A fugitive was wanted for murder. The authorities offered the following reward: “$20,000 to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of this fugitive.” A private detective knew of the reward, located the fugitive, and brought him to the authorities, who arrested him. The authorities then determined that while the fugitive had, in fact, committed the crime, he had been directed to commit the crime by his boss. The authorities and the fugitive then agreed that in exchange for the fugitive’s testimony against his boss, all charges against the fugitive would be dropped. The fugitive testified and was released. The authorities refused to pay the reward to the private detective on the ground that the fugitive was never convicted. Would the private detective be likely to prevail in a breach of contract action against the authorities?

On March 1, an excavator entered into a contract with a contractor to perform excavation work on a large project. The contract expressly required that the excavator begin work on June 1 to enable other subcontractors to install utilities. On May 15, the excavator requested a 30-day delay in the start date for the excavation work because he was seriously behind schedule on another project. When the contractor refused to grant the delay, the excavator stated that he would try to begin the work for the contractor on June 1. Does the contractor have valid legal grounds to cancel the contract with the excavator and hire a replacement?

A ski-shop operator, in a telephone conversation with a glove manufacturer, ordered 12 pairs of ski gloves at the manufacturer’s list price of $600 per dozen for delivery in 30 days. The manufacturer orally accepted the offer, and immediately e-mailed the operator this signed memo: “Confirming our agreement today for your purchase of one dozen pairs of ski gloves for $600, shipment in 30 days.” Although the operator received and read the manufacturer’s message within minutes after its dispatch, she changed her mind three weeks later about the purchase and rejected the conforming shipment when it timely arrived. On learning of the rejection, does the manufacturer have a cause of action against the operator for breach of contract?

On June 1, a seller agreed, in a writing signed by both the seller and the buyer, to sell an antique car to a buyer for $20,000. The car was at the time on display in a museum in a different city and was to be delivered to the buyer on August 1. On July 15, before the risk of loss had passed to the buyer, the car was destroyed by fire without fault of either party. Subsequent to the contract but before the fire, the car had increased in value to $30,000. The seller sued the buyer for the contract price of $20,000, and the buyer counterclaimed for $30,000. Which of the following will the court conclude?

A father and a mother had been married for 30 years and had one adult son. The father and the mother agreed that each would make a will leaving his or her entire estate to the other, and when the surviving spouse died, the surviving spouse’s entire estate, including any inheritance received from the predeceased spouse, would be left to their son. The father, the mother, and the son visited a lawyer, who prepared wills for the father and the mother that carried out their testamentary intentions. The lawyer also prepared an agreement, which was signed by the father and the mother, in which each promised not to change the testamentary disposition benefiting the son. The son, who was present during the execution of the documents, was asked by the mother and the father if he agreed to the estate plan. He replied that he did. Shortly thereafter, the mother died. After collecting his distribution of the estate, the father moved in with his high school sweetheart. The father then made a new will, which was in effect at his death, leaving his entire estate to the sweetheart. If the son sues the father’s estate, what will he recover?

Which of the following describes the marginal product of labor?

Mike hires Matt to replace the shingles on the roof of her house. When Matt has completed 90% of the work, the house is hit by a hurricane and is destroyed. Matt will be able to recover for the work done in quasi-contract.

Refer to the accompanying figure to answer the following questions. The deadweight loss associated with this profit-maximizing monopoly is equal to

Madeline and Alexander entered into a contract for Alexander to tutor Madeline’s son, Luke, in French during the school year to ensure that Luke receives a high grade in his language course. The day before classes began, Luke switched his schedule to take German instead of French.  Is the contract discharged?

ShowCo, located in Pottsfield, produces shows for theater owners. StageCo, located in Cincotti, owns and operates a theater. On July 1, 2019, ShowCo and StageCo form a contract including these terms: Whereas StageCo plans to sell seats in its theater for $100 each on such dates and for such performances as are described below, and whereas Morton Green is a world-renowned baritone revered, moreover, for his portrayal of the part of Ko-Ko in the opera hereinafter mentioned, the parties do agree that: ShowCo will produce, at StageCo’s facility, on the dates October 1 to October 15, 2019, inclusive, the comic opera Mikado, for which ShowCo will hire, furnish, and pay the entire cast and orchestra, the leading baritone role of Ko-Ko to be played by the celebrity Morton Green; and StageCo will, on November 1, pay ShowCo $500,000 for such service. Which of the following facts, if proven, would most likely discharge ShowCo’s duty to perform on the theory of impracticability?