SECTION 1:

George’s mother, Loretta, is not particularly fond of her son’s fiance, Amal, and does not have a lot of confidence that George’s marriage to Amal will last. Loretta thinks that Amal is marrying George for all the wrong reasons. Amal tells everyone that she loves George deeply and is looking forward to spending the rest of her life with him and having a bunch of children together. 

The couple married on January 1, 2000. As Amal was being driven to the wedding venue, the driver handed Amal a handwritten note signed by Loretta and dated January 1, 2000. The note stated the following: 

“I, Loretta, will give you, Amal, $5,000,000,000 if you and George are still married on July 20, 2020.” 

Amal happily signed the note and married George on January 1, 2000. She returned the fully executed note to Loretta the day after the wedding.

On November 3, 2015, George and Amal separated after many years of marriage and having raised 16 children together. George moved out of the house. The couple worked out a Separation Agreement dealing with support and the division of their property with the assistance of a mediator. The matter never went to court. Amal and George both moved on with their lives and were in new relationships by May of 2017.

On July 20, 2020, Amal called Loretta and asked Loretta to transfer $5,000,000,000 to Amal’s private offshore account in Grand Cayman. 

Loretta refused to transfer the money to Amal. Loretta stated that Amal and George had not been in a relationship for many years and that the whole point of the agreement was to reward Amal for staying married to George. 

Amal reminded Loretta that she and George were still married as their matter had never been to court and no Divorce Order had ever been issued. 

INTERPRETATION 

1. Identity, define, and apply two approaches to interpreting the above fact scenario. 

2. What aides, other than statutory interpretation, might you use to assist you in interpreting the terms of the contract? 

3. Discuss the different decisions that may result based on the different analyses. 

4. If you were the Judge, would you order Loretta to transfer the funds to Amal? Would you dismiss Amal’s claim for the money?

Explain your answer in full.

SECTION 2:

-Discuss your thoughts on the debate, may include your analysis about which was the most persuasive argument, a comparison of the strengths and weaknesses of all arguments by the teams, which side you think would have been successful in court

– You have the benefit of referring to the written document provided for each debate but you are not to simply copy or repeat what the teams wrote in the document

– This is meant to be an opportunity for you to demonstrate your understanding of various aspects of law in general as discussed during the course, as well as administrative law specifically, including the many principles pertaining to administrative law discussed in class

– I am not looking for a critique of the oral part of the debate.  

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