one-year lease will end on May 1. On April 15, she orally contracts to buy Smith’s
house for $100,000, with the closing (transfer of the deed) to take place on June1.
Smith’s lawyer, who is out of town on vacation, is to draft a written contract of sale on
his return to his office on May 15. Because Frances’s lease is terminating, Smith agrees
to let her take possession of the house on May 1 if Frances gives him a “down payment”
on the house of $5,000. Frances agrees and gives Smith the $5,000. She moves into the
house on May 2, and the following weekend plants trees in the back yard. On May 10,
Smith receives a written offer from Green to buy Smith’s house for $120,000. Smith
accepts Green’s offer, asks Frances to move out of the house, and tries to return the
$5,000 to Frances. Frances claims that she has an enforceable contract to buy the house.
Smith claims that any such contract must be in writing to be enforceable under the
Statute of Frauds. Who is correct and why?
Whether a law is constitutional depends on its source.
No special form is required to create a delegation of duties.