Case Citation
Legal Case Name

Sedmak v. Charlie's Chevrolet, Inc. Case Brief

Missouri Court of Appeals1981Docket #1370563
622 S.W.2d 694 26 A.L.R. 4th 284 31 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 851 1981 Mo. App. LEXIS 2911

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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
4 min read

tl;dr: Plaintiffs contracted to buy a limited-edition Corvette. When the dealer reneged due to increased market value, the court ordered specific performance, finding the vehicle unique enough and the oral contract enforceable despite the Statute of Frauds due to part payment.

Legal Significance: This case clarifies that part payment for a single, indivisible good can satisfy the UCC Statute of Frauds and expands the availability of specific performance for goods under UCC § 2-716 beyond traditionally unique items.

Sedmak v. Charlie's Chevrolet, Inc. Law School Study Guide

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Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

Dr. and Mrs. Sedmak (Plaintiffs), Corvette enthusiasts, sought to purchase a limited-edition 1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car from Charlie’s Chevrolet, Inc. (Defendant). They discussed the purchase with Tom Kells, Defendant’s sales manager, who indicated they could buy one if the dealership received an allocation. On January 9, 1978, Mrs. Sedmak paid a $500 deposit, for which she received a receipt. Kells confirmed they would be the owners and agreed to order the car with specific options requested by Dr. Sedmak. The agreed price was the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, approximately $15,000. Kells later informed the Sedmaks the car had arrived but they would have to bid for it due to increased demand and value, rather than purchasing it at the agreed price. The Sedmaks sued for specific performance. The trial court found an oral contract existed, excepted from the Statute of Frauds, and ordered specific performance. The car was one of approximately 6,000 produced, with only a limited number having the specific options ordered by the Sedmaks, making it difficult to obtain a comparable vehicle.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Did the plaintiffs’ $500 part payment for a single, indivisible limited-edition automobile satisfy the Uniform Commercial Code’s Statute of Frauds, and were there “other proper circumstances” under UCC § 2-716(1) to warrant specific performance of the oral contract for sale?

Yes, the judgment granting specific performance was affirmed. The court held that Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, su

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Legal Issue

Did the plaintiffs’ $500 part payment for a single, indivisible limited-edition automobile satisfy the Uniform Commercial Code’s Statute of Frauds, and were there “other proper circumstances” under UCC § 2-716(1) to warrant specific performance of the oral contract for sale?

Conclusion

This case is significant for its interpretation of the UCC's part performance Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo con

Legal Rule

Under UCC § 400.2-201(3)(c) RSMo 1978, an oral contract is enforceable with Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est la

Legal Analysis

The court first affirmed the trial court's finding of an oral contract, Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea c

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Flash Summary

  • An oral contract to sell a car at the “manufacturer’s suggested
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint

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