Law Beat - Quiz #1

Learning the Law Series - Part 1

What is a contract?

Jack and his sister Jill were very close as children. As a child, Jack would always do things for his younger sister. Now Jack was quite handy as a child. He would love to make things around the house. One year he even built a big, beautiful tree house for his sister and her friends to play in. Jill loved it so much that she had Jack promise that when she grew up that Jack would build her a house for her wedding present.

As Jack grew older, he refined his handy ways until he learned how to make real houses. As a matter of fact, as an adult, Jack became a well known real estate developer. As an adult, Jill became a well known real estate lawyer.

From time to time Jack and Jill would get together and reminiscence about their childhood days especially about the wonderful tree house that Jack had built. Jill would also kid about the house that Jack promised to make when Jill got married. The day did come when Jill did get married. After the marriage and the honeymoon, Jill decided that she did want Jack to build her dream home. When she brought this up to Jack, Jack said that he didn't have time but that he would get around to it some time. Weeks and months went by and Jack still had not built Jill that home. Jill started to get angry with Jack because even though he still agreed to build her a home he had not gotten around to it. So Jill decided to take Jack to court and force the issue.

Now you be the judge:

  1. Does it matter that Jack's promise to build her the house was not in writing:

    (a) All contracts have to be in writing to be enforceable.
    (b) A written agreement is not necessary but there were no witnesses to Jack's promise and therefore the promise is not enforceable.
    (c) A written agreement is not necessary to be binding.
    (d) None of the above.

  2. Will Jill win her case of trying to establish that Jack's promise amounted to a binding contract?

    (a) Jack agreed to build her the house and therefore Jill will be successful in her law suit.
    (b) Jack was just kidding and never intended to build her the house.
    (c) There is no consideration for Jack's promise and therefore Jill will lose her case.
    (d) None of the above.

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