Problem 1: Avery owned 500 shares of a stock that was actively traded on a national stock exchange. Avery wanted to sell the shares but felt that her profit would be seriously diminished by selling through a broker and paying the customary brokerage commission. Avery offered the 500 shares to any of a group of six people in a conversation at a party. The offered price was $100 per share, the price at which the shares had closed that day. No one really responded to the offer at that time. Ten days later when the shares were trading at $105, Ben, one of the offerees at the party, appeared at Avery's office saying that he accepted the offer. Avery claimed the offer no longer was available. Evaluate the legal outcome of this dispute.
Problem 2: On December 15, Dylan sent a letter to Cooper offering to sell her business to Cooper for $300,000. On December 29, Dylan sent another letter to Cooper that stated that she was withdrawing the offer. Cooper received that letter on December 31. On December 30, Cooper sent a letter to Dylan accepting the offer. Dylan received that letter of acceptance on January 3. Dylan refused to sell the business to Cooper, claiming that no contract had been formed. Cooper sued to enforce the contract against Dylan. Decide the probable outcome of the case.