Opinion ID: 1467960
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Existence of Oral Contract of Guarantee

Text: Taking the evidence in the light most favorable to Graybar, we confront the issue whether a jury rationally could find by a preponderance of the evidence that a binding contract of guarantee existed between it and Sawyer. We hold that it could. As evidence showing the existence of a binding contract of guarantee, the jury could consider the September 23, 1980, letter from Graybar's finance manager to Sawyer; the testimony of three witnesses that Sawyer had orally promised to pay the Pine Tree account if Pine Tree did not; the testimony of a fourth witness that Sawyer said he would take care of any problems with payment of Pine Tree's account with Graybar; and the course of conduct followed by Graybar after the second meeting, including its refraining from placing a lien on the Pine Tree job in Lewiston. That evidence was sufficient to warrant the jury's conclusion that such a contract was in fact made.