Free Case Brief Library
Welcome to our comprehensive free case brief library featuring the most important 1L and bar-tested cases in American law. Each case brief follows proper law school format with detailed analysis of facts, issues, holdings, rules, and reasoning. These carefully curated case briefs cover essential landmark decisions that every law student must master, organized by subject area for efficient study and review. Whether you're preparing for class, studying for exams, or reviewing for the bar, our case brief collection provides the foundational knowledge you need to succeed in law school and legal practice.
Contracts
Lucy v. Zehmer
Objective theory of contracts
Hamer v. Sidway
Consideration doctrine
Hawkins v. McGee
Contract formation and damages
Hadley v. Baxendale
Consequential damages
Bailey v. West
Contract modification
Embry v. Hargadine
Objective theory application
Wood v. Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon
Implied duties
Alaska Packers v. Domenico
Pre-existing duty rule
Sherwood v. Walker
Mutual mistake
Sullivan v. O'Connor
Expectation vs. reliance damages
Batsakis v. Demotsis
Adequacy of consideration
Taylor v. Caldwell
Impossibility doctrine
Carlill v. Carbolic Smoke Ball Co.
Unilateral contracts and advertisements
Lonergan v. Scolnick
Offer vs. invitation to treat
Lefkowitz v. Great Minneapolis Surplus Store
Advertisements as offers
Leonard v. PepsiCo
Objective theory and reasonable person standard
Drennan v. Star Paving Co.
Promissory estoppel in construction
James Baird Co. v. Gimbel Bros.
Traditional consideration doctrine
Allegheny College v. National Chautauqua Bank
Early promissory estoppel
Feinberg v. Pfeiffer Co.
Promissory estoppel in employment
Webb v. McGowin
Moral consideration and material benefit rule
Kirksey v. Kirksey
Gratuitous promises and consideration
Williams v. Walker-Thomas Furniture Co.
Unconscionability doctrine
Jacob & Youngs v. Kent
Substantial performance doctrine
Hill v. Gateway 2000
Shrinkwrap contracts
NIPSCO v. Carbon County Coal
Commercial impracticability
Torts
Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad
Proximate cause and duty
Boomer v. Atlantic Cement
Nuisance and permanent damages
Vincent v. Lake Erie Transportation
Private necessity doctrine
Escola v. Coca Cola Bottling Co.
Res ipsa loquitur and strict liability
Greenman v. Yuba Power Products
Strict product liability
Rylands v. Fletcher
Strict liability for abnormally dangerous activities
Tarasoff v. Regents of Univ. of California
Duty to warn third parties
Rowland v. Christian
Premises liability reform
Heaven v. Pender
Foundational neighbor principle
Vaughan v. Menlove
Objective standard of care
Blyth v. Birmingham Waterworks Co.
Definition of negligence
Grimshaw v. Ford Motor Co.
Punitive damages in product liability
Lubitz v. Wells
Child standard of care exceptions
MacPherson v. Buick Motor Co.
Product liability and privity elimination
Donoghue v. Stevenson
Neighbor principle and duty of care
Ultramares Corp. v. Touche
Professional negligence and third party liability
Caparo Industries v. Dickman
Three-stage test for duty of care
Anns v. Merton London Borough Council
Two-stage test and public authority liability
Hedley Byrne v. Heller
Negligent misstatement and economic loss
Murphy v. Brentwood District Council
Overruling Anns and restricting economic loss
Property
Civil Procedure
Constitutional Law
Marbury v. Madison
Judicial review
McCulloch v. Maryland
Federal supremacy
Brown v. Board of Education
Equal protection
Roe v. Wade
Privacy rights
United States v. Lopez
Commerce Clause
Loving v. Virginia
Marriage rights and equal protection
Lawrence v. Texas
Substantive due process
Korematsu v. United States
Wartime civil liberties (repudiated)
Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer
Presidential powers and separation of powers
Wickard v. Filburn
Commerce Clause expansion
Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States
Civil rights and Commerce Clause
Gibbons v. Ogden
Foundational Commerce Clause case
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan
First Amendment and actual malice standard
Miranda v. Arizona
Fifth Amendment and Miranda rights
Gideon v. Wainwright
Sixth Amendment right to counsel