Case Name: SIS RADIO, INC., d/b/a RADIO STATION WAYS v. JAMES C. BROGAN, d/b/a BROGAN'S STUDIO OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Court: North Carolina Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1971-08-04
Citations: 12 N.C. App. 172
Docket Number: No. 7126DC478
Parties: SIS RADIO, INC., d/b/a RADIO STATION WAYS v. JAMES C. BROGAN, d/b/a BROGAN’S STUDIO OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Judges: Chief Judge Mallard and Judge Vaughn concur.
Reporter: North Carolina Court of Appeals Reports
Volume: 12
Pages: 172–173

Head Matter:
SIS RADIO, INC., d/b/a RADIO STATION WAYS v. JAMES C. BROGAN, d/b/a BROGAN’S STUDIO OF PHOTOGRAPHY
No. 7126DC478
(Filed 4 August 1971)
1. Contracts § 25— contract as part of complaint — conclusions of pleader
Where alleged contract is made a part of the complaint and is the only basis upon which plaintiff alleges a right of recovery, the court will be governed by its particular provisions rather than the conclusions alleged by plaintiff.
2. Contracts § 4— failure of consideration
Purported contract to reserve for defendant one booth at plaintiff’s bridal fair is invalid for failure of consideration where it does not specify any type of performance by plaintiff, when plaintiff was to begin performance, or how long plaintiff was to perform.
Appeal by plaintiff from Stukes, District Judge, 12 April 1971 Session of District Court held in Mecklenburg County.
Plaintiff alleges that it entered into a contract with defendant whereby it was to reserve for defendant one booth at plaintiff’s 1969 Bridal Fair in consideration of payment by defendant of the sum of $1,500.00. Plaintiff alleges performance by it and breach by defendant, and seeks recovery of $1,500.00 plus interest and costs.
- When the cause came on for trial in District Court the trial judge allowed defendant’s motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Plaintiff appealed.
Hedrick, McKnight, Parham, Helms, Warley & Jolly, by Thomas A. McNeely, for plaintiff.
Osborne & Griffin, by Wallace S. Osborne, for defendant.

Opinion:
BROCK, Judge.
In its complaint plaintiff alleges in paragraph 3 that a copy of the said contract is attached and incorporated by reference. Because the alleged contract is made a part of the complaint and is the only basis upon which plaintiff alleges a right of recovery, we will be governed by its particular provisions rather than the conclusions alleged by plaintiff. Williamson v. Miller, 231 N.C. 722, 58 S.E. 2d 743.
The document relied upon by plaintiff does not specify any type of performance by plaintiff. If defendant had undertaken to sue plaintiff upon this document, he could not show by it what plaintiff's performance was to be, he could not show when plaintiff was to begin performance, and he could not show how long plaintiff was to perform. In short the document does not specify a consideration moving from plaintiff to defendant. "It is well settled, as a general rule, that consideration is an essential element of, and is necessary to the enforceability or validity of, a contract." 17 Am. Jur. 2d, Contracts, § 86, p. 428.
Affirmed.
Chief Judge Mallard and Judge Vaughn concur.