Assignment

On February 15, 2002, Wallace Williams and Bruce Roberts entered into a written contract whereby Wallace, a professional entertainer, agreed to perform at Bruce's resort hotel in the Berkshires for the week of July 1-7, 2002 and Bruce agreed to pay Wallace $25,000 for performing. In early May, Wallace had a hit single that, virtually overnight, made him a star who could command at least $75,000 for a one-week engagement. On June 1st, Wallace telephoned Bruce demanding $75,000 for his July 1st-7th performances. Bruce told Wallace that "a deal is a deal," and would not agree to pay Wallace more than the previously-agreed $25,000.

1. If Wallace's eighteenth birthday was June 1, 2002, would he have been entitled to refuse to perform the contract? Please explain in detail.

2. Suppose that, within days of his hit single's release, Wallace signed a multi-album contract with Vestal Records. Wallace spent the whole week following his eighteenth birthday in Vestal's studios, recording and mixing songs. At the end of the week, Wallace called Vestal's president, Chick Hanson. Wallace told Hanson that he appreciated all that Vestal had done for him, but he had received a better offer from another label. When Hanson sputtered, "But we have a contract," Wallace replied, "I was underage when I signed it. Sorry, Chick." Could Wallace disaffirm his contract with Vestal because he signed it when he was a minor? Please explain in detail.