Hate ads? Verify for LSD+ → Learn More

Case Citation
Legal Case Name

HAYMORE v. LEVINSON Case Brief

Supreme Court of Utah1958
8 Utah 2d 66 328 P.2d 307 Contracts Property

Why Top Law Students (And Those Aspiring to Be) Use LSD+ Briefs

Let's be real, law school is a marathon. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full case system is designed by Harvard Law School and MIT grads to match your pace: Quick summaries when you're slammed, detailed analysis when you need to go deep. Only LSD+ offers this kind of flexibility to genuinely fit your study flow.

Adaptive Case Views

Toggle between Flash, Standard, and Expanded. Get what you need, when you need it.

Exam-Ready IRAC Format

We deliver the precise structure professors look for in exam answers.

Complex Cases, Clarified

We break down dense legal reasoning into something digestible, helping you grasp core concepts.

Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
3 min read

tl;dr: A builder sued buyers who refused payment, claiming a house was not “satisfactorily” completed. The court held that in a construction contract, “satisfactory” implies an objective standard of reasonableness, not the buyer’s subjective personal taste, and awarded payment to the builder.

Legal Significance: This case establishes that in contracts for construction or mechanical fitness, a “satisfaction” clause imposes an objective standard of reasonableness, preventing a party from arbitrarily withholding approval and payment based on personal whim or caprice.

HAYMORE v. LEVINSON 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

Plaintiffs Haymore, contractors, sold a house they were building to defendants Levinson for $36,000. The contract stipulated that $3,000 of the purchase price would be held in escrow until the “satisfactory completion of the work” detailed in an attached list. After the Levinsons moved in, Haymore completed the listed items and requested the release of the escrow funds. The Levinsons expressed dissatisfaction and refused to authorize the release. Haymore agreed to address a second list of complaints, but when he arrived to perform the work, the Levinsons demanded still more changes. When Haymore refused to agree to the new demands, the Levinsons ordered him off the property and maintained their refusal to release the escrow funds, insisting he must first satisfy all their requirements. Haymore sued to recover the $3,000. The trial court found for Haymore, allowing a small offset for minor deficiencies, and the Levinsons appealed.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: In a building contract requiring performance to be completed to a party’s “satisfaction,” is the condition of satisfaction fulfilled by performance that is objectively reasonable, or must it meet the party’s subjective, personal standard of satisfaction?

The court affirmed the judgment for the plaintiffs. The term “satisfactory completion” 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 volupt

Master Every Case Faster

Unlock premium legal analysis that helps you quickly understand complex cases, designed by Harvard Law and MIT graduates. It's about working smarter, not just harder.

Start 14-Day Free Trial

Thousands of students are already saving time and gaining clarity. Why not you?

IRAC Legal Analysis

Premium Feature Unlock

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

In a building contract requiring performance to be completed to a party’s “satisfaction,” is the condition of satisfaction fulfilled by performance that is objectively reasonable, or must it meet the party’s subjective, personal standard of satisfaction?

Conclusion

This case establishes a key interpretive rule for satisfaction clauses in contracts, Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, q

Legal Rule

Contracts requiring performance to the satisfaction of a party are categorized into 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 de

Legal Analysis

The court distinguished between two types of satisfaction clauses to determine the 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

Flash-to-Full Case Opinions

Flash Summary

  • In a building contract, a “satisfactory completion” clause is judged by
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 no

Master Every Case Faster

Unlock premium legal analysis that helps you quickly understand complex cases, designed by Harvard Law and MIT graduates. It's about working smarter, not just harder.

Start 14-Day Free Trial

Thousands of students are already saving time and gaining clarity. Why not you?

Hate ads? Verify for LSD+ → Learn More