Contracts in the Real World: Ready for Pre-Ordering
posted by Lawrence Cunningham
This new book on contracts, regaling readers with stories ripped from the headlines, will be published soon and can be pre-ordered now on amazon.com and other fine booksellers.
Contracts in the Real World: Stories of Popular Contracts is intended to be a fun, fast, reliable read. It is very useful for 1Ls struggling with the subject, perfect for anyone thinking about going to law school, and designed to entertain devotees of pop culture. It will also captivate experts in contract law by connecting current events with venerable principles and classic cases.
Stories feature such notables as Eminem, Lady Gaga, Charlie Sheen, Donald Trump, and Sandra Bullock, as well as examples such as your cell phone contract, lottery sharing partnership, and on-line privacy policy.
List price is $33. The table of contents follows.
1. Getting In: Contract Formation
A. Gifts, Bargains, Reliance: MLK and BU
A Charitable Pledge, Estopping Aretha Franklin
B. Ads or Offers: Pepsi and Harrier Jets
First Come First Served, Jesting
C. Frolic or Acceptance: Boasts on “Dateline NBC”
The Curious Smokeball, A Hole in One
D. Mutual Assent: Spyware and Secret Clauses
Two Ships Peerless
E. Policies or Pacts: The Cleveland.com Blogger
Employment Handbooks, Promises of Secrecy
2. Facing Limits: Unenforceable Bargains
A.Unconscionability: Gail Waters’ Annuity Swap
Chasing Alaska Gold, Escaping Nazi Germany
B. Blackmail: Michael Jordan’s Paternity
David Letterman and Child Support
C. Palimony: The Rapper 50 Cent
Lee Marvin’s Lover
D. Gambling: Octogenarian Powerball Sisters
E. Making Babies: Baby M, Baby Calvert
3. Getting Out: Excuses and Termination
A. Mistake and Warranty: Madoff’s Ponzi Scheme
Forged Dimes, Fertile Cows and Fake Stradivarius
B. Impossibility and Force Majeure: Donald Trump
C. Infancy: Craig Traylor of “Malcolm in the Middle”
D. Outrage: AIG’s Employee Bonuses
E. Embarrassment: The New York Mets and Citi Field
4. Paying Up: Remedies
A. Interests and Limits: Paris Hilton and “Pledge This!”
Vanessa Redgrave, Jack Dempsey and Robert Reed
B. Compensation: Paris Hilton and Hairtech
The Hairy Hand, The Beatles’ Recordings
C. Markets and Mitigation: Redskins Season Tickets
The Bridge to Nowhere, Lost Volume Sellers, Shirley MacLaine
D. Stated Remedies: Sprint’s Early Termination Fees
The Delayed Mausoleum, Vanderbilt’s Traitorous Football Coach
E. Specific Performance: Tyson Chickens and IBP Pork
A Unique Manhattan Billboard
5. Rewinding: Restitution and Unjust Enrichment
A. Gratuity or Exchange: Caring for Aunt Frances
Bascom’s Folly, Emergency Surgery
B. Mere Volunteers: Battling Alaskan Beetles
C. Trailing Promises: Lena Saves Lee’s Life
The Heroic Lumberman, An Escaped Bull
D. Novel Ideas: The Making of “The Sopranos”
E. Off-Contract Remedies: Rod Stewart at The Rio
6. Writing It Down: Interpretation, Parol, Frauds
A. Plain Meaning I: Eminem’s Digital Records
B. Plain Meaning II: Dan Rather’s Last Broadcast
C. Parol Evidence: The Golden Globes
D. Scrivener’s Error: Who Owns the L. A. Dodgers?
The Fraudulent Architect, The Erroneous Deed
E. Statute of Frauds: Cliff Dumas’s Phantom Radio Deal
Jane Fonda’s Luckless Agent, Elizabeth Arden’s Fortunate Hire
7. Performing: Duties, Modification, Good Faith
A. Implied Terms: Butch Lewis and Maya Angelou
Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon
B. Express Terms: Clive Cussler’s Movie “Sahara”
C. Unanticipated Circumstances: Deutsche Building
Industrial Detritus, The Salmon Fishermen’s Threat
D. Accord and Satisfaction: Lady Gaga
The Disputed Home Improvements
E. Adjustment: Conan and “The Tonight Show”
8. Hedging: Conditions
A. Interpretation and Effect: Kevin Costner’s Bison
An Aborted Vineyard Sale, A Crop Insurance Caper
B. Order of Performance: Charlie Sheen and Warner
The Country Hotel Sale Bust, The Four-Stage Construction
C. Partial or Total Breach: Sheen and Warner II
An Accidental Bulldozing
D. Waiver: Sheen and Warner III
The Imbibing Professor
E. Substantial Performance: Sandra Bullock’s Lake House
Wrong Plumbing Pipes, Misplaced Walls, Unrestored Farms and Ungraded Gravel Lots
9. Considering Others: Third Parties and Society
A. Beneficiaries: Supply Chain Abuse at Wal-Mart
A Sweatshop in Brooklyn
B. Assignment: JP Morgan’s Cablevisión Loan
C. Interference: New England Patriots and StubHub
D. Torts: Katie Janeway’s Tragic Accident
Amnesty for Ordinary Negligence, A Misleading Authorization
January 28, 2012 at 6:08 am
Posted in: Amazon, Articles and Books, Contract Law & Beyond
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Responses (4)
Orin Kerr - January 28, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Congrats, Larry.
Jake Linford - January 28, 2012 at 2:00 pm
Larry,
I’m looking forward to seeing this in its final format.
Congratulations!
Patrick S. O'Donnell - January 29, 2012 at 12:22 pm
I join the chorus of congratulatory sentiment.
Frank - January 29, 2012 at 4:01 pm
Congrats, Larry–this looks fascinating!
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