Opinion ID: 1839358
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: motion by ethel for judgment

Text: Ethel contends that the clause in the receipt contractually disclaimed promissory fraud on her part, and that it was a release. Several general rules relating to fraud in contract, tort, or both arguably support her contention. A person who offers no explanation to avoid a receipt in which he acknowledged full payment of the amount due under a written agreement not to contest a will in consideration for such payment may not recover. See Knoll v. Knoll, 173 Neb. 602, 114 N. W.2d 40 (1962). Generally in the absence of fraud, one who does not choose to read a contract before signing it cannot later relieve himself of its burdens. General Motors Acceptance Corp. v. Blanco, 181 Neb. 562, 149 N.W.2d 516 (1967). Where ordinary prudence would have prevented the deception, an action for fraud perpetrated by such deception will not lie. Swanson Petroleum Corp. v. Cumberland, 184 Neb. 323, 167 N.W.2d 391 (1969). Generally a mistake of law is one upon which a party cannot rely, as all parties are bound to know the law. Beltner v. Carlson, 153 Neb. 797, 46 N.W.2d 153 (1951). Other rules lend support to the submission of promissory fraud issues to the jury in this case. The parol evidence rule does not prevent reception or consideration of evidence to prove promissory fraud. Abbott v. Abbott, 185 Neb. 177, 174 N.W.2d 335 (1970); cf. Central Constr. Co. v. Osbahr, 186 Neb. 1, 180 N.W.2d 139 (1970). A disclaimer clause of a bargain is relevant to the issue whether the claimant in fact relied on the false representation disclaimed in the clause. Without more the clause is ineffective to preclude a trier of fact from considering whether fraud induced formation of the bargain. Camfield v. Olsen, 183 Neb. 739, 164 N. W.2d 431 (1969). The rules in general attempt to strike a balance among competing policies. Objectivity and certainty in the law of contracts are desirable, but at times they are too weak to protect legitimate expectations of fair dealing. The emphasis upon fair dealing is nowhere more apparent today than it is in the article of the Uniform Commercial Code relating to sales. If the court as a matter of law finds the contract or any clause of the contract to have been unconscionable at the time it was made the court may refuse to enforce the contract, or it may enforce the remainder of the contract without the unconscionable clause, or it may so limit the application of any unconscionable clause as to avoid any unconscionable result. S. 2-302(1), U.C.C. Apart from statute, the need for security of transactions in the traditional sense has yielded somewhat to the need for flexibility. See, Keeton, Fraud-Statements of Intention, 15 Tex.L.Rev. 185 (1937); Kessler and Fine, Culpa in Contrahendo, Bargaining in Good Faith, and Freedom of Contract; A Comparative Study, 77 Harv.L.Rev. 401 at 448, 449 (1964); Seavey, Caveat Emptor as of 1960, 38 Tex.L.Rev. 439 (1960). A disclaimer clause in a family settlement agreement will not necessarily bar recovery for fraud. A subsequent agreement for a valuable consideration is sometimes strong evidence against the claimant. It may be strong enough to bar recovery as a matter of law. Among the elements for consideration of its effect are the presence or absence of specific assent to the disclaimer, the extent of any inequality of bargaining power, the adequacy of the consideration, and the nature of the relationship between the parties. Cf. Note, 47 Cornell L.Q. 655 (1962). In this case the evidence, including the disclaimer clause of December 29, 1959, was sufficient to support a verdict for Arthur on the issue of promissory fraud.