• Registered: 2011-01-30
  • Posts: 472

Topic: Business Law Assignment

I am currently taking a business law course at the local community college. We have to do a group assignment and present it at the end of the semester to the class. Here's what the assignment is about:

Horace Grump is an ornery, reclusive bachelor, 80 years old, with a drinking problem. He owns a successful cattle ranch in the Southwest. Six months ago he fell off his horse resulting in fractures to both legs and a head injury. While he has recovered enough to get around with the aid of a walker, Horace realizes that he is no longer capable of managing his huge ranch by himself.

Horace trusts no one but he reluctantly contacts Betty Samaritan, his 17 year old niece, and asks if she would relocate from the East Coast to help him manage the ranch. Horace tells Betty that he will take care of her and remember her in his will.

Horace also tells Betty that he has been in a 20 year feud with his neighbor because his pigs sneak onto Horace's property and raid his beloved strawberry garden. Horace wants Betty to promise him that she will shoot any pigs caught in his strawberry garden.

Betty enjoys living on the East Coast and is attending nursing school at a community college. Betty is concerned about her Uncle Horace but she remembers family stories about his eccentric behavior. Betty is also concerned with Horace's vague promise of care, her moving expenses, completion of her education, compensation, management responsibilities, living arrangements, what will happen to the ranch if her uncle dies, and a whole host of other uncertainties.

Betty has taken Business Law and even though she is sympathetic to her uncle's plight, she thinks that the 3 R's (Recognition, Research, and Reconciliation) may aid her in thinking this matter through.

Taking what you have learned in this class and any additional research performed, draft a valid contract that is fair and equitable to both Horace and Betty.

I realize this isn't music related, but I'm just asking for some advice on how to start a contract like this. If anyone has any advice, please let me know, thanks. Some websites I can look at would be helpful as well. Thanks.

2 Reply by The RiverCat^-^ (edited by The RiverCat^-^ 2012-10-26 20:44:21)

  • Registered: 2006-07-11
  • Posts: 1,247

Re: Business Law Assignment

bluesdeluxe25 wrote:

I am currently taking a business law course at the local community college. We have to do a group assignment and present it at the end of the semester to the class. Here's what the assignment is about:

Horace Grump is an ornery, reclusive bachelor, 80 years old, with a drinking problem. He owns a successful cattle ranch in the Southwest. Six months ago he fell off his horse resulting in fractures to both legs and a head injury. While he has recovered enough to get around with the aid of a walker, Horace realizes that he is no longer capable of managing his huge ranch by himself.

Horace trusts no one but he reluctantly contacts Betty Samaritan, his 17 year old niece, and asks if she would relocate from the East Coast to help him manage the ranch. Horace tells Betty that he will take care of her and remember her in his will.

Horace also tells Betty that he has been in a 20 year feud with his neighbor because his pigs sneak onto Horace's property and raid his beloved strawberry garden. Horace wants Betty to promise him that she will shoot any pigs caught in his strawberry garden.

Betty enjoys living on the East Coast and is attending nursing school at a community college. Betty is concerned about her Uncle Horace but she remembers family stories about his eccentric behavior. Betty is also concerned with Horace's vague promise of care, her moving expenses, completion of her education, compensation, management responsibilities, living arrangements, what will happen to the ranch if her uncle dies, and a whole host of other uncertainties.

Betty has taken Business Law and even though she is sympathetic to her uncle's plight, she thinks that the 3 R's (Recognition, Research, and Reconciliation) may aid her in thinking this matter through.

Taking what you have learned in this class and any additional research performed, draft a valid contract that is fair and equitable to both Horace and Betty.

I realize this isn't music related, but I'm just asking for some advice on how to start a contract like this. If anyone has any advice, please let me know, thanks. Some websites I can look at would be helpful as well. Thanks.

I am so happy you posted this here.  I have to take some classes and may need your help one day.

It's a group assignment, so that is always fun.  You can get input from others.

Looking on legal websites is a good place to go.

A Lawyer could really help you out here, but I can give you a starting point.

I will post a link here for you to do some research.
http://www.ehow.com/how_7245600_write-v … tract.html

Even though this is Business law, this would also fall under Contract Law.

One of the "key" words in your assignment is a "Valid" contract.

Please look at No.1 at the link I posted and it can help with helping you with an answer for your assignment.

In this particular scenario, one of the parties entering into this contract is Betty.  She is 17.
Look at No.1 in the link I posted. She may be a minor, and you have to be careful entering into a contract with a minor.  As it states, it makes the contract null and void.

Also I noticed they used the word "eccentric" in regards to Horace.  Again in No. 1, it mentions "diminish capacity".  Just because he is 80, doesn't mean he is of "diminshed capacity".  So if they prove he is of "diminsh capacity" he may not be able to make the contract "valid" either.

I am not a lawyer, so there are probably some other things and questions, you need to find out through your group discussion, teacher, or here.

This is just a start smile

Good Luck

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