Whether the parties had agreed on the material terms necessary to create a binding contract was the issue resolved by the Business Court in two opinions issued simultaneously on Friday, March 13th. The claims in one case survived a motion to dismiss, the claims in the other were cut down on summary judgment.
In the first case, JDH Capital, LLC v. Flowers, 2009 NCBC 4 (N.C. Super. Ct. Feb. 13, 2009), the Court ruled that a Letter of Intent executed by the parties was a "non-binding agreement to agree," and dismissed the case. In the second case, Crockett Capital Corp. v. Inland American Winston Hotels, Inc., 2009 NCBC 5 (N.C. Super. Ct. Feb. 13, 2009), the Court ruled that the plaintiff could proceed in its case even though the Master Agreement at issue contemplated the need to negotiate the terms of future agreements.
These cases are must reads if you are litigating a contract formation issue in the Business Court. They are equally important to look at if you are drafting Letters of Intent or other agreements involving commercial real estate ventures, which were the business deals involved in both Flowers and Crockett. (There are reportedly non-litigation lawyers who read this blog precisely to see how their deal documents might play out in Court).Continue Reading Letters Of Intent And Agreements To Agree: Two Rulings From The North Carolina Business Court