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1
Chapter 13
Consideration
INTRODUCTION
Your students should now understand that not every promise is binding. Continuing the discussion of when a
promise is binding, this chapter focuses on consideration.
The first concept students should understand about consideration is that it means something of legal value.
They may find it difficult to understand that a promise has legal value as consideration, distinct from the economic
value (if any) of the thing promised. The thing of legal value may be goods, money, performance, or a return promise.
2 UNIT THREE: CONTRACTS AND E-CONTRACTS
CHAPTER OUTLINE
I. Elements of Consideration
Consideration is the value given in return for a promise. As noted above, there are two elements—
A. LEGALLY SUFFICIENT VALUE
This may be—
• A promise to do something that one has no prior legal duty to do.
CASE SYNOPSIS—
Case 13.1: Hamer v. Sidway
William Story, Sr., was the uncle of William Story II. Story, Sr., promised to pay Story II $5,000 if he
would refrain from drinking, using tobacco, swearing, and playing cards or billiards for money until he was
twenty-one. Story II agreed, performed his part of the bargain, and consented for the money to remain with
Story, Sr., accruing interest. After Story, Sr.’s death twelve years later, Sidway, the executor of the estate, did
not want to pay the $5,000 (with interest) to Hamer, a third party to whom Story II had transferred his rights in
the money. Sidway claimed that there had been no valid consideration for the promise. From a judgment for
Sidway, Hamer appealed.
The New York Court of Appeals ruled against Sidway. Story II had provided legally sufficient
..................................................................................................................................................
Notes and Questions
Few contract law books fail to mention this classic case. It is an excellent introduction to the question of
what promises should be binding.
Contract law held a special fundamental place in American law in the nineteenth century. The basic
principle of contract law was that what people voluntarily agreed on, the courts would enforce. Legal
philosophers believed that through free voluntary agreements, individuals made their own “law.” The
Constitution guaranteed that states could not enact laws that would impair the obligations of contracts. After
CHAPTER 13: CONSIDERATION 3
Many promises relating to personal (as opposed to business) relationships are not legally
enforceable. Is Story’s promise of a financial reward for five years of good behavior on the part of his
nephew an appropriate subject for contract law? Not all important promises are commercial promises.
Thus it is well settled that the scope of contract law is not limited to “commercial” promises.
ADDITIONAL CASES ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE —
SUFFICIENCY OF CONSIDERATION
Cases considering the sufficiency of consideration include the following.
• Blair v. Scott Specialty Gases, 283 F.3d 595 (3d Cir. 2002) (a mandatory arbitration provision in an
employee handbook was supported by “adequate” consideration: “[w]hen both parties have agreed to be
bound by arbitration, adequate consideration exists and the arbitration agreement should be enforced”).
• Oscar v. Simeonidis, 352 N.J.Super. 476, 800 A.2d 271 (A.D. 2002) (a modification to a commercial
lease, which changed the method for determining rent during the lease renewal period, was supported by
consideration: “the parties adopted a formula that would permit them and any other interested person to
determine the rental upon renewal of the lease by reference to objective, readily ascertainable criteria. This is
itself valuable consideration sufficient to sustain the modification because the mutual agreement to abide by
such a formula has the capacity to remove an element of uncertainty from the parties’ future legal
relationship”).
B. BARGAINED-FOR EXCHANGE
4 UNIT THREE: CONTRACTS AND E-CONTRACTS
The consideration given by the promisor must induce the promisee to offer a return promise, per-
formance, or forbearance, which must induce the promisor to make the promise. This element of
bargained-for exchange distinguishes contracts from gifts.
CASE SYNOPSIS—
Case 13.2: USS-POSCO Industries v. Case
Floyd Case enrolled in an employer-paid program to become a maintenance technical electrical worker.
Case and his employer, USS–POSCO Industries (UPI), agreed that if he quit his job within thirty months of
completing the program, he would reimburse UPI a prorated portion of the $46,000 cost. Two months after
completing the program, Case left UPI. When he refused to reimburse UPI for the cost of the program, the
company filed a suit in a California state court against him for breach of contract. Case filed a cross-
complaint, asserting that the reimbursement agreement was unenforceable because it lacked consideration.
The court granted UPI’s motion for summary judgment on both complaints. Case appealed.
..................................................................................................................................................
Notes and Questions
Does the fact that either Case or UPI could have ended their employment relationship at any
time—including during the educational program—render the terms of their agreement to pay and
repay the costs of Case’s education too uncertain to enforce? No, that either Case or UPI could have
ended their employment relationship at any time, including during the educational program, does not render
the terms of their agreement to pay and repay the costs of Case’s education too uncertain to enforce.
