUENTHER v. AMER-TEX CONSTRUCTION C
Page 286 and 287: (b) Subsection (a) of this section
Page 288 and 289: Problem 14.3 Van der Rohe USA, Inc.
Page 290 and 291: sold, the terms of the sale, the na
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Page 294 and 295: The first issue is whether the labe
Page 296 and 297: some point or on some occasion it w
Page 298 and 299: As a matter of law, based on the fa
Page 300 and 301: or, more particularly, in cases suc
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Page 304 and 305: As to mistake, the amended complain
Page 306 and 307: In Weger v. Rocha, 32 P.2d 417 (Cal
Page 308 and 309: I had brought back the topaz, and h
Page 310 and 311: May 5, 1886, plaintiff went out to
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Page 314 and 315: prior to the sale was Buyer aware t
Page 316 and 317: Against Public Policy. In many situ
Page 318 and 319: HANKS v. POWDER RIDGE RESTAURANT CO
Page 320 and 321: interest adversely, and identified
Page 324 and 325: _____________________ Review Questi
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Page 336 and 337: In determining reasonableness or fa
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Page 342 and 343: An Introduction to TERMS AND INTERP
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Page 346 and 347: contract itself. Thus written docum
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Page 352 and 353: The subject-matter of the written c
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Page 360 and 361: Article 8 UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION
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Page 364 and 365: percent (50%) protein, as tested on
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Page 368 and 369: Cases and Materials W.W.W. ASSOCIAT
Page 370 and 371: do so because of some identified am
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The truth is that whatever virtue a
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Absent strong public policy conside
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FRIGALIMENT IMPORTING CO. v. B.N.S.
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persuasive if sustained by the reco
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and there is force in defendant’s
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RANDOM HOUSE, INC. v. ROSETTA BOOKS
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language of the grant was broad, en
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F.3d at 1095, would conclude that t
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When Hurricane Rubin strikes the lo
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the business. The contract was sile
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party argues ambiguity), the loan f
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accordance with the terms of this c
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of the advance payments, or the num
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imbibe alcoholic beverages and stil
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significant satisfied requirement o
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TOWN OF FAIRFIELD v. D’ADDARIO Su
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damages. The notice of Kant’s act
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who had turned down lucrative offer
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were to suggest some express provis
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notice of ninety days. The plaintif
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Review Question 2. What was Judge C
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exercising discretion under the con
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NANAKULI PAVING AND ROCK CO. v. SHE
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§ 490:1-102(2)(b). The drafters of
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trade existed in Hawaii in 1969 and
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1978) (unpublished opinion) (holdin
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Plaintiff does not contest its stat
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product. The concept of “merchant
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discovery by defendant of the defec
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Unfortunately, Plumber’s work doe
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An Introduction to PERFORMANCE AND
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doctrine, so that close-enough perf
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the number of joists used in all th
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JACOB & YOUNGS, INC. v. KENT Court
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transgressor must accept the penalt
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was for requiring this kind of pipe
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The evidence is undisputed that the
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eing a new roof. We are not prepare
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This case is simple if the perfect
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yacht remained located at SIYS’ f
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happens by mere operation of law; s
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Problems Problem 21.1 Actor is a ve
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processor for the same price as the
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venue. Under Paradine v. Jane, this
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At trial, the court allowed IH’s
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In order for a supervening event to
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The court interpreted this passage
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economic circumstances sufficiently
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A cancellation order given by her o
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e entitled to judgment. They certai
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performance is excused when unfores
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caused to communications and transp
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Following the closing of the above-
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performance. 407 East 61st Garage,
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Canal, across the Mediterranean thr
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An Introduction to REMEDIES We now
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multiplication and (very rarely) di
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It was also erroneous and misleadin
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and we turn to the question of whet
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testified that the total gas, oil,
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BRANDEIS MACHINERY & SUPPLY CO., LL
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PEEVYHOUSE v. GARLAND COAL & MINING
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explanation as to why a measure of
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work; however, where the contract p
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clear and unambiguous and the parti
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pool contractor to finish the pool
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Nevertheless, the English courts he
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perform the work. As Lee failed to
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UNITED STATES ex rel. COASTAL STEEL
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emanded for those findings. When th
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the substance is that the plaintiff
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the agreement would continue on a m
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Review Question 7. Note the paralle
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product that would be fully functio
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car to the Country Music Museum for
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Restatement (Second) of Contracts s
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Harrahs brings the instant action a
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contest payment for same if constru
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This is in accord with the earlier
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Defendant’s sole defense to this
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particular. Certainly, none of the
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sustained where, from the nature of
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ut will be happy to try to help in
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the full $7,500 price of admission
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Problem 25.2 Mina is a second-year
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other types of specific performance
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imposed as the remedy for breach of
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certainty, then S&M should be compe
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There is simply no requirement in t
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“other proper circumstances” th
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fence plaintiff erected to discoura
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y no means certain, at the time of
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cannot use that method of self-help
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contract price of $533,000) that La
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teacher resigned at the beginning,
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eaching its lease with Perez by the
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An Introduction to CONTRACT NONPART
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fraud, mistake, and illegality. If
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may be the diversity of opinion els
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given him by the will for a particu
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since Lawrence v. Fox in a desire t
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workers’ compensation benefits),
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to divide a lawyer’s loyalty betw
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Review Question 9. Lawyers do many
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Problems Problem 27.1 Hank and Hild
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interested in jumping into such a b
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limitations barred the claims. She
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assigned their claim to recover the
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application to this contract as it
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A breach of contract has been defin
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moved to Arizona and had no further
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It is evident from the express lang
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contracted to assume, and the assig
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March 1 for the conveyance of Purpl
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