Hate ads? Verify for LSD+ → Learn More

Case Citation
Legal Case Name

UNITED AIRLINES, INC. v. GOOD TASTE, INC. Case Brief

Supreme Court of Alaska1999
982 P.2d 1259

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
4 min read

tl;dr: The Alaska Supreme Court, applying Illinois law, held that an unambiguous at-will contract termination clause allows termination without cause, and the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing does not impose a requirement for a legitimate business reason for such termination.

Legal Significance: This case clarifies that under Illinois law, an express at-will termination clause generally permits termination for any reason, and the implied covenant of good faith cannot be used to override or contradict this explicit contractual right by imposing a good cause requirement.

UNITED AIRLINES, INC. v. GOOD TASTE, 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

United Airlines (United) entered into a three-year catering agreement with Saucy Sisters Catering (Saucy Sisters). The agreement contained a clause allowing either party to terminate the contract with ninety days’ written notice. United terminated the contract pursuant to this clause. Saucy Sisters sued, alleging fraud, breach of contract, and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The parties agreed Illinois law governed. The trial court dismissed the breach of contract claim, finding the termination clause unambiguous and permitting termination without cause. However, it allowed the implied covenant claim to proceed to trial, ruling that the covenant required United to exercise its termination discretion in a manner consistent with the parties’ reasonable expectations. The jury found no fraud but found United breached the implied covenant, awarding Saucy Sisters damages. United appealed the denial of its summary judgment motion on the implied covenant claim.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Under Illinois law, does the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing prevent a party from exercising an unambiguous contractual right to terminate an agreement at will without a legitimate business reason?

Reversed. The trial court erred in denying United’s motion for summary judgment 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 offic

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

Under Illinois law, does the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing prevent a party from exercising an unambiguous contractual right to terminate an agreement at will without a legitimate business reason?

Conclusion

This case reinforces the principle under Illinois law that an unambiguous at-will 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

Legal Rule

Under Illinois law, where a contract contains an express and unambiguous at-will 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. L

Legal Analysis

The Alaska Supreme Court, interpreting Illinois law, determined that the implied covenant 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 m

Flash-to-Full Case Opinions

Flash Summary

  • Under Illinois law, the implied covenant of good faith and fair
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 n

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