Lucy v. Zehmer, 196 Va. 493 (1954), is a modern classic in the canon of contract law. This case is often cited for the rule that contracts are formed when parties “objectively manifest” an intention to be bound to a bargain, but parties' secret and unexpressed (subjective) intentions are of no moment. We decided to bring this case to life with a short skit. This was good fun, and there is a pedagogical purpose. As you witness this scene, think about whether a person in Lucy’s position would reasonably believe that Zehmer’s “offer” to sell his precious farm was serious. I hope this video helps you gain a deeper understanding of this seminal case. For a comprehensive analysis of the backstory, please read “When Money Grew on Trees: Lucy v. Zehmer and Contracting in a Boom Market” by Barak D. Richman and Dennis Schmelzer, 61 Duke Law Journal 1511-1562 (2012), available at: https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/dlj/...