Free Meal Lawsuit: Man Sues Burger King for Breaking Free Meal Offer

Popular lawyer Ugo Lord says this isn’t a problem because the offer has a tangible value. Ordinarily, when we see settlement agreements, they are usually cash, but settlement agreements can be something other than cash, and a free meal for the rest of your life is a good deal. This means that a court can uphold that agreement because of its value. 

So if Burger King is backing out of the Burger King free meal agreement, then Bruner has the right to sue them for breach of contract.

What Is a Breach of Contract?

A contract is an agreement between parties creating mutual obligations that are enforceable by law. The basic elements required for the agreement to be legally enforceable are mutual assent, expressed by a valid offer and acceptance, adequate consideration, capacity, and legality.

In some states, a valid substitute can satisfy elements of consideration. Possible remedies for breach of contract include general damages, consequential damages, reliance damages, and specific performance. Contracts arise when a duty comes into existence because of a promise, like the Burger King free meal deal made by one of the parties. 

For a promise to be legally binding as a contract, it must be exchanged for adequate consideration. There are two different theories or definitions of consideration: the bargain theory of consideration and the benefit-detriment theory of consideration.

Benefit Detriment

• • Under the benefit-detriment theory, an adequate consideration exists only when a promise is made to the promisor’s benefit or to the promisee’s detriment, which reasonably and fairly induces the promisor to make a promise for something else for the promisee. 

For example, promises that are purely gifts are not considered enforceable because the personal satisfaction the grantor of the promise may receive from the act of generosity is normally not considered sufficient detriment to constitute adequate consideration.

Bargain-for-Exchange

• • Under the bargain-for-exchange theory of consideration, adequate consideration exists when a promisor makes a promise in return for something else.

• • Here, the essential condition is that the promisor was given something specifically to induce the promise being made. In other words, the bargain-for-exchange theory is different from the detriment-benefit theory.

In bargain-for-exchange theory, the focus seems to be the parties’ motive for making the promises and their subjective mutual assent, while in detriment-benefit theory, the focus seems to be an objective legal detriment or benefit to the parties.

A breach of contract is when one party to the contract doesn’t do what they agreed to. A breach of contract happens when one party to a valid contract fails to fulfill their side of the agreement. If a party doesn’t do what the contract says they must do, the other party can sue.

Consequences of Breaking Promises And Getting Burger King Free Meal Lawsuit

It’s easy to fall prey to brand hype in today’s society. Most of us have seen huge company advertisements, only to learn afterward that the goods or services do not live up to the hype. This is what happens when a business overpromises. 

Below are some of the consequences of breaking promises to clients and how it affects both customers and organizations.

Lose the Client’s Trust

As previously mentioned, companies that break promises run the danger of losing their clients’ trust. Customers will be dissatisfied and may choose to do business with another firm if a corporation promises to provide a good or service that it cannot deliver. A company’s reputation and financial performance may suffer as a result.

Legal Problems

A company backing out of an agreement may face legal problems. This also involves businesses that give misleading information and may be held liable for deceptive advertising. This may result in expensive legal disputes, like the Burger King free meal incident. This can harm a business’s brand and cause monetary losses. An example of this is the story of Burger King. 

Effect on Employees

When companies don’t keep their word, it negatively affects their employees. Staff members may become angry or overworked, and negative work environments and high turnover rates may result. One thing to do in situations like this is to seek compensation. 

This entails establishing reasonable expectations with clients and exceeding their needs in terms of goods and services. By doing this, companies can gain the trust of their clients and establish a solid reputation. Companies must avoid making exaggerated claims or promises and be truthful and open about their goods and services.

So always stay true to customers, no matter the situation, so you don’t get sued.