Ahmed Mansoor and his family owned an old home in Nizwa that was in need of painting and some other repairs. Ahmed Mansoor was a junior partner with a law firm and his wife, Sumaiya, worked part-time at the elementary school where their two younger children were also studying. One morning after dropping off the kids at school, Sumaiya noticed painters at their house. She sent her husband a text asking if he had hired painters. When she learned that her husband had not hired the painters, she decided to turn around and go shopping before going back to the school.
Khalifa Ahmed, a sixteen-year-old son, stayed home from school because he didn't feel well. At 6-feet-tall and 220 pounds, Khalifa looked he was in his early twenties. When the foreman rang the doorbell, he answered. The foreman said "We are here to paint your house today, is that ok?" Khalifa replied, "Sure, as long as I don't have to help you." The foreman asked him to sign some paperwork and he complied.
After the younger kids finished school for the day, the mother took them to the park after which met Ahmed Mansoor for an early dinner. When the family arrived home, the painters were just finishing and the foreman asked, "So Mr. and Mrs. Mohammed, how does it look?" Ahmed and his wife were surprised and asked them "Who is Mohammed?" The painters told them that Mohammed lived next door and wanted his house painted. The foreman demanded payment from Ahmed Mansoor reminding him that the gentleman inside the house gave them both verbal and written approval for the painters.
Based on the scenario, write a detailed report by incorporating the following tasks:
A critical discussion on:
- Was Khalifa Ahmed's signature on the paperwork considered a binding contract? Why or why not?
- Should Ahmed Mansoor be responsible for the bill? Why or why not?
Ensure that you analyze the case by applying the following elements of a contract.
- Possible types of contract applicable
- Essentials of an Offer
- Acceptance
- Consideration
- Capacity of parties
- Genuineness of Assent
- Breach of contract