Court Opinion

ID: 9676679
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 05:30:06.81606+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:50.243065
License: Public Domain

Dissenting opinion by:
ALMA L. LÓPEZ, Justice.
Because I do not believe the evidence establishes all the elements of a valid contract, I respectfully dissent from the majority’s opinion.
A binding contract is formed when the following elements are present: (1) an offer; (2) an acceptance in strict compliance with the terms of the offer; (3) a meeting of the minds; (4) each party’s consent to the terms; and (5) execution and delivery of the contract with the intent that it be mutual and binding. See Buxani v. Nussbaum, 940 S.W.2d 350, 352 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 1997, no writ); Hallmark v. Hand, 885 S.W.2d 471, 476 (Tex.App.-El Paso 1994, writ denied). Here, the testimony fails to establish all the elements of a binding contract. An offer is defined as the manifestation of the “willingness to enter into a bargain so made as to justify another person in understanding that his assent to the bargain is invited and will conclude it.” Restatement (Second) of ContRacts § 24 (1981). Even when viewing Ralph Ramon’s testimony in the light most favorable to the Ramons, there is no evidence that either party made an offer with respect to providing labor and whether such offer was ever accepted in strict compliance with its terms. See Hyman Farm Serv., Inc. v. Earth Oil & Gas Co., 920 S.W.2d 452, 457 (Tex.App.-Amarillo 1996, no writ) (holding a valid contract regarding the payment of federal taxes by appellee did not exist where there was no evidence that either party made an offer with respect to the handling of taxes or that any offer was accepted). Accordingly, the Ramons failed to prove all the elements of a valid contract to support their claim for breach of contract.
For this reason, I would reverse the judgment of the trial court and in the interest of justice remand for a new trial for further development of the facts. See Holt Atherton Indus., Inc. v. Heine, 835 S.W.2d 80, 86 (Tex.1992); Thorp v. Adair & Myers, 809 S.W.2d 306, 308 (Tex.App.Houston [14th Dist.] 1991, no writ).