Daniel Sturridge upon learning that contract law is a harsh mistress. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Pop quiz, hotshot: a celebrity makes an offer to the public, someone accepts the contract by performance. Has a contract been created?
That’s not just a hypothetical, but a real fact scenario. In 2019, soccer star Daniel Sturridge’s dog was stolen following a break-in. He posted a video offering to “pay whatever” — “20Gs, 30Gs, whatever” — for the return of his Pomeranian.
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Daniel Sturridge has offered a £20,000-£30,000 reward for the return of his dog.
[ @DanielSturridge] pic.twitter.com/re516trWzv
— GOAL (@goal) July 9, 2019
And Los Angeles man, Foster Washington, found the dog, Lucci, and returned him. But a payday was not forthcoming for Washington. As reported by the New York Times:
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“I’m like, ‘Hey, dude, what’s up with the reward?’” Mr. Washington said. “He said, ‘There is no reward.’”
To be clear, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed Washington was not implicated in the break-in in any way. But still, Sturridge didn’t pay. So Washington filed a lawsuit for breach of contract. And Judge Curtis A. Kin of the Los Angeles County Superior Court agreed, and Washington will be getting $30,000 in damages.
Contract law! She’s a harsh mistress!
Offer + acceptance by performance = unilateral contract.
Contracts I https://t.co/mMjfdDdulX
— George Conway (@gtconway3d) December 26, 2021
But Sturridge’s story of what happened was different — at least on Twitter:
Just to let you know the truth on xmas!
I met a young boy who found my dog and paid him a reward which he was delighted with as was I to get my dog back because he was stolen. I took photos with him and we have videos and audio of everything that happened when Lucci was returned.— Daniel Sturridge (@DanielSturridge) December 25, 2021
Don’t worry, law school Twitter is on top of the case. And yes, this will be on the exam.
But see Kolodziej v. Mason – 996 F. Supp. 2d 1237 (distinguishing a promise as unreasonable when made on TV seeking performance for a reward)
— Ernesto Hernandez-Lopez (tomalo con take it easy) (@ProfeErnesto1) December 27, 2021
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).