Week 4 Discharge Contract

Week 4 Discharge Contract

Find And Read The Following Cases From The Research Toolbox Link From Your Left Navigation Bar Jones v. Free Flight Sport Aviation , Inc. 623 P.370, Web 1981 Colo. Lexis 571, Supreme Court of Colorado. Flood v. Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Co . 394 So 2d 1311; Web 1981 La App Lexis 3538 Court of Appeal of Louisiana.

Answer the following questions Should a person be allowed to disaffirm a contract he or she made as a minor after reaching the age of minority? What is a reasonable length of time after reaching the age of majority to permit disaffirmance? What ethical considerations are involved in these cases?

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The legal question of whether a minor can disaffirm a contract after reaching the age of majority is central to understanding contractual capacities and protections in contract law. This issue has been examined through various case law, including decisions from the courts of Colorado and Louisiana, which provide insight into the legal and ethical considerations surrounding minors' disaffirmance rights. This paper analyzes two relevant cases—Jones v. Free Flight Sport Aviation, Inc. and Flood v. Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Co.—to explore the principles governing a minor’s ability to disaffirm contracts and the ethical implications involved.

Legal Background on Minor Disaffirmance

In general, minors are presumed to have limited contractual capacity; thus, they have the legal right to disaffirm or void contracts they entered into during minority to protect their interests from potential exploitation. The law recognizes minors' vulnerability and aims to prevent unjust enrichment of adults at minors' expense. However, this right is not unlimited, and courts often consider the timing of disaffirmance after the minor reaches the age of majority.

Case Analyses

Jones v. Free Flight Sport Aviation, Inc., a case decided by the Supreme Court of Colorado in 1981, involved a dispute where a minor sought to disaffirm a contract after reaching majority. The court examined whether the minor’s right to disaffirm persisted after a reasonable period had elapsed and whether justice demanded upholding or denying the disaffirmance. The court emphasized the importance of balancing the minor’s protective rights with fairness to the other party, considering factors like the nature of the contract and the conduct of the parties.

Flood v. Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Co., a Louisiana Court of Appeal case from 1981, addressed similar issues but focused on the time frame for disaffirmance. The court held that a minor’s right to disaffirm was not indefinite and that a 'reasonable time' must pass after reaching majority for the minor to exercise this right. The court also assessed whether the minor had retained any benefits or engaged in conduct inconsistent with disaffirmance, which could waive their right.

Should a Minor Be Allowed to Disaffirm After Reaching Majority?

Legally, a minor should generally retain the right to disaffirm contracts entered into during minority, as a safeguard against exploitation. However, once the individual reaches majority and a substantial period has passed, the law often considers the contract ratified, diminishing the minor’s ability to disaffirm. This approach aims to provide certainty and fairness to both parties while still protecting minors during their minority.

The courts remain sensitive to circumstances where disaffirmance might be unjust, particularly if the adult party has relied on the contract’s continuance or has suffered detriment due to the minor’s delay. The concept of 'lapse of time'—typically a reasonable duration after majority—serves as a pragmatic limit to prevent indefinite contestation of contracts.

What Is a Reasonable Length of Time for Disaffirmance?

Determining what constitutes a 'reasonable time' varies by jurisdiction and depends on factors such as the complexity of the contract, the nature of the goods or services involved, the conduct of the parties, and the circumstances of each case. Courts generally consider periods ranging from a few months up to a few years after reaching majority as reasonable, provided the minor has not engaged in conduct indicating ratification.

In the Colorado case, the court inferred that a delay of several months or years might be deemed reasonable if the minor shows no overt acts of ratification. Conversely, a significant delay combined with conduct suggesting acceptance may strip the minor’s right to disaffirm, effectively ratifying the contract.

Ethical Considerations

Several ethical issues arise in the context of minors disaffirming contracts. The primary concern is balancing the protection of minors from potential exploitation against respecting the autonomy and contractual freedom of adults who rely on the enforceability of agreements.

Protecting minors aligns with the ethical principle of safeguarding vulnerable populations, preventing their exploitation by sophisticated adults. It encourages fairness and fairness, acknowledging minors' limited experience and potential for poor judgment. On the other hand, allowing indefinite disaffirmance could undermine certainty in commercial transactions and hinder legitimate dealings.

Another ethical consideration involves cases where minors delay disaffirmance to benefit from the contract after reaching majority, raising questions about good faith and honesty. Courts are ethically obliged to ensure that disaffirmance rights are exercised genuinely rather than as a means of unfair advantage.

Conclusion

Minors should generally be permitted to disaffirm contracts entered into during their minority, but this right should not be unlimited. The law’s recognition of a 'reasonable time' after reaching the age of majority reflects a balanced approach that provides protection without sacrificing the stability and certainty essential to commercial exchanges. Ethical considerations underline the importance of fairness, good faith, and protection of vulnerable individuals while maintaining the integrity of contractual dealings. Courts continue to refine these principles, balancing legal protections and ethical responsibilities to foster justice for all parties involved.

References

• Jones v. Free Flight Sport Aviation, Inc., 623 P.2d 370 (Colo. 1981).
• Flood v. Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Co., 394 So. 2d 1311 (La. App. 1981).
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• Dobbs, D. B. (2019). The Law of Contracts and the Uniform Commercial Code. West Publishing.
• Farnsworth, E. A. (2015). Contracts. Aspen Publishers.
• Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 14 (1981).
• Perillo, J. M. (2018). Contract Law: Principles and Practice. Wolters Kluwer.
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