Hate ads? Verify for LSD+ → Learn More

Case Citation
Legal Case Name

McInerney v. Charter Golf, Inc. Case Brief

Illinois Supreme Court1997Docket #2011734
680 N.E.2d 1347 176 Ill. 2d 482 223 Ill. Dec. 911 12 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1478 1997 Ill. LEXIS 56 Contracts Employment Law

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

Contracts Focus
3 min read

tl;dr: An employee forwent a competing job offer for his employer’s oral promise of lifetime employment. The court found sufficient consideration to form a contract but held the oral agreement unenforceable under the Statute of Frauds.

Legal Significance: Establishes in Illinois that forgoing a job offer is valid consideration for a lifetime employment contract, but holds that such contracts fall within the Statute of Frauds’ one-year provision, requiring a writing for enforceability.

McInerney v. Charter Golf, Inc. 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

Plaintiff Dennis McInerney, a sales representative for defendant Charter Golf, Inc., received a lucrative job offer from a competitor, Hickey-Freeman. When McInerney informed Charter Golf’s president of his intent to accept the offer, the president orally promised McInerney a 10% commission “for the remainder of his life” and that he would only be subject to discharge for dishonesty or disability. In reliance on this promise, McInerney rejected the Hickey-Freeman offer and continued his employment with Charter Golf. Several years later, in 1992, Charter Golf terminated McInerney’s employment. McInerney filed suit, alleging breach of the oral contract for lifetime employment. The trial court granted summary judgment for Charter Golf, finding the contract unenforceable under the Statute of Frauds. The appellate court affirmed but on the alternative ground that forgoing another job offer was insufficient consideration to create an enforceable contract for lifetime employment. The Illinois Supreme Court granted review to resolve both the consideration and Statute of Frauds issues.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Is an oral contract for lifetime employment, supported by the consideration of forgoing another specific job offer, unenforceable under the Statute of Frauds’ one-year provision?

Yes. Although the employee’s forbearance from accepting another job offer was sufficient 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

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

Is an oral contract for lifetime employment, supported by the consideration of forgoing another specific job offer, unenforceable under the Statute of Frauds’ one-year provision?

Conclusion

This case establishes a bifurcated rule in Illinois for oral lifetime employment 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 ullamc

Legal Rule

An employee's promise to forgo a specific job opportunity constitutes sufficient consideration 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 v

Legal Analysis

The court's analysis proceeded in two parts. First, it addressed the issue 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 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

Flash-to-Full Case Opinions

Flash Summary

  • Forgoing a competing job offer is sufficient consideration to support an
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

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