Welcome to Cleveland-Marshall College of Law! 

My name is Doron Kalir, and I'll be your Contract Law professor. I’m truly looking forward to finally meet you. Until then, here are the books you should purchase and the assignment you should complete before our first class.

Books to Purchase:

Book # 1: Casebook, Problems in Contract Law (Knapp, Crystal, et al., 9thEdition, 2019); be sure to purchase only the 9th edition of the book, not any other edition (and please don’t email me asking “is it ok to purchase the 8th ed.?” Thank you!). Also, there is NO reason to buy the book with the so-called “access code.” All you need is the hard copy.

Book # 2: Rulebook: Rules of Contract Law, by Knapp, Crystal et al., from 2019.

First Reading Assignment:

For our first class, please read the CASEBOOK pages 2-12 & 35-46.

Pages 2-12 include important background information on the study of contract law. As you read this part, try to ask yourself: What is a Contract? What is Contract Law all about?

Pages 35-46 include Ray v. Eurice Bros., your first-ever Contract Law case. Please be sure to read it carefully, at least twice.

Please also think of the following Ten Questions (which I'll repeat regarding every case we learn this semester):

A. Facts 

1. In this case – like in any other case - A sued B. Who is A? Who is B?

2. What did A argue? (This is referred to as the "claimed facts"). 

3. What did A want? (This is referred to as "remedy"). 

4. What did B argue in response? (This is a key feature of our "adversarial court system." Each side makes different - and often opposing - claims.)

B. Procedural Posture

5. What did the trial (= initial) court decide? Did it Give A what they wanted? (This is referred to as the "lower court holding"). 

6. What was the trial court's reasoning? 

7. Who appealed the decision? (That person is referred to as the “Appellant”; the other party to the appeal is the "Appellee"). 

C. The Appeal

8. What did Appellant argue on appeal? What did Appellee argue back? (note that the adversity continues on appeal). 

9. What did the court of appeals decide? Who "won" the case? 

10. What was the Court of Appeals’ reasoning?

D. Your Opinion

- Was the Court of Appeals correct? Would you decide the same?

Looking forward to our first class together! 

Doron