Case Citation
Legal Case Name

Klocek v. Gateway, Inc. Case Brief

District Court, D. Kansas2000Docket #2371086
104 F. Supp. 2d 1332 41 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 1059 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9896 2000 WL 967459

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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
3 min read

tl;dr: A consumer sued Gateway, which moved to dismiss based on an arbitration clause in terms shipped with a computer. The court denied dismissal, finding the clause was not part of the contract under UCC § 2-207.

Legal Significance: This case significantly interprets UCC § 2-207 in consumer ‘terms-in-the-box’ scenarios, holding that a consumer’s retention of goods does not constitute express assent to additional terms, such as an arbitration clause.

Klocek v. Gateway, Inc. Law School Study Guide

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Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

William S. Klocek purchased a Gateway computer. Gateway included its Standard Terms and Conditions Agreement inside the computer box, which stated that keeping the computer beyond five days constituted acceptance of these terms. Paragraph 10 of the Standard Terms contained an arbitration clause. Klocek filed suit alleging false promises of technical support, breach of contract, and breach of warranty. Gateway moved to dismiss, arguing Klocek was bound by the arbitration clause. Klocek contended he purchased the computer in person at a Gateway store in Kansas and took it with him, while Gateway suggested it shipped the computer. The court noted uncertainty regarding the precise moment of contract formation and the governing state law (Kansas or Missouri), but proceeded under the assumption that UCC § 2-207, as adopted by both states, would apply. The core dispute was whether the Standard Terms, particularly the arbitration clause, became part of the sales contract.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Did an arbitration clause, contained in standard terms shipped with a product and stating that retention of the product for five days constitutes acceptance, become part of the contract with a non-merchant buyer under UCC § 2-207 without the buyer’s express assent?

No, the arbitration clause did not become part of the contract. 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

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Legal Issue

Did an arbitration clause, contained in standard terms shipped with a product and stating that retention of the product for five days constitutes acceptance, become part of the contract with a non-merchant buyer under UCC § 2-207 without the buyer’s express assent?

Conclusion

This case reinforces that under UCC § 2-207, additional terms in 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 commo

Legal Rule

Under UCC § 2-207(1), a written confirmation or acceptance stating additional terms 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 par

Legal Analysis

The court rejected Gateway's reliance on *Hill v. Gateway 2000, Inc.* and 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 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 al

Flash-to-Full Case Opinions

Flash Summary

  • The court rejected the Hill v. Gateway “terms-in-the-box” doctrine, holding 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

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