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND—
BARGAINED-FOR EXCHANGE
CHAPTER 13: CONSIDERATION 5
Consideration is something exchanged for something else. Often, the concept of consideration is broken
into the two elements that are discussed above and in the text. These elements are also discussed in the
Restatement (Second) of Contracts, Section 71. The following is the text of that section with selected
Comments and Illustrations.
§ 71. Requirement of Exchange; Types of Exchange
(1) To constitute consideration, a performance or a return promise must be bargained for.
(2) A performance or return promise is bargained for if it is sought by the promisor in exchange for his
promise and is given by the promisee in exchange for that promise.
(3) The performance may consist of
(4) The performance or return promise may be given to the promisor or to some other person. It may be
given by the promisee or by some other person.
Comment:
* * * *
b. “Bargained for.” In the typical bargain, the consideration and the promise bear a reciprocal relation of
motive or inducement: the consideration induces the making of the promise and the promise induces the
furnishing of the consideration. Here, as in the matter of mutual assent, the law is concerned with the
Illustrations:
l. A offers to buy a book owned by B and to pay B $10 in exchange therefore. B accepts the offer and deliv-
ers the book to A. The transfer and delivery of the book constitute a performance and are consideration for
2. A receives a gift from B of a book worth $10. Subsequently A promises to pay B the value of the book.
6 UNIT THREE: CONTRACTS AND E-CONTRACTS
3. A promises to make a gift of $10 to B. In reliance on the promise B buys a book from C and promises to
pay C $10 for it. There is no consideration for A’s promise. As to the enforcement of such promises, see §
90.
4. A desires to make a binding promise to give $1000 to his son B. Being advised that a gratuitous promise is
5. A desires to make a binding promise to give $1000 to his son B. Being advised that a gratuitous promise is
not binding, A offers to buy from B for $1000 a book worth less than $1. B accepts the offer knowing that the
purchase of the book is a mere pretense. There is no consideration for A’s promise to pay $1000.
c. Mixture of bargain and gift. In most commercial bargains there is a rough equivalence between the value
promised and the value received as consideration. But the social functions of bargains include the provision
On the other hand, a gift is not ordinarily treated as a bargain, and a promise to make a gift is not made a
bargain by the promise of the prospective donee to accept the gift, or by his acceptance of part of it. This
may be true even though the terms of gift impose a burden on the donee as well as the donor. * * * In such
Illustrations:
6. A offers to buy a book owned by B and to pay B $10 in exchange therefore. B’s transfer and delivery of the
7. A owns land worth $10,000 which is subject to a mortgage to secure a debt of $6,000. A promises to make
8. A and B agree that A will advance $1000 to B as a gratuitous loan. B’s promise to accept the loan is not
consideration for A’s promise to make it. But the loan when made is consideration for B’s promise to repay.
d. Types of consideration. Consideration may consist of a performance or of a return promise. Consideration
by way of performance may be a specified act of forbearance, or any one of several specified acts or
CHAPTER 13: CONSIDERATION 7
Illustrations:
* * * *
10. A says to B, the owner of a garage, “I will pay you $100 if you will make my car run properly.” The
production of this result is consideration for A’s promise.
11. A has B’s horse in his possession. B writes to A, “If you will promise me $100 for the horse, he is yours.”
12. A promises to pay B $1,000 if B will make an offer to C to sell C certain land for $25,000 and will leave the
13. A mails a written order to B, offering to buy specified machinery on specified terms. The order provides
C. ADEQUACY OF CONSIDERATION
1. The General Rule
2. When Voluntary Consent May Be Lacking
A court will evaluate the adequacy of consideration if it is so grossly inadequate as to “shock the
II. Agreements That Lack Consideration
A. PREEXISTING DUTY
Under most circumstances, a promise to do what one already has a legal duty to do is not legally suffi-
cient consideration. There are exceptions—
1. Unforeseen Difficulties
When a party to a contract runs into unforeseen and substantial difficulties that could not have been
2. Rescission and New Contract
8 UNIT THREE: CONTRACTS AND E-CONTRACTS
B. PAST CONSIDERATION
Promises made with respect to events that have already taken place are unenforceable. They lack the
element of bargained-for exchange.
CHAPTER 13: CONSIDERATION 9
C. ILLUSORY PROMISES
If a contract expresses such uncertainty of performance that the promisor has not actually promised to
do anything, the promise is illusory—without consideration and unenforceable.
1. Option-to-Cancel Clauses
2. Requirements and Output Contracts
III. Settlement of Claims
A. ACCORD AND SATISFACTION
For an accord and satisfaction, the amount of the debt must be in dispute.
1. Liquidated Debts
2. Unliquidated Debts
An unliquidated debt can serve as the basis for an accord and satisfaction because, as
consideration, the parties give up the right to contest the amount
B. RELEASE
A release bars further recovery. A release is binding if—
• It is secured and given in good faith.
