Friday, March 9, 2012

Featured Case: Baer v. Chase: "Taking Care" of Things

In Baer v. Chase, the Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit upheld a district court’s finding for the defendant on a motion for summary judgment.  Baer, a former New Jersey prosecutor shared some of his ideas about a TV show based on the activities of New Jersey organized crime families with Chase, a TV producer/director.  Unbeknownst to Baer, Chase had already been actively researching and writing a TV series that would become The Sopranos. Chase consulted with Baer on an occasion or two and used Baer’s contacts to arrange meetings with New Jersey detectives who shared stories about investigation of mob crime activities.  Baer alleged that Chase had promised that if the show became successful, Chase would “take care of him.” The court found that the contract’s description of Chase’s performance was not sufficiently certain and definite.  The Court allowed the quasi contract claim for quantum meruit to proceed to a trial which resulted in a defendant's verdict.
Given the way things get “taken care of” in the underworld, Baer may have gotten away easy.
Did you take care of that thing?


Taking care of two things:

Having your lawyer take care of things:

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