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Case Citation
Legal Case Name

Hauer v. Union State Bank of Wautoma Case Brief

Court of Appeals of Wisconsin1995Docket #2033717
532 N.W.2d 456 192 Wis. 2d 576 27 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 1142 1995 Wisc. App. LEXIS 367

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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
4 min read

tl;dr: A woman with a brain injury sued to void a loan she obtained for a third party. The court voided the contract and excused her from repaying the loan because the bank lacked good faith, having reason to know of her mental incompetence.

Legal Significance: A contract with a mentally incompetent person is voidable. If the competent party knew or had reason to know of the incapacity, the incompetent party is not required to restore consideration that has been dissipated, departing from the general rule of restitution.

Hauer v. Union State Bank of Wautoma Law School Study Guide

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Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

Kathy Hauer suffered a brain injury and was previously under a court-appointed guardianship. A year after the guardianship was terminated, she was convinced by Ben Eilbes, who was in default on a loan with Union State Bank, to take out a loan on his behalf. Eilbes arranged a $30,000 loan for Hauer from the Bank, secured by Hauer’s mutual fund. The Bank’s vice president, Schroeder, never met Hauer before the closing. During his due diligence, Hauer’s financial consultant warned Schroeder that Hauer needed the fund’s income to live on and advised against the loan. Schroeder conceded it was possible the consultant also mentioned Hauer’s brain damage. The Bank approved the loan, which Hauer immediately gave to Eilbes. When the loan matured, Hauer sued to void the contract, and the Bank counterclaimed for the $30,000. A jury found Hauer lacked the mental capacity to enter the contract and that the Bank failed to act in good faith.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: When a contract is voided due to a party’s mental incapacity, must that party restore the consideration if the other party lacked good faith and had reason to know of the incapacity?

No. The judgment voiding the loan and relieving Hauer of the obligation 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 reprehend

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IRAC Legal Analysis

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Legal Issue

When a contract is voided due to a party’s mental incapacity, must that party restore the consideration if the other party lacked good faith and had reason to know of the incapacity?

Conclusion

This case demonstrates that a party's good faith and knowledge are critical 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

Legal Rule

A contract entered into by a mentally incompetent person is voidable. While 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 culp

Legal Analysis

The court first established that mental incompetence is a basis for a 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, consectetur adipisci

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Flash Summary

  • A contract with a mentally incompetent person is voidable. - Generally,
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

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