Culbertson V. Brodsky Essay Example

situation, it would have been an option contract between two parties. An option contract is a “right, which operates as a continuing offer, given in exchange for consideration—something of value—to purchase or lease property at an agreed price and terms within a specified time”. If Mr. Brodsky had provided a non-refundable fee or provided value in some other form, that would have been a consideration in the option contract.

Only on that case, we would have called the deal between Mr. Brodsky and Mr. Culbertson an option contract. According the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), the contract means “the total legal obligation that results from the parties' agreement”. Since there is no defined legal obligation between Mr. Brodsky and Mr. Culbertson, that deal cannot be classified as a contract, and, therefore, can’t be enforceable. Also, “every contract or duty within [the Uniform Commercial Code] imposes an obligation of good faith in its performance and enforcement”. Mr.

Brodsky has performed the engineering research of the property and incurred the expenses he might have been reimbursed for. The Restatement (Second) of Contracts, section 86, says that some of the promises might be enforceable “to the extent necessary to avoid injustice”. But the case between Mr. Brodsky and Mr. Culbertson doesn’t qualify for that rule. Mr. Brodsky had voluntarily performed the inspection. In the agreement between two parties it wasn’t stated that Mr. Brodsky was obligated to perform the research of the land as one of the term.

The real estate property was available to the buyer for the period of 60 days for his purposes. In that case it is unjustified to force Mr. Culbertson to reimburse Mr. Brodsky for the

incurred engineering research expenses. In conclusion, this is a case of the illusory promise. Mr. Brodsky didn’t give a valid consideration in order to make Mr. Culbertson’s promise enforceable. The analysis of the common law and the UCC rules, which can be applied to that case, has proved that Mr. Brodsky had no chance to win that argument.

Since, there is no valid consideration, the option contract has no right to be considered an enforceable contract. Reference list: Beatty, J. , Samuelson, S. (2010). Introduction to Business Law 3rd edition, Mason, OH http://legal-dictionary. thefreedictionary. com/option UCC §1-201. General Defenitions. UCC § 1-304. Obligation of Good Faith. Texas Farm Bureau Cotton Ass’n v. Stovall, 113 Tex. 273, 253 S. W. 1101 (1923). -------------------------------------------- [ 1 ]. http://legal-dictionary. thefreedictionary. com/option [ 2 ]. UCC §1-201. General Defenitions. [ 3 ]. UCC § 1-304. Obligation of Good Faith.