Juan agrees to paint Michelle's house for $1,000.Halfway through the job,Juan tells Michelle that he will need an extra $250 to finish the job.Which of the following is a correct evaluation of the situation?
A)Michelle will have to pay because she and Juan did not have a bargained-for exchange.
B)Michelle will have to pay the extra $250 because Juan has promised not to finish the job unless she does.
C)Michelle will not have to pay the extra $250 because Juan made an illusory promise about only charging $1,000.
D)Michelle will not have to pay the extra $250 because Juan has a preexisting duty to paint the house for $1,000.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Juan already had a preexisting duty to paint Michelle's house for $1,000, and therefore, he cannot demand further payment for completing the task which he was originally contracted for. This situation falls under the preexisting duty rule in contract law, which states that a person cannot demand more money or additional consideration for performing a task that he or she has already agreed to do. Therefore, Michelle will not have to pay the extra $250 that Juan is requesting, and Juan will have to complete the job for the original agreed-upon price of $1,000.

Juan Agrees to Paint Michelle's House for $1,000