C. COVENANT NOT TO SUE
Unlike a release, a covenant not to sue does not bar further recovery. The covenant is binding if—
• It is secured and given in good faith.
CASE SYNOPSIS—
Case 13.3: Already, LLC v. Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc., designs, makes, and sells a line of athletic shoes known as Air Force 1s. Already, LLC,
designs and markets athletic shoe lines known as “Sugars” and “Soulja Boys.” Nike filed a suit in a federal
district court against Already, alleging that Soulja Boys and Sugars infringed the Air Force 1 trademark.
Already filed a counterclaim, contending that the Air Force 1 trademark is invalid. While the suit was pending,
Nike issued a “Covenant Not to Sue,” promising not to raise any trademark claims against Already or any
affiliated entity based on Already's existing footwear designs, or any future Already designs that constituted a
10 UNIT THREE: CONTRACTS AND E-CONTRACTS
..................................................................................................................................................
Notes and Questions
What is the likely next step in this case? The parties might attempt to arrive at a mutually agreeable
financial settlement of each other’s moot claims. The amount, if any, would likely be less than either party
sought in this litigation. But both parties will save the cost of a trial and further legal action against the
payment and settlement of the claim and both can continue to do business without changing their product
lines.
IV. Exceptions to the Consideration Requirement
A. PROMISSORY ESTOPPEL
1. Requirements to Establish Promissory Estoppel
Reasonable reliance on a promise may form a basis for enforceable contract rights and duties
under the doctrine of promissory estoppel (or detrimental reliance) if there is—
• A clear and definite promise.
2. Application of the Doctrine
Originally applied to gifts and charitable donations, this doctrine is now applied in other situations,
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND—
In What Circumstances Does Promissory Estoppel Apply?
The rule is that only promises supported by consideration are enforceable. There are exceptions,
however. Among those exceptions are promises reasonably inducing another to act or to refrain from acting.
CHAPTER 13: CONSIDERATION 11
which the doctrine of promissory estoppel applies.
1. A, knowing that B is going to college, promises B that A will give him $5,000 on completion of his course. B
goes to college, and borrows and spends more than $5,000 for college expenses. When he has nearly
* * * *
2. A promises B not to foreclose, for a specified time, a mortgage which A holds on B’s land. B thereafter
makes improvements on the land. A’s promise is binding and may be enforced by denial of foreclosure
before the time has elapsed.
3. A sues B in a municipal court for damages for personal injuries caused by B’s negligence. After the one
4. A has been employed by B for 40 years. B promises to pay A a pension of $200 per month when A retires.
A retires and forbears to work elsewhere for several years while B pays the pension. B’s promise is binding.
* * * *
5. A holds a mortgage on B’s land. To enable B to obtain a loan, A promises B in writing to release part of the
6. A executes and delivers a promissory note to B, a bank, to give B a false appearance of assets, deceive
7. A and B, husband and wife, are tenants by the entirety of a tract of land. They make an oral promise to B’s
niece C to give her the tract. B, C and C’s husband expend money in building a house on the tract and C and
8. A applies to B, a distributor of radios manufactured by C, for a “dealer franchise” to sell C’s products. Such
franchises are revocable at will. B erroneously informs A that C has accepted the application and will soon
9. The facts being otherwise as stated in Illustration 8, B gives A the erroneous information deliberately and
with C’s approval and requires A to buy the assets of a deceased former dealer and thus discharge C’s “moral
12 UNIT THREE: CONTRACTS AND E-CONTRACTS
* * * *
11. A is about to buy a house on a hill. Before buying he obtains a promise from B, who owns adjoining land,
12. A promises to make a gift of a tract of land to B, his son-in-law. B takes possession and lives on the land
for 17 years, making valuable improvements. A then dispossesses B, and specific performance is denied
13. A, a bank, lends money to B on the security of a mortgage on B’s new home. The mortgage requires B to
14. A sells an airplane to B, retaining title to secure payment of the price. After the closing A promises to
keep the airplane covered by insurance until B can obtain insurance. B could obtain insurance in three days
but makes no effort to do so, and the airplane is destroyed after six days. A is not subject to liability by virtue
of the promise.
B. PROMISES TO PAY DEBTS BARRED BY A STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
A debtor who promises to pay a debt barred by a statute of limitations makes an enforceable promise.
The promise can be implied if the debtor acknowledges the debt by making a partial payment.
C. CHARITABLE SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscriptions to religious, educational, and charitable institutions are promises to make gifts, but they
are often enforced under the doctrine of promissory estoppel or consideration is found as a matter of
public policy.
