Dimitri wrote to Pat offering to sell his neo-expressionist painting, "Red Sails in the Sunset," for $25,000. Pat replied that, since it would require that he redecorate, he could not really pay more than $18,000 for the painting. Dimitri replied that he was greatly hurt and deeply insulted by such an offer, especially from someone who was supposed to be a connoisseur of fine art, but that, since he was a little tight for cash, he would be willing to let it go to Pat for $13,000 for old times' sake. Pat immediately replied, saying that he accepted the painting at $13,000 and enquiring whether Dimitri wanted it in cash. Dimitri then realized that he had typed "$13,000" instead of "$23,000" in his second letter to Pat.
A) Since a reasonable person would have realized that Dimitri had made a mistake, given their prior correspondence, a court would not allow Pat to snap up the offer.
B) Since the courts do not consider the adequacy of consideration in determining whether or not a contract has been reached, Pat will be able to enforce the contract for $13,000.
C) Pat could not be expected to read Dimitri's mind and, since he accepted the offer in good faith, Dimitri cannot now back out of their contract.
D) It is not the function of the court to consider the motives of a party negotiating a contract in asking for what to others might seem to be inadequate consideration from the other party, so Pat will be able to enforce the contract.
E) It was up to Dimitri not to make mistakes like this and the court will not allow him to use his own carelessness to excuse him from meeting his obligations under the contract.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A reasonable person in Pat's position would likely have realized that the offer of $13,000 was a mistake, given the context of their prior correspondence and the significant drop from the original $25,000 offer. Therefore, a court might not enforce the contract at the mistaken price.

Dimitri Wrote to Pat Offering to Sell His Neo-Expressionist Painting