Brief Fact Summary. Allied employee performing installation on Ford’s premises was injured due to the negligence of Ford employees. Allied had executed a purchase order that contained and indemnity form making Allied liable for Ford’s negligence in connection with Allied’s work. The work commenced and the injury occurred months before the indemnity provision was acknowledged.
Synopsis of Rule of Law. If a form of acceptance is plainly worded in suggestive language, then the offeree may accept in another manner, such as commencement of performance and be bound by the offer’s stated terms.
If an offer suggests a permitted mode of acceptance, other methods of acceptance are not precluded.
View Full Point of LawIssue. Whether Allied is liable under the broader indemnity provision even though it did not execute the acknowledgement copy until several months after the employee sustained his injury.
Held. Ford’s amendment gave a suggested mode of acceptance which did not preclude Allied’s acceptance by another method. Allied accepted when Allied undertook performance of the work called for by the amendment with the “consent and acquiescence” of Ford. Also, it was well settled that “part performance” would complete the contract.
Discussion. Allied accepted by commencing work and could not claim that it had not accepted the terms in contradiction of that act of acceptance. There was also a settled rule that part performance would complete a contract.