Lee v. Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc.

552 F.2d 447 (2nd Cir. 1977)

Purchase the Printed Copy at bsmsphd.com

Nature of the Case

To access this section all you need to do is click here and register.

Facts

Lee (P) had a 37-year record of service with Seagram (D) and had even been one of its officers. P acquired a half ownership in a wholesale liquor distributorship and agreed to sell the distributorship to D. D orally promised to set up P's sons in a new distributorship in a location acceptable to P. The written contract did not refer to the oral agreement. D performed the contract according to the written terms but refused to perform the contemporary oral contract. P sued D. At trial, the court ruled that the contract was not completely integrated and allowed parol evidence about the contract because it did not contradict or alter the written contract. D did not refute the oral agreement. P was awarded damages and D appealed. D claimed that parol evidence should not have been admitted to prove the existence of the oral agreement.