Dickinson v Dodds: Difference between revisions

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On Wednesday, June 10th 1874, John Dodds ("Dodds") [[Contracts/Offer|offer]]ed in writing to sell a residential estate to George Dickinson ("Dickinson"). The written offer would remain open until 9 am, Friday.
On Wednesday, June 10th 1874, John Dodds ("Dodds") [[Contracts/Offer|offer]]ed in writing to sell a residential estate to George Dickinson ("Dickinson"). The written offer would remain open until 9 am, Friday.


{{Timeline|1=Dodds offers to sell property with a 9 am Friday deadline|2=Wednesday, June 10th 1874|3=Dickinson returns written acceptance to Dodds while Dodds is out of home|4=Thursday afternoon, June 11th 1874|5=Dodds & Allen finish property sale|6=Thursday, June 11th 1874|7=Dickinson's agent hands duplicate written acceptance to Dodds|8=7 am Friday, June 12th 1874|9=Dickinson delivers a 3rd duplicate acceptance to Dodds before the 9 am deadline|10=About 8 am Friday, June 12th 1874|11=Dodds explains to Dickinson that Allen had bought the property yesterday|12=About 8 am Friday, June 12th 1874|13=|14=|15=|16=|17=|18=}}


Allen & Dodds singed the real estate contract on Thursday, June 11th 1874.
Allen & Dodds singed the real estate contract on Thursday, June 11th 1874.
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2. Can such an offer be revoked without an express statement?
2. Can such an offer be revoked without an express statement?
|holding=Lord Justice James: A promise to hold an offer open is not enforceable without consideration, & can be implied revoked by the offeror's conduct.
|holding=Lord Justice James: A promise to hold an offer open is not enforceable without [[Contracts/Consideration|consideration]], & it can be implied revoked by the offeror's conduct.
|comments=Lord Justice James: Dodds (seller who gave a timeframe to sell his property) wasn't required to formally notify Dickinson that the offer was withdrawn before the 9 am, Friday deadline.
|case_text_links={{Infobox Case Brief/Case Text Link
|case_text_links={{Infobox Case Brief/Case Text Link
|link=https://www.quimbee.com/cases/dickinson-v-dodds
|link=https://www.quimbee.com/cases/dickinson-v-dodds

Revision as of 16:25, September 13, 2023

Dickinson v Dodds
Court Court of Chancery
Citation 2 Ch. D. 463 (1876)
Date decided 1876
Appealed from Property

Facts

This case was litigated in England.

Case in 1 sentence: the early bird catch the worm

On Wednesday, June 10th 1874, John Dodds ("Dodds") offered in writing to sell a residential estate to George Dickinson ("Dickinson"). The written offer would remain open until 9 am, Friday.


Allen & Dodds singed the real estate contract on Thursday, June 11th 1874.

Procedural History

  • Dickinson = plaintiff = buyer1
  • Allen = buyer2 = defendant
  • Dodds = defendant = property seller


Dickinson sued Dodds & Allen.

Dickinson won in the trial court because Dickinson delivered his acceptance before the 9 am, Friday, June 12th 1874 deadline.

Issues

1. Can an offerree (Dickinson) enforce an offeror's (Dodds) promise to hold an offer open for a definite time?

2. Can such an offer be revoked without an express statement?

Holding

Lord Justice James: A promise to hold an offer open is not enforceable without consideration, & it can be implied revoked by the offeror's conduct.

Comments

Lord Justice James: Dodds (seller who gave a timeframe to sell his property) wasn't required to formally notify Dickinson that the offer was withdrawn before the 9 am, Friday deadline.

Resources