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Question: Lauren Barton, a single mother with three


Lauren Barton, a single mother with three children, lived in Portland, Oregon. Cynthia VanHorn also lived in Oregon until she moved to New York City to open and operate an art gallery. VanHorn asked Barton to manage the gallery under a one-year contract for an annual salary of $72,000. To begin work, Barton relocated to New York. As part of the move, Barton transferred custody of her children to her husband, who lived in London, England. In accepting the job, Barton also forfeited her husband’s alimony and child- support payments, including unpaid amounts of nearly $30,000.
Before Barton started work, VanHorn repudiated the contract. Unable to find employment for more than an annual salary of $25,000, Barton moved to London to be near her children. Barton filed a suit in an Oregon state court against VanHorn, seeking damages for breach of contract. Should the court hold, as VanHorn argued, that Barton did not take reasonable steps to mitigate her damages? Why or why not?


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> In what circumstances will an offer be irrevocable?

> What is the difference between express and implied contracts?

> What are the four basic elements necessary to the formation of a valid contract?

> How can business leaders encourage their companies to act ethically?

> What types of ethical issues might arise in the context of international business transactions?

> What laws protect authors’ rights in the works they create?

> What defenses can be raised to avoid liability for criminal acts?

> Name four defenses that can be used against an ordinary holder but are not effective against an HDC.

> How does the negotiation of order instruments differ from the negotiation of bearer instruments?

> What are the respective obligations of the parties under a contract for the sale or lease of goods?

> How do duty-based ethical standards differ from outcome-based ethical standards?

> What federal law allows U.S. citizens, as well as citizens of foreign nations, to file civil actions in U.S. courts for torts that were committed overseas?

> What are some clauses commonly included in international business contracts

> What is the act of state doctrine? In what circumstances is this doctrine applied?

> When do courts grant specific performance as a remedy?

> Under what circumstances is the remedy of rescission and restitution available?

> When is a breach considered material, and what effect does that have on the other party’s obligation to perform?

> How are most contracts discharged?

> What are the elements of fraudulent misrepresentation?

> In what types of situations might voluntary consent to a contract’s terms be lacking?

> What are the elements that are necessary for an effective acceptance?

> What is intellectual property?

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