Frasier hires Niles as a therapist. Frasier, a therapist himself, works with Niles for a few months, but does not believe Niles is providing the services promised and shares his complaint with Niles. Niles is offended and outraged and demands Frasier pay the full amount of $4,000. With the help of a mediator, Daphne, the parties agree to a settlement of $3,000 to be paid on December 2. Frasier pays the $3,000 on December 2. However, as Niles is still angry, he sues Frasier for the remaining $1,000. Which of the following statements is true:

Cates's Holiday Hint: Remember the rules for undisputed vs. disputed contracts.

Question

Frasier hires Niles as a therapist. Frasier, a therapist himself, works with Niles for a few months, but does not believe Niles is providing the services promised and shares his complaint with Niles. Niles is offended and outraged and demands Frasier pay the full amount of $4,000. With the help of a mediator, Daphne, the parties agree to a settlement of $3,000 to be paid on December 2. Frasier pays the $3,000 on December 2. However, as Niles is still angry, he sues Frasier for the remaining $1,000. Which of the following statements is true:

Cates's Holiday Hint: Remember the rules for undisputed vs. disputed contracts.

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The scenario involves a dispute over payment for therapy services. The critical legal concept is a settlement (accord and satisfaction) of a disputed contract.
Option A: 'Niles will lose as the decision made by Daphne is binding.' In typical mediation, the mediator does not make a binding decision; the binding effect comes from the parties’ written settlement agreement. Here, the binding element is the settlement reached with Daphne’s help, not any unilateral ‘decision’ by the mediator. So this option is misleading and likely incorrect.
Option B: 'Niles will win as the original contract was undisputed.' The problem states there was a dispute about the services promised and the value of the refund, so the contract was not undisputed. The presence of disagreement over quality or value means the contract was disputed, rendering this option incorrect.
Option C: 'Niles will win under Promissory Estoppel.' Promissory estoppel requires (1) a promise, (2) reliance on that promise, (3) substantial reliance, and (4) an injustice prevented by enforcing the promise. A settlement agreement, once made and consideration given (here, the $3,000 paid), typically resolves the dispute and bars further claims absent special circumstances. This scenario does not present the usual promissory-estoppel facts, so this option is not the best basis for a win.
Option D: 'Niles will lose as the parties settled a disputed contract.' This is the correct line of reasoning: the parties reached a compromise on the disputed claim (settlement for $3,000). Upon payment of the settled amount and the settlement’s performance, the remaining amount ($1,000) is discharged, and Niles cannot recover more unless the settlement is invalid or breached, which is not indicated here. Therefore, he loses on the remaining amount because the accord and satisfaction resolved the dispute.
Option E: 'Niles will win as the parties agreed to the full $4,000.' The agreement was to settle for $3,000, not $4,000; thus, there is no basis to claim the full amount. This option misstates the settlement terms and is incorrect.

STRAT 3410-003 Fall 2025 Exam #3- Requires Respondus LockDown Browser

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

Andre owes Brendan $180. Brendan is offered $100 by Andre as full and final settlement. Brendan accepts this offer. Which one of the following is most correct?

Andre owes Brendan $180. Brendan is offered $100 by Andre as full and final settlement. Brendan accepts this offer. Which one of the following is most correct?

Jens owes JC Builders $5000. On discovering that JC Builders are in financial difficulty Jens offers to pay them $3,000 in full settlement of the debt. JC Builders agree to accept the $3,000 but a week later, claim the remaining $2,000. Will JC Builders succeed in their claim?

Andre owes Brendan $180. Brendan is offered $100 by Andre as full and final settlement. Brendan accepts this offer. Which one of the following is most correct?

Andre owes Brendan $180. Brendan is offered $100 by Andre as full and final settlement. Brendan accepts this offer. Which one of the following is most correct?

X owed Y $1,000. Under Ontario statute law if Y agrees to accept a lesser sum as payment in full then he can no longer make a claim for the full $1,000.

In a consumer society, many adults channel creativity into buying things

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler