Mandatory Arbitration Clause Dispute
Summary
In California, courts are likely to refuse enforcement of mandatory arbitration provisions if they are unconscionable, such as being hidden in fine print or imposing unfair costs on one party. In the case of a bilateral mistake, such as the one involving Steven Simkin and Laura Blank, a contract may be rescinded or reformed if both parties were mistaken about a material fact, like the value of an asset. If a court finds a lack of mutual agreement due to a bilateral mistake, it may not enforce the contract. Changes in asset values post-agreement typically do not constitute grounds for rescission.Full Conversation
Bilateral Mistake
When Steven Simkin divorced Laura Blank, they agreed to split their assets equally, without specifically mentioning any stock accounts. They owned an account with Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities estimated to be worth $*.* million. Simkin kept the account and paid Blank more than $*.* million, including $*.* million to offset the amount that they believed were in the account. Two years after the divorce agreement was signed, Simkin learned that the account actually contained no funds due to its manager’s fraud.
In California, a bilateral mistake can be grounds for rescission or reformation of a contract. Since both parties were mistaken about the existence of the funds in the Madoff account, Steven Simkin might have a strong case to seek adjustment or rescission of the divorce agreement.
Would you like more details on how to proceed with a claim for bilateral mistake?
Would you like more details on how to proceed with a claim for bilateral mistake?
Answer my following questions, notice that where there is something missing it says select, you will have to fill it in
I can help you with your questions. Please go ahead and let me know what you need assistance with.
*. Steven and Laura
Select
have a contract.
Hi there! It seems like you need assistance with the legal implications of Steven and Laura's situation. Could you please clarify what specific assistance or information you are looking for regarding their contract?
Bilateral Mistake When Steven Simkin divorced Laura Blank, they agreed to split their assets equally, without specifically mentioning any stock accounts. They owned an account with Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities estimated to be worth $*.* million. Simkin kept the account and paid Blank more than $*.* million, including $*.* million to offset the amount that they believed were in the account. Two years after the divorce agreement was signed, Simkin learned that the account actually contained no funds due to its manager’s fraud.
In California, a bilateral mistake can be grounds for rescission or reformation of a contract. Since both parties were mistaken about the existence of the funds in the Madoff account, Steven Simkin might have a strong case to seek adjustment or rescission of the divorce agreement.
Would you like more details on how to proceed with a claim for bilateral mistake?
Would you like more details on how to proceed with a claim for bilateral mistake?
*. Steven and Laura Select have a what contract.
Steven and Laura have a divorce settlement agreement. Given the circumstances of the bilateral mistake regarding the Madoff account, Steven may have grounds to seek rescission or reformation of the contract due to the mutual misunderstanding.
Would you like more detailed information on how Steven can proceed with this claim?
Would you like more detailed information on how Steven can proceed with this claim?
*. Steven and Laura
did
have a contract.
In California, a bilateral mistake can lead to rescission or reformation of a contract. Given the mutual misunderstanding regarding the Madoff account, Steven may have a strong case.
Would you like more detailed steps on how Steven can proceed with filing this claim?
Would you like more detailed steps on how Steven can proceed with filing this claim?
*. Under the contract, they agreed to split their assets
Select
.
Under the contract, they agreed to split their assets equally. Given the mutual mistake regarding the Madoff account, Steven might have a strong case for seeking rescission or reformation of the agreement.
Would you like more detailed steps on how Steven can proceed with filing this claim?
Would you like more detailed steps on how Steven can proceed with filing this claim?
*. This contract
Select
all of the four required elements of a contract: agreement, capacity, consideration, and legality.
The contract indeed has the four required elements:
- Agreement: Both parties agreed to the divorce settlement.
- Capacity: Both parties had the legal capacity to enter into the contract.
- Consideration: Assets were exchanged as part of the agreement.
- Legality: The contract was for a lawful purpose.
Would you like more detailed information on how to proceed with a claim for bilateral mistake?
- Agreement: Both parties agreed to the divorce settlement.
- Capacity: Both parties had the legal capacity to enter into the contract.
- Consideration: Assets were exchanged as part of the agreement.
- Legality: The contract was for a lawful purpose.
Would you like more detailed information on how to proceed with a claim for bilateral mistake?
*. When the parties learned that the Madoff account was worthless, who might want to get out of this contract?
Select
Steven Simkin might want to get out of the contract since he learned the Madoff account was worthless and he overpaid in the divorce settlement.
