The Best and Worst of Contracts Decisions: An Anthology

134 Pages Posted: 13 Feb 2019 Last revised: 9 Aug 2019

See all articles by Daniel D. Barnhizer

Daniel D. Barnhizer

Michigan State University College of Law

Scott J. Burnham

Gonzaga University School of Law

Charles R. Calleros

Arizona State University (ASU) - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

Larry T. Garvin

Ohio State University - Moritz College of Law

Nadelle Grossman

Marquette University - Law School

F. E. Guerra-Pujol

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico; University of Central Florida

Jeffrey Lynch Harrison

University of Florida Levin College of Law

Hila Keren

Southwestern Law School

Michael P. Malloy

University of the Pacific - McGeorge School of Law

Daniel O'Gorman

Barry University School of Law

Deborah Waire Post

Touro University - Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center

Val Ricks

South Texas College of Law Houston

Rachel S. Arnow-Richman

University of Florida Levin College of Law

Richard R. Carlson

South Texas College of Law Houston

Mark P. Gergen

University of California, Berkeley - School of Law

Kenney F. Hegland

University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law

Nancy S. Kim

Chicago-Kent College of Law - Illinois Institute of Technology

Nathan B. Oman

William & Mary Law School

Jean Powers

South Texas College of Law Houston

Cheryl B. Preston

Brigham Young University - J. Reuben Clark Law School

Date Written: 2018

Abstract

The common law of contract is an intellectual and political triumph. In its mature form, it enables judges whose ideological goals may differ to apply doctrines that provide the right to make enforceable promises; with legislation, the common law also provides proper limits on that right. Lately, scholars have produced a flood of contract law theory that enriches our thinking about and grounding for contract law norms. But the real work of common law development has always occurred in the trenches — in judicial decisions. In those trenches and on the framework built there, some decisions matter far more than others, and jurists, scholars, and teachers draw on these key decisions to do their work.

In the following collection of essays, scholars deeply familiar with judicial opinion in the common law of contract — twenty authors who have a collective 497 years writing, teaching, and thinking about contract law — identify the best and worst of contracts cases. Many of the cases are staple examples for practical and theoretical contracts scholarship. Many are taught to thousands of students each year. Many are routinely cited by courts. The essays explain, rebuke, extol, entertain, and inspire. They are brief but substantive. They set a basis for future commentary and establish a collective standard against which contracts decisions may be judged. They are vital study for contract law adjudication, scholarship, and teaching.

Keywords: Contracts, Contract Law

JEL Classification: K12

Suggested Citation

Barnhizer, Daniel D. and Burnham, Scott J. and Calleros, Charles R. and Garvin, Larry T. and Grossman, Nadelle and Guerra-Pujol, F. E. and Harrison, Jeffrey Lynch and Keren, Hila and Malloy, Michael P. and O'Gorman, Daniel and Waire Post, Deborah and Ricks, Val D and Arnow-Richman, Rachel S. and Carlson, Richard R. and Gergen, Mark P. and Hegland, Kenney F. and Kim, Nancy S. and Oman, Nathan B. and Powers, Jean and Preston, Cheryl B., The Best and Worst of Contracts Decisions: An Anthology (2018). 45 Fla. St. U. L. Rev. 889-1022 (2018)., California Western School of Law Research Paper No. 19-2, Southwestern Law School Research Paper No. 2019/04, Marquette Law School Legal Studies Paper No. 19-08, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3041444 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3041444

Daniel D. Barnhizer

Michigan State University College of Law ( email )

318 Law College Building
East Lansing, MI 48824-1300
United States
517-432-6901 (Phone)

Scott J. Burnham

Gonzaga University School of Law ( email )

721 N. Cincinnati Street
Spokane, WA 99220-3528
United States
509-313-3745 (Phone)
509-313-5840 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.gonzaga.edu/

Charles R. Calleros

Arizona State University (ASU) - Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law ( email )

Box 877906
Tempe, AZ 85287-7906
United States

Larry T. Garvin

Ohio State University - Moritz College of Law ( email )

55 West 12th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
United States
614-292-2631- x26073 (Phone)
614-292-2035 (Fax)

Nadelle Grossman

Marquette University - Law School ( email )

Eckstein Hall
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201
United States

F. E. Guerra-Pujol

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico ( email )

University of Central Florida ( email )

Jeffrey Lynch Harrison

University of Florida Levin College of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 117625
Gainesville, FL 32611-7625
United States

Hila Keren

Southwestern Law School ( email )

3050 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90010
United States

Michael P. Malloy

University of the Pacific - McGeorge School of Law ( email )

3200 Fifth Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95817
United States

Daniel O'Gorman

Barry University School of Law ( email )

Orlando, FL
United States
321-206-5681 (Phone)

Deborah Waire Post

Touro University - Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center ( email )

225 Eastview Drive
Central Islip, NY 11722
United States

Val D Ricks (Contact Author)

South Texas College of Law Houston ( email )

1303 San Jacinto Street
Houston, TX 77002
United States
7136462944 (Phone)

Rachel S. Arnow-Richman

University of Florida Levin College of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 117625
Gainesville, FL 32611-7625
United States

Richard R. Carlson

South Texas College of Law Houston ( email )

1303 San Jacinto
Houston, TX 77002
713-646-1871 (Phone)

Mark P. Gergen

University of California, Berkeley - School of Law ( email )

215 Boalt Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720-7200
United States

Kenney F. Hegland

University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 210176
Tucson, AZ 85721-0176
United States
520-621-1285 (Phone)

Nancy S. Kim

Chicago-Kent College of Law - Illinois Institute of Technology ( email )

565 W. Adams St.
Chicago, IL 60661-3691
United States

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.kentlaw.iit.edu/

Nathan B. Oman

William & Mary Law School ( email )

South Henry Street
P.O. Box 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.nathanoman.com

Jean Powers

South Texas College of Law Houston ( email )

1303 San Jacinto Street
Houston, TX 77002
United States
713-646-1865 (Phone)
713-646-1766 (Fax)

Cheryl B. Preston

Brigham Young University - J. Reuben Clark Law School ( email )

430 JRCB
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT 84602
United States

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