TEACHING SUGGESTIONS
1. When explaining that a promise may itself be of legal value as consideration, it might be helpful to draw a
2. Students should be encouraged to note situations in which the common law alone applies and situations
in which the UCC applies. Also noteworthy are those principles on which the common law and the UCC
CHAPTER 13: CONSIDERATION 13
within this Article needs no consideration to be binding.”) If no consideration is necessary, what is to stop
an individual from setting a low price to get a contract and later insisting on an increase? What of a
situation in which a party bargains in good faith, but a cost later rises and the party insists on an
3. As noted in the TEACHING SUGGESTIONS in the previous chapter, students may find it helpful, when
confronted with difficult points of law, to reduce the points into short statements. Here is an example of an
abbreviated statement of the requirements for consideration:
• The promise must be made to induce current performance by the promisee (this is the bargained-for
exchange element).
Cyberlaw Link
Does the requirement of consideration apply to contracts agreed to over the Internet? Are there
any reasons why it should not? Are there any reasons why consideration should be eliminated as a
requirement for entering into a contract (over the Internet or in any other situation)?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What is consideration? Consideration is the inducement exchanged to enter a contract. It must be (1)
2. In most circumstances, parties are free to make whatever promises they wish, but only those
promises made with consideration may be enforced as contracts. What is the purpose of this requirement?
Legal rules exist not for their own sake but to further justice and convenience in the business of life. Economic and
14 UNIT THREE: CONTRACTS AND E-CONTRACTS
3. The courts generally do not weigh the sufficiency of consideration according to the comparative
4. Can a preexisting duty satisfy the requirements of consideration? Under most circumstances, a promise
5. What are some of the exceptions to the preexisting duty rule? Rescission and new contract. Rescission
is the unmaking of a contract, in which the parties are returned to the positions they held before the contract was
6. What is an illusory promise? If a contract calls for such uncertain performance that the promisor has not
7. Discuss agreements to settle claims or discharge debts. Accord and satisfaction. An accord occurs
when a debtor offers to pay and a creditor agrees to accept a lesser sum than the creditor claims was originally owed;
8. Discuss the doctrine of detrimental reliance, or promissory estoppel. The doctrine of detrimental
reliance, or promissory estoppel, (not available in some jurisdictions) involves a promise given by one party that in-
CHAPTER 13: CONSIDERATION 15
9. When is consideration legally sufficient? Consideration is the inducement exchanged to enter a contract.
10. What are the circumstances in which a court will question whether consideration is adequate? Ade-
quacy of consideration refers to the fairness of the bargain. Ordinarily, courts will not evaluate the adequacy of
consideration, unless it is so grossly inadequate as to “shock the conscience” of the court, because under the doctrine
ACTIVITY AND RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT
In discussing the use of accord and satisfaction as a means of settling a disputed debt, ask students who
work with accounts receivable whether they were instructed as to how to handle checks marked “Account Paid in
EXPLANATION OF A SELECTED FOOTNOTE IN THE TEXT
Footnote 5: Jamil Blackmon became friends with Allen Iverson in 1987 when Iverson was a promising high
school athlete. Blackmon provided financial and other support to Iverson and his family. One evening in 1994,
Blackmon suggested that Iverson use “The Answer” as a nickname. Later that night, Iverson said that he would give
Blackmon 25 percent of any proceeds from the merchandising of products that used “The Answer” as a logo or
slogan. In 1996, just before Iverson was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers, Iverson told Blackmon that Iverson
intended to use “The Answer” under a contract with Reebok. In 1997, Reebok began to sell, and continues to sell,
products bearing “The Answer” slogan. Iverson did not share any of his profits with Blackmon. In 1998, Iverson
persuaded Blackmon to move to Philadelphia. Blackmon filed a suit in a federal district court against Iverson, alleging
breach of contract, among other things
16 UNIT THREE: CONTRACTS AND E-CONTRACTS
Could the facts of the Blackmon case support an action based on unjust enrichment? No. The court
explained that there is no “allegation that the plaintiff expected payment if the defendant used the nickname ‘The
Answer.’ The plaintiff’s facts show that he wanted and intended the defendant to use the nickname in summer league
basketball tournaments, starting in 1994, without expecting any payment for that use. The plaintiff cannot make out a
Suppose that only five minutes had elapsed between Blackmon’s suggestion that Iverson use “The
Answer” as a marketing slogan and Iverson’s promise to give Blackmon a percentage of the proceeds.
Would the court’s ruling in this case have been any different? Why or why not? The court might have been
What might Blackmon have done to secure payment for Iverson’s use of “The Answer” as a nickname
before that use became valuable? The court pointed out that “[t]he plaintiff's facts show that he wanted and
intended the defendant to use the nickname in summer league basketball tournaments, starting in 1994, without