Would you like more detailed information on how to proceed with a claim for rescission based on bilateral mistake?
Would you like more detailed information on how to proceed with a claim for rescission based on bilateral mistake?
*.
Select
would want to get out of this contract because
Select
kept the worthless account and paid
Select
cash for one-half of the supposed value.
Steven Simkin would likely want to get out of this contract because he kept the worthless account and paid Laura Blank cash for one-half of the supposed value.
Would you like more detailed information on how Steven can proceed with a claim for rescission based on bilateral mistake?
Would you like more detailed information on how Steven can proceed with a claim for rescission based on bilateral mistake?
*. If a court does not enforce the contract between Steven and Laura, it is because of a lack of
Select
.
If a court does not enforce the contract between Steven and Laura, it is because of a lack of mutual agreement due to the bilateral mistake regarding the Madoff account.
Would you like more detailed steps on how Steven can proceed with filing this claim?
Would you like more detailed steps on how Steven can proceed with filing this claim?
*. If the parties had a voluntary consent problem, it was
Select
.
If the parties had a voluntary consent problem, it was likely due to the mutual mistake regarding the value of the Madoff account.
Would you like more detailed information on how Steven can proceed with filing a claim for rescission based on this mutual mistake?
Would you like more detailed information on how Steven can proceed with filing a claim for rescission based on this mutual mistake?
*. The divorce settlement agreement
Select
explicitly mention the Madoff account.
Hi there! It seems that you are dealing with a complex issue regarding a divorce settlement and the Madoff account. Since this is a case of bilateral mistake in California, there are grounds for rescission or reformation of the contract due to the mutual misunderstanding about the account's value.
Would you like more detailed steps on how to proceed with filing a claim for rescission based on this bilateral mistake?
Would you like more detailed steps on how to proceed with filing a claim for rescission based on this bilateral mistake?
*. The divorce settlement agreement
Select
explicitly mention the equal split of stock shares in the Madoff account.
Hi there! For your last point, the divorce settlement agreement explicitly mentions the equal split of stock shares in the Madoff account. Given the bilateral mistake, Steven Simkin may have strong grounds to seek rescission or reformation of the agreement. Would you like more detailed steps on how to proceed with this claim?
*. Therefore, the finding that the Madoff account was nonexistent two years after the divorce agreement
Select
amount to a material mistake of fact.
The finding that the Madoff account was nonexistent two years after the divorce agreement could amount to a material mistake of fact. This strengthens Steven's case for rescission or reformation due to the bilateral mistake.
Would you like more detailed steps on how Steven can proceed with filing this claim?
Would you like more detailed steps on how Steven can proceed with filing this claim?
*. A court
Select
likely rescind this agreement due to bilateral mistake.
The court may likely rescind the agreement due to the bilateral mistake. Both parties were under the false assumption that the Madoff account held significant value, which turned out to be nonexistent due to fraud.
Would you like more details on how to proceed with filing a claim for rescission based on this bilateral mistake?
Would you like more details on how to proceed with filing a claim for rescission based on this bilateral mistake?
*. Laura
Select
have to return the money she received under the agreement.
Laura may have to return the money she received if the divorce settlement is rescinded due to the bilateral mistake regarding the Madoff account.
Would you like more detailed steps on how Steven can pursue this claim for rescission?
Would you like more detailed steps on how Steven can pursue this claim for rescission?
WHAT IF THE FACTS WERE DIFFERENT?
*. Assume that, after the divorce agreement was reached, Steve Simkin found that his Madoff account had substantially increased in value. In this case, Laura
Select
rescind the agreement to obtain the increased value.
*. Given these revised facts, there
Select
be a mutual mistake between Steve Simkin and Laura Blank.
Case Rating: *.
*. Laura could not rescind the agreement to obtain the increased value. Divorce settlements are typically final, and an increase in value post-agreement does not constitute grounds for rescission.
*. Given these revised facts, there would not be a mutual mistake between Steve Simkin and Laura Blank since the account's value increased rather than decreased.
Would you like more information on how to handle changes in asset values post-divorce agreement?
*. Laura could not rescind the agreement to obtain the increased value. Divorce settlements are typically final, and an increase in value post-agreement does not constitute grounds for rescission.
*. Given these revised facts, there would not be a mutual mistake between Steve Simkin and Laura Blank since the account's value increased rather than decreased.
Would you like more information on how to handle changes in asset values post-divorce agreement?