Contracts and Intent: A Case Study
What is the objective theory of contracts?
The objective theory of contracts states that the intent of the parties involved in a transaction is determined by the reasonable meaning of their words and actions. Based on this theory, what statement below is correct in the given scenario?
Multiple Choice:
A. The court will ask Jami what she believed to determine if she thought John was serious in making the offer.
B. Even if John was joking, the court will not consider John's personal belief but will determine if a reasonable person would believe John's language and conduct indicated he was serious in his intent to contract.
C. Since the facts do not indicate if Jami asked if John was serious there was no offer.
D. Since John stated that he was only joking, there was no offer.
Answer:
B. Even if John was joking, the court will not consider John's personal belief but will determine if a reasonable person would believe John's language and conduct indicated he was serious in his intent to contract.
The objective theory of contracts holds that the intent to enter into a contract should be determined based on what a reasonable person would believe from the language and conduct of the parties involved. In the scenario provided, John offered to sell his grandmother's wedding ring to Jami for $100. Jami accepted the offer and paid the money for the ring.
According to the objective theory of contracts, the key factor is whether a reasonable person would interpret John's words and actions as seriously intending to enter into a contract. In this case, even if John claims he was joking, the court will assess whether a reasonable person would perceive his offer as genuine and enter into a binding agreement.
Therefore, John cannot retract his offer and demand the ring back, as the objective theory of contracts focuses on the objective intent of the parties involved. Jami has the legal right to keep the ring and enforce the contract or seek remedies if John breaches the agreement.