MBE question set
A department store buyer and a manufacturer of food processors entered into a written contract whereby the manufacturer would sell to the buyer 50 of its top-of-the-line models for $100 each. When the delivery arrived on May 15, several days early, the buyer noticed that the food processors were a different model that did not have all of the features as the top-of-the-line model that was ordered. The buyer contacted the manufacturer and told him that he was rejecting the food processors that were delivered to him and expected the manufacturer to send 50 top-of-the-line models immediately. The manufacturer replied that because of a backlog of orders that had not yet been filled, the top-of-the-line models could not be delivered until August 15. Because the department store had contracted with a restaurant to deliver three top-of-the-line models by May 31, the buyer delivered three of the nonconforming food processors along with a promise to replace them with three top-of-the-line models in mid-August. The buyer returned the remaining food processors to the manufacturer. How much could the department store recover from the manufacturer for the three food processors that it delivered to the restaurant?
The difference between the market price of the top-of-the-line models and the existing food processors' actual value.
A landowner was the owner in fee simple of a tract of land. The landowner conveyed the tract to her neighbor, "for life and then to the first child of my neighbor's only sister who shall reach the age of 21." The sister was unmarried and childless at the time of the conveyance. Five years later, the sister married, and she gave birth to a son the following year. When the son reached the age of 21, he brought an action in ejectment against the neighbor, who is still alive and living on the tract of land. Which of these is the neighbor's best defense against the son's attempt to eject her?
The neighbor's life estate was not subject to termination during her lifetime.
A fee simple owner of a restaurant provided in his will that the property should go on his death "in fee simple to my friend, but if during my friend's lifetime my son has children and those children are alive when my friend dies, then to said living children." When the owner died, the friend took over the restaurant. If the son has children and one or more of them are alive when the friend dies, who will take title to the restaurant at that time?
The son's children, because their interest will vest, if at all, within a life in being plus 21 years.
A seller conveyed her residential city property to a buyer by a general warranty deed. On taking possession of the property, the buyer discovered that the garage of his neighbor encroached six inches onto his property. If the buyer wishes to compel the seller to assist him in a suit against the neighbor, which of the following covenants may he rely on to do so?
Warranty and further assurances.
A State A citizen was arrested by a police officer in State A. The State A citizen filed a civil action against the police officer in a State A state court. The complaint alleges that the police officer wrongly beat the citizen in the course of the arrest and seeks money damages under both state tort law and under 42 U.S.C. section 1983 for violation of the citizen's civil rights. The police officer, who is also a citizen of State A, promptly filed a notice of removal to federal court. Is the case properly removable?
Yes, because one of the claims arises under federal law and the federal court has supplemental jurisdiction over the other claim.
Several members of a small terrorist group are on trial in federal court for conspiring to bomb a military installation. The prosecution would like to introduce the testimony of a military guard at one of the installation's gates. The guard had been present when a bomb that was being planted by a member of the group had exploded prematurely. The guard will testify that she ran over to administer first aid to the member, who in great pain told her that his group was in the process of planting three other bombs in other areas of the military installation and was going to detonate them all at the same time to get publicity for their cause. The guard will also testify that the member disclosed the locations of the other bombs and the names of two other members of the group. The authorities were able to prevent the other bombings and arrest the other members of the group. The member died from his injuries. What is the best basis for allowing the guard to testify as to the member's statements?
As a statement against interest.
As part of legislation enacted for the stated purpose of improving science skills of schoolchildren, Congress appropriated funds to permit public school teachers who had been certified by state school districts as science lab instructors to provide supplemental science instruction to any students in either public or private schools who did not have access to science lab resources. To help ensure content neutrality, the statute required the instructors coming to the private schools to use portable science labs supplied by the public school districts, which contained the equipment and experiments that the instructors used for the same purpose in the public schools. A citizens' group filed suit in federal district court to challenge the constitutionality of funding the science teachers for private schools, alleging that most of the private schools covered by the statute were religiously affiliated schools. No members of the group have any children in either public schools or private schools affected by the statute. How is the court likely to rule?
