Lucy vs. Zehmer

Case BriefW. O. LUCY AND J. C. LUCY v. A. H. ZEHMER AND IDA S. ZEHMERFacts of the CaseAfter several drinks, Zehmer (D) wrote and sign-language(a) a quash in which he agreed to sell his kindle to Lucy (P) for $50,000. Zehmer insisted that he had been intoxicated and thought the matter was a joke, non realizing that Lucy had been serious. Zehmer was difficult to get Lucy to admit to not having $50,000. Lucy claimed that he was not intoxicated and believed that Zehmer was overly sober. Lucy brought suit for specific performance when Zehmer refused to complete the transaction.The trial court govern for Zehmer holding that Lucy had not established a right to specific performance. On appeal the Supreme Court of Virginia found that Zehmer was sober enough to accredit what he was doing and that his words and actions warranted a commonsensical belief that a contract was intended. Question In determining whether a party has made a valid offer, how does the court determine whether the p arty had the intent to contract? place The Supreme Court of Virginia reversed the decision of the Circuit Court of Dinwiddie County, Virginia and verbalise Zehmer had signed a binding contract.ReasoningThe parties of a contract do not have to mentally agree to the deal. If their words or actions have the reasonable meaning of a serious business transaction, undisclosed intentions are inert and do not render the contract unenforceable. A contract moldiness have a honorable faith offer and a good faith acceptance with terms of consideration known by each party. The court ruled that just because Zehmer had not mentally agreed to the deal, his stock indicated to Lucy in a reasonable manner that the transaction was not a joke, and Lucy had no knowledge of Zehmers mental assessment.