Reber hurriedly signed a form that he assumed was a request for a sample copy of a set of encyclopedias, valued at $57.50. Later, it developed that he had actually signed an order for the complete set, valued at $575. When the set was delivered, Reber refused to accept it and claimed he was not bound by the agreement because of the mistake. Was Reber legally bound by the agreement?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A mistake due to carelessness, where one party is under a misunderstanding regarding a fundamental aspect of the contract but the mistake is unilateral (not shared by both parties), does not automatically void the contract. In this case, Reber's mistake was due to his own carelessness in not properly reviewing the document he signed. This does not discharge the contract unless there was fraudulent misrepresentation, which is not indicated in the scenario provided.

Reber Hurriedly Signed a Form That He Assumed Was a Request