Lucy v. Zehmer

Lucy v. Zehmer is a landmark case in contract law from 1954, where the Virginia Supreme Court dealt with whether a written agreement to sell land was legally binding. A man named Lucy wanted to buy a farm from the Zehmers, who, while joking, signed a contract to sell it over drinks. The Zehmers later claimed they were not serious, but the court ruled that the contract was valid because their actions suggested they intended to create a real agreement. This case emphasizes that a contract can be enforceable even if one party claims it was made in jest, depending on the context.