Short Answer Question

6. Ted rented a store in a mall owned by Oscar. During the two busiest months of the year, renovations to the stores on either side of Ted's caused him to lose a great deal of money. A clause in the commercial lease for the store says that the mall owner is not liable for any losses caused by repairs or renovations, but Oscar agreed to allow Ted to pay only two-thirds of his rent for the following six months because Ted was now in financial difficulties since he had not made the profits he relied on to carry him through the slow period. Three months later, Oscar lost a lot of money speculating in the commodities market and he told Ted that he needed Ted to revert to paying the full amount of the rent under the lease. Ted objected having put all the money he would have used to pay the rent in full into an advertising campaign to try to make up his losses. Oscar got angry and demanded that Ted pay the back rent also. Ted will go bankrupt if he has to do this and he comes to you to ask if he must do it. What will you tell Ted about Oscar's rights and what Ted can do about the situation?

7. At a computer fair, Porter saw a demonstration by Maxwell of an excellent new accounting software package published by Slyckbyte Co., but he felt it was overpriced at $750. "At $350," he said, "I would definitely buy it." Maxwell said that she was not authorized to give deals to anyone, not even such a good customer as Porter. Porter bought another package from a different company. Four days later, he received a package from Maxwell that contained the new software and a letter which said that Slyckbyte was happy to give him the discount he had wanted and that she looked forward to receiving his cheque within the next few days. Discuss whether Porter must pay for the software.

21. One afternoon you find a notebook filled with incomprehensible mathematical notations outside the Faculty of Business building and, realizing that it belongs to a professor in the Philosophy Department whose name is on the cover, you put it under the door of his office with a note telling him that you found it. That night, on the eleven o'clock news, you see an interview with the professor who is telling the reporter that he has lost the notebook in which he had worked out the meaning of life, and you hear him offer $10,000 for its safe return. Discuss your legal position in relation to whether or not you can claim the reward if the professor refuses to pay you.

25. Robert has just mailed a letter of acceptance in response to James' letter offering to sell his hardware store to Robert, when he is knocked down by a car and killed. Jane, Robert's wife and sole heir, wants to run the business, since that is what she and Robert had intended, but James does not believe a woman could run a hardware store and tells her that the deal is off. Discuss Jane's legal position.