This document summarizes several contract law cases related to acceptance of offers. It discusses cases where purported acceptances were found to be counteroffers, where acceptance was not communicated, where the acceptance needed to be a specific form, and where the accepting party did not have authority. It also covers cases where acceptance was found through conduct instead of words, acceptance of unilateral offers is completed through action, and establishes the postal rule that acceptance is effective upon posting.

1. Contract: Acceptance Case Law

2. Neale v Merret (1930)
Held: The purported acceptance was not in fact
acceptance but a counter offer.

3. Felthouse v Bindley (1862)
Held: Because the nephew had not
communicated his acceptance there was no
contract.

4. Eliason v Henshaw [1819]
Held: an American Case where it was stipulated
acceptance needed to be by a wagon.

5. Powell v Lee (1908)
Held: The acceptance was not valid because the
clerk did not have authority to accept the offer.

6. Brogden v Metropolitan Railway
(1877)
Held: Acceptance had been made by conduct

7. Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co 1893
Held: a unilateral offer was an exception to the
general rule that an advert will amount to an
invitation to treat. In unilateral contracts
acceptance is completed by action. The act is
the form of acceptance.

8. Adams v Lindsell (1881)
Held: This case established the postal rule.

9. Household Fire Assurance v Grant
(1879)
Held: Acceptance had taken place as soon as it
was posted.