Janice Has Been Invited To Appear On A Home Improvement Show

Janice Has Been Invited To Appear On A Home Improvement Show For The R

Janice has been invited to appear on a home improvement show for the remodel of her summerhouse in Maine. Janice asks Mary to wallpaper her house in anticipation of the home improvement, and requests expensive custom wallpaper and a very intricate design application, for which the wallpaper would cost $5000, plus labor. Mary, excited for a very large job for her solo business, orders the intricate wallpaper and blocks off her calendar for the amount of time it will take to complete the job. After the paper has been ordered, Mary asks some friends to be available to complete the job in time for the show. Janice is informed that she will not be on the show and notifies Mary that she will not need the wallpaper.

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In this scenario, Mary may have a basis for seeking reimbursement based on principles of contract law, particularly the doctrine of unjust enrichment and implied contracts. When Janice requested the custom wallpaper and Mary agreed to provide it, a contractual relationship may have been formed, either explicitly or implicitly, especially given Mary’s reliance on the order to allocate resources and block her schedule.

Mary’s case for reimbursement hinges on whether her actions constitute a binding contract. If Mary ordered the wallpaper and reserved time solely based on Janice’s explicit instructions and acceptance, she could argue that there was an implied contract requiring Janice to pay for the materials and labor. However, since Janice canceled before the work commenced or was performed, and the wallpaper had not yet been installed, her potential damages could be limited to the costs Mary incurred in ordering the wallpaper and perhaps any preparation expenses, but not the full $5,000, unless there was a fully enforceable agreement.

The legal theory most applicable here might be unjust enrichment or mistaken reliance. Mary could claim that she relied on Janice’s promise, took steps to fulfill her part by ordering the wallpaper and reserving time, and that Janice’s cancellation unjustly enriched her by depriving her of the benefit of her labor and expenses. The damages, in this case, would be limited to the actual costs Mary incurred, including the price of the wallpaper and any non-recoverable expenses associated with scheduling or preparation.

From an ethical perspective, several theories could apply. Kantian ethics would stress the importance of honesty and fair dealing—Mary might be ethically justified in seeking reimbursement if she believed her actions were based on an implicit or explicit agreement. Conversely, if Mary knew Janice’s cancellation was imminent, or if her reliance on the order was unreasonable, a utilitarian perspective might question whether pursuing damages promotes the greatest good by discouraging honest cooperation.

Ultimately, Mary’s claim for reimbursement would depend on the nature of the interactions, whether a binding promise was formed, and her reliance on Janice’s initial instructions. While specific damages might be limited, the case underscores important contractual and ethical considerations regarding responsibilities and fair treatment when agreements are canceled unexpectedly.

References

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• Shaw, W. H. (2016). Business Ethics: A Textbook with Cases. Cengage Learning.
• Ross, W. D. (2015). The Right and the Good. Oxford University Press.
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