Decide the case on the merits in favor of the government, because the legislation defines the context in which instruction can be provided in private schools so as to avoid excessive government entanglement with religion.
On February 1, the owner of a bowling alley read in a magazine an ad from a major manufacturer of bowling balls offering sets of 40 balls in various weights and drilled in various sizes for $10 per ball. The owner immediately filled out the order form included in the ad for the 40 balls and deposited it, properly stamped and addressed, into the mail. On February 2, the bowling alley owner received in the mail a letter from the manufacturer, sent out as part of its advertising campaign, stating in relevant part that it will sell the bowling alley owner 40 bowling balls at $10 per ball. A day later, on February 3, the manufacturer received the bowling alley owner's order. On February 4, the balls were shipped. On what day did an enforceable contract arise?
February 4, the day the balls were shipped.
A state statute defines all murders as second degree murders unless deliberation and premeditation can be shown, in which case the crime is elevated to first degree murder. Manslaughter is defined as at common law. The defendant, just having been served with divorce papers, decided to drown his sorrows at the local pub. After drinking heavily and becoming very intoxicated, the defendant became enraged when another patron spilled a drink on him. He took a nearby ashtray and smashed it over the patron's head, killing him instantly. The crimes below are listed in descending order of seriousness. What is the most serious crime of which the defendant could be convicted?
Murder in the second degree.
A pedestrian was injured in an auto accident caused by a driver. The pedestrian's injuries included a broken nose and a broken toe. Not sure of the strength of her case, she sued the driver only for the injuries to her nose. She was awarded $15,000 in damages. Encouraged by this success, she now wishes to sue the driver for the injuries to her toe. May she sue the driver again?
No, because all related claims "merged" with the final decision in the first case.
Three drivers were in an automobile accident in a city in State A. The drivers were citizens of State A, State B, and State C. The State B driver filed a tort action against the other two in a State A state court, seeking $300,000 for her severe injuries. The State C driver wants to remove the action to a federal district court. Is the action removable?
No, because one of the defendants is a citizen of State A.
A boy mowing his lawn noticed a strong vibration from the engine but continued to mow. The engine housing suddenly broke apart and pieces flew off the lawnmower. One piece struck the boy in the head, seriously injuring him. The boy's mother was inside the house and heard yelling from the backyard. She went to the window and saw her son lying on the ground by the lawnmower and a friend of his kneeling over him. She became very upset and fainted. Subsequent investigation showed that a negligent repair by a local mechanic caused the engine housing to shatter. The mother brought a lawsuit against the mechanic, seeking recovery for her son's injury and the emotional distress she suffered. Can the mother recover damages for her emotional distress?
No, because the mother was not within the zone of danger from the mechanic's negligence.
A town in a rural state facing financial difficulties passed a variety of "sin taxes," including one aimed at electronic game arcades frequented by local juveniles. The tax is a one cent per game tax imposed on the manufacturers of the games based on the estimated number of plays over a machine's lifetime. There are no electronic game manufacturers in the state. Which of the following constitutional provisions would support the best argument against enforcement of the tax?
The Commerce Clause
A state bans the use of disposable diapers to reduce the volume of nonbiodegradable material in its landfills. The ban was a boon for diaper services within the state, but many parents of young children were displeased with the use of conventional diapers. With support from retail establishments that lost business from the disposable diaper ban, a grass roots coalition formed to fight the ban funded a study showing that the trucks and cleaning supplies used by diaper services within the state harmed the environment more than disposable diapers. The coalition and retailers then filed suit seeking to have the ban on disposable diapers declared unconstitutional. If the court strikes down the statute, on which of the following constitutional provisions would its decision most likely be based?
The Due Process Clause.
A young man proposed to his girlfriend, but she was reluctant because of his meager income and lack of job potential. The young man told his father about her reluctance. The father told the girlfriend that if she married his son, he would support them for six months and send his son to a six-month computer technology training school. This was sufficient to dispel her reservations and the two were married very soon after. When they returned from their honeymoon, the father refused to go through with his offer. Although the girlfriend is happy in her marriage, she sued the father for damages. If the father prevails, what is the likely reason?
The contract was oral.