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Alaska Packers' Ass'n v. Domenico Case Brief
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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: Sailors in a remote location refused to work unless their employer agreed to pay them more than their contract stipulated. The court held the new agreement was unenforceable because the sailors had a pre-existing duty to perform the work for the original price.
Legal Significance: This case is a classic illustration of the pre-existing duty rule, establishing that a promise to perform an existing contractual obligation is not valid consideration for a new promise, particularly when assent is procured under economic duress.
Alaska Packers' Ass'n v. Domenico Law School Study Guide
Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.
Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
A group of sailors (libelants) entered into written contracts with Alaska Packers’ Association (appellant) to work as fishermen and sailors at a remote cannery in Pyramid Harbor, Alaska, for the 1900 fishing season. The contracts stipulated a salary of either $50 or $60 for the season, plus two cents for each salmon caught. Upon arriving at the cannery, where the appellant had invested approximately $150,000, the sailors collectively stopped working and demanded a new contract for $100 for the season. They threatened to cease work entirely if their demand was not met. It was impossible for the appellant to find replacement workers due to the remote location and the short, impending fishing season. The appellant’s superintendent, while stating he lacked the authority to alter the original contracts, yielded to the demand and prepared a new document reflecting the $100 salary, which the sailors signed. At the end of the season, the appellant paid the sailors according to the original contracts, not the modified one. The sailors sued to enforce the second agreement.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Is a contract modification that increases compensation for the performance of duties already required by an existing contract enforceable when the modification is demanded under threat of nonperformance?
No. The judgment for the sailors was reversed. The court held that Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui offic
IRAC Legal Analysis
Complete IRAC Analysis for Higher Grades
IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.
Legal Issue
Is a contract modification that increases compensation for the performance of duties already required by an existing contract enforceable when the modification is demanded under threat of nonperformance?
Conclusion
This case remains a foundational authority for the pre-existing duty rule in Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim a
Legal Rule
A promise to pay a party more for doing what they are Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Legal Analysis
The court's analysis centered on the doctrine of consideration. It reasoned that Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consec
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- A promise to pay a party more for what they are