Lefkowitz v. Great Minneapolis Surplus Store
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Lefkowitz v. Great Minneapolis Surplus Store | |
Court | Supreme Court of Minnesota |
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Citation | 86 N.W.2d 689 (Minn. 1957) |
Date decided | December 20, 1957 |
Appealed from | Municipal Court of Minneapolis |
Case Opinions | |
written by Murphy |
Facts
Defendant put ad in the newspaper two successive weeks that it would sell a fur coat and other fur items to the first comer at the store at 9 a.m. the following Saturday for a price of $1. One item was said to be worth $139.50.
Lefkowitz (male plaintiff) went each Saturday and was the first person there, ready and willing to pay the $1. Each time he was told that the sale was for women only.Procedural History
Lefkowitz (male plaintiff) filed a lawsuit in a municipal court for breach of contract.
Issues
Did the ad constitute an offer?
Does an advertisement for the sale of goods that is clear, definite (with a time window for sale), explicit, & leaves nothing up for negotiation, constitute a binding offer that becomes enforceable upon acceptance by a buyer?Arguments
Defendant argued that the ad was a "unilateral offer," so it could be rescinded at any time. Ads were simply an invitation for someone to come in and offer to buy the items, and the seller could then accept the offer, reject it, or modify the price.
Holding
The specific definite advertisement was an offer.
Judgment
Affirmed
Reasons
The ad was clear, definite, and left nothing open for negotiation. Plaintiff fulfilled all requirements of the ad, so should have been given what was promised. The ad did not state the restriction to women only, so the "contract" between the Plaintiff and the Defendant cannot be changed after the acceptance of the offer.
Rule
Advertisements are generally not considered offers.
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