Editing Hawkins v. McGee

{{Infobox Case Brief
|court=New Hampshire Supreme Court
|citation=84 N.H. 114, 146 A. 641 (1929)
|date=June 4, 1929
|subject=Contracts
|facts=When he was 11 years old, Hawkins got his hand burned by an electrical wire in the kitchen. As a result, his hand became burned & scarred.

Defendant Dr. McGee promised Plaintiff Hawkins that his hand would be a "100% good hand" after a skin graft operation. The hand was unsatisfactory after the operation (the palm became covered in hair).
|procedural_history=Hawkins sued McGee for breach of contract.

The jury was instructed to award damages based on restitution damages (the difference between Hawkins's prior hand and his now-hairy hand).

The jury awarded $3,000 ([https://www.wolframalpha.com/input?i=US%243000+%281929+US+dollars%29 ~ $52,000 in 2023]) damages to Hawkins.
|issues=Was what the Dr. said really a promise? Were the instructions to the Jury proper?
|holding=Yes, it was part of a valid contract. No, jury instructions were improper.
|judgment=New trial ordered.
|reasons=The jury instructions should have specified expectation damages (the difference between a perfect hand as promised and the actual condition of the hand).
|comments=*"[https://www.findlaw.com/legal/law-students/surviving-law-school/hawkins-v--mcgee-case-summary.html Case of the Hairy Hand]." It is famous for its mention in the movie and novel ''The Paper Chase'' & ''On the Basis of Sex''.
|case_text_links={{Infobox Case Brief/Case Text Link
|link=https://www.quimbee.com/cases/hawkins-v-mcgee
|source_type=Video summary
|case_text_source=Quimbee
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|link=https://casetext.com/case/hawkins-v-mcgee
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