Hotel Case Review

Invigorated by your early success at Colossal Corporation, you open

The Turnip Plaza Hotel case file

Ken

neth Dodger has provided to you. In the next step, you will gather the information you need to write the report.

Step 2: Gather and Analyze Information

INBOX (1 NEW EMAIL)

From: Kenneth Dodger, Vice President, Colossal Corporation

To: You

Good morning,

Hope you’ve had time to review the case file on The Turnip Plaza Hotel. In order to formulate a sound response to my questions, you’ll need to review a number of specific foundational issues involving legal contracts.

First, find the necessary information about

contract formation and execution

. Then, look into possible

contract remedies

for when a breach of contract occurs. As you read over this information, be sure to record your thoughts pertaining to the case, while noting the places in the readings that prompted your thoughts.

After you have refreshed your understanding of contract law generally, you should supplement that understanding by doing

legal research

on specific laws related to contracts in Michigan. Again, make sure to take notes as you read. Good notes will help you write your report.

Thinking over this case, put some of your focus on Edward Griffin’s role in this situation with Mark Piper. More specifically, consider whether Edward had the authority to make the promise he made (or any promises) to Mark.

Review the

legal responsibilities of agents and employees

to help formulate your answer. You should also review

ethical business decision making

, as it pertains to keeping promises in business situations and the ethical questions I have asked you to consider.

I trust you to perform with the same tenacity as you did with the first cases.

Thanks,

Ken

In the next step, you will use what you have learned to create an outline that will prepare you to write the report.

Step 3: Focus on Your Rationale and Conclusions: Create Your Outline

You’ve finished your research and reflected on how the facts and the law come together in this situation. You’ve also analyzed the possible arguments and determined which seem most reasonable (all things considered). Now it is time to formulate them, making sure to address all the concerns that VP Dodger expressed to you when you met. Outline the report that you will draft for your VP and review your document to make certain it covers all relevant points and progresses in a logical order.

After you finish the outline, if you have time, give yourself one night of sleep before you begin the next step, in which you will write the report. Fresh eyes might help you see points that need revision.

Use your outline and research notes to prepare your report for the VP. Be sure to meet the following requirements he has requested:

5/1/24, 12:18 PM
The Turnip Plaza Hotel
Course Resource
The Turnip Plaza Hotel
Notice: Contains Confidential Information
Mark Piper was employed for several years as a tour guide at the Turnip Plaza Hotel in
Port Austin, Michigan. Turnip Plaza is one of Colossal Corporation’s luxury hotel holdings,
strategically located near Lake Huron’s famous Turnip Rock. Over the years, Mark
developed a reputation as one of the most skillful tour guides in Michigan. He would guide
tourists through extreme kayaking, hiking, and camping adventures in and around the
Great Lakes. He was often requested by name by tourists visiting the hotel and was
featured on extreme sports television. His high adventure kayaking tours brought in
significant revenue for the hotel.
One month ago, Mark was approached by Stacey Nguyen, the manager of the Huron
Overnight Inn—a rival company of Turnip Plaza. Stacey offered Mark a substantial salary
increase to leave Turnip Plaza and come to work for her. Mark agreed to think about this
offer and get back to Stacey in 48 hours. When he returned to Turnip Plaza, he asked
several of his colleagues what they thought about the offer. One of them immediately
went to Turnip Plaza’s manager, Edward Griffin, and told him the details of Stacey’s offer
to Mark.
Upon hearing of the offer, Edward called Mark into his office and said: “If you stay with
Turnip Plaza, I promise that next month you will receive a promotion with a 50 percent
raise and a guaranteed contract for a two-year term.” This sounded good to Mark, and he
turned down the offer from Stacey to stay with Turnip Plaza. However, last week, shortly
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5/1/24, 12:18 PM
The Turnip Plaza Hotel
before Mark was to receive his new contract, he was dismissed from Turnip Plaza because
of corporate restructuring due to concerns about the increased liability risks of managing
high adventure tours through Colossal’s hotels. Although Mark has not taken any formal
action at this point, the vice president is concerned that Mark might try to hold Turnip
Plaza to Edward’s promise.
Your task is to research the legal and ethical issues associated with this situation and write
a report to the vice president answering the following questions:
1. What legal theories might Mark use to try to legally enforce Edward’s promise?
Explain the elements of these theories and how they apply to the facts of this
scenario.
2. If Mark were to file a lawsuit and win, what sort of damages or other remedies might
he be entitled to? Include your reasoning and any evidence that led you to your
conclusions.
3. Finally, regardless of the legal implications, the vice president would like your view
on the ethical issues. Does Turnip Plaza have an ethical obligation to fulfill the
promise made by Edward to Mark? Is it right to lay off Mark under these
circumstances? What should Turnip Plaza do from an ethical perspective? Use ethical
theory and principles to analyze these questions.
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