Lucy v. Zehmer Case Brief Essay

I. Statement of the FactsZehmer owned a Farm that Lucy had made several offers to purchase, all of which Zehmer rejected. Lucy met Zehmer in the latters restaurant unmatched evening. After drinking, they had a substantial discussion about the sale of the turn. Lucy made an offer of $50,000. Zehmer drafted up Lucy a contract specifying the land, the amount, title satisfactory to buyer. Lucy took the written capital of New Hampshire and offered $50,000 to Zehmer who refused to abide to the written agreement. Lucy filed a lawsuit against Zehmer to compel him to transfer the title of the farm to him for $50,000. Zehmer supported that the writing was prepared as a bluff, the whole effect was a banter, no binding contract was made, and at the time he made the offer he was was as high as Georgia waste. The trial court ruled in favor of Zehmer. Lucy appealed to the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia.II. IssueDoes the offer made by Zehmer supposedly as a joke constitute a valid cont ract?III. Rule of LawThe first requirement for effective offer is a serious intent. Not determined by subjective intentions, beliefs and assumptions of the offeror. Rather it is determined by what a reasonable person in the offerees position would conclude that the offrerors words and actions meant. Offers made in jest, obvious anger, or undue excitement do not count and the acceptance of them does not create an agreement.IV. AnalysisIn his defense, Zehmer claimed that the offer to sell his farm to Lucy was made as a joke and at the time he made it they were both drinking and he was not in a asseverate of sobriety. The court judged Zehmers argument about his mental state inconsistent due to the fact he was able to provide great detail what was express and done that night in his testimony. The court found that the contract was discussed for forty minutes, rewritten to include Mrs. Zehnmer, and she did sign it. The discussion of what to be included in the sale and the render of it made a serious transaction. The delivery of the written contract shows a good faith offer and a good faith acceptance.