A real-estate agent, Jones, was owed a $7,000 commission, having sold property for Mr. Quick. Mr. Quick couldn't be found, but Jones did find his wife and learned that she had over $20,000 in treasury bills. Mr. Jones told her that if she didn't assign to him $7,000 of the $20,000, he would make sure her husband was imprisoned for his debts and "for other crimes" he knew about. If she did make an assignment in writing to Jones of the $7,000 but later tried to void the agreement, she would argue which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The threat made by Jones to imprison Mrs. Quick's husband and the reference to "other crimes" constitutes duress, which is the use of unlawful threats or coercion to force someone to do something. Mrs. Quick's agreement to assign $7,000 to Jones was made under duress and therefore unenforceable.

A Real-Estate Agent, Jones, Was Owed a $7,000 Commission, Having