LAW 122 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Vending Machine, Contract, Willard Estey
1 Oct 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Fourth, the courts historically have been concerned that the general recognition of an intention to create legal relations in such circumstances would open the floodgates to petty litigation. A promise to take out the trash or give up drinking might become the subject of a lawsuit. Before it is revoked or otherwise terminated, an offer can be accepted by any number of offerees. Consequently, there is a danger that a business will receive more acceptances and be bound to more contracts than it has products to satisfy. In contrast, an invitation to treat is simply an invitation to receive offers. In that situation, the business remains in control of the process. It can limit the number of contracts that are created by limiting the number of acceptances that it provides in response to the offers that it received from prospective customers: a contract has been created. The vending machine display is an offer to enter into a unilateral contract.
