Case Citation
Legal Case Name

LAKOTA GIRL SCOUT C., INC. v. HAVEY FUND-RAIS. MAN., INC. Case Brief

United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit1975
519 F.2d 634

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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
4 min read

tl;dr: A professional fundraiser breached its contract with the Girl Scouts. The court allowed the Girl Scouts to recover lost profits from the failed campaign, finding that damages did not need to be calculated with mathematical certainty and could be proven through expert testimony.

Legal Significance: Establishes that lost profits can be recovered for breach of contract even for a new or one-time venture, provided there is a rational basis for computation, such as expert testimony. This relaxes the traditional “new business rule” which often bars recovery for speculative damages.

LAKOTA GIRL SCOUT C., INC. v. HAVEY FUND-RAIS. MAN., INC. Law School Study Guide

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Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

Lakota Girl Scout Council, Inc. (Plaintiff) contracted with Havey Fund-Raising Management, Inc. (Defendant) for professional services to help raise $345,000 for a campsite development project. The defendant, after conducting its own feasibility study, represented that this goal was achievable. The contract stipulated a fee of $28,000 for the defendant’s services but did not guarantee that any funds would be raised. The defendant subsequently breached the contract by providing inadequate supervision and assistance, including shifting personnel and failing to provide follow-up on collections. The campaign was disorganized and fell far short of its goal, grossing only $88,842. The plaintiff sued for breach of contract, seeking damages for lost profits. At trial, the plaintiff presented expert testimony from the campaign’s chairman and a former employee of the defendant, who opined that the fundraising goal was realistic and would have been met had the defendant performed its contractual obligations. The jury awarded the plaintiff $35,000. The defendant appealed, arguing that lost profits were too speculative to be awarded for a one-time fundraising drive, which it characterized as a “new business.”

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Can a plaintiff recover damages for lost profits resulting from a breached contract for a one-time fundraising venture when the amount of loss is not certain but can be reasonably estimated through expert testimony?

Yes. The court affirmed the award of lost profits, holding that where 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 vol

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Legal Issue

Can a plaintiff recover damages for lost profits resulting from a breached contract for a one-time fundraising venture when the amount of loss is not certain but can be reasonably estimated through expert testimony?

Conclusion

This case demonstrates a flexible judicial approach to proving damages for lost 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 re

Legal Rule

Under Iowa law, lost profits are recoverable for a breach of contract 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 pariatu

Legal Analysis

The court applied a three-part test for lost profits under Iowa law, 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

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  • A court can exercise personal jurisdiction over a non-resident shareholder 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 non proident, sunt in cu

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