2023 Contract Law Question 4 — LawShortcut Independent Model Answer
Alan promises not to reveal his secret relationship with Eddie, or that Eddie was never a soldier, if Eddie signs over half the royalties on his book. The question turns on whether a threat that is itself lawful can still be illegitimate pressure, and on two independent routes — public policy and consideration — that defeat the bargain anyway.
Scenario summary
Eddie’s first book was a success, and a publisher has now made him a lucrative offer to write a three book series built around his fictional hero, Bis Kit, daredevil soldier for hire. Eddie has always let it be understood that the books are partly autobiographical.
At the same time Eddie is going through a messy split from his secret boyfriend, Alan. Alan was a soldier, and believes that he was Eddie’s inspiration for the original book.
Alan has threatened to go public with two things: the relationship itself, and the fact that Eddie had never been in the army.
Alan then puts terms on that threat: he will promise not to go public on either matter provided Eddie signs a contract giving him 50% of the royalties on this book, expressed to be in recognition of his contribution to the books.
Candidates are asked to discuss critically whether a contract made in these circumstances would be valid.
This is a LawShortcut scenario summary written in our own words. For the exact examined wording, use the official King’s Inns paper linked above.
What this model answer covers
Issues and structure addressed in the full LawShortcut model answer:
- Issue 1 — Duress: is the contract voidable?
- Issue 2 — Public policy: is the contract void?
- Issue 3 — Consideration: is there valuable consideration at all?
- Overall — would the contract be valid?
- Where the 25 marks live — 13 duress, 6 public policy, 4 consideration, 2 critical weighing and structure
- Common ways to lose marks
- Authorities relied on
- The reusable answer structure
Read the complete LawShortcut model answer to this question — reading the question, issue spotting, the applicable law, application to the facts and conclusions — inside the King’s Inns Contract Law Model Answer Vault.
Part of the King’s Inns Contract Law Model Answer Vault — 30 independently authored model answers, 2020—2025.
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