A woman from New Zealand recently took her boyfriend to a dispute’s tribunal, claiming he breached a verbal contract by failing to drive her to the airport. The incident led her to miss a flight she had booked with friends to attend a concert.
According to court documents, the boyfriend had agreed to take care of her two dogs and drive her to the airport. The woman messaged him the day before, asking to be picked up by 10:15 am. However, the boyfriend never showed up, causing her to miss her flight, delay her travel plans by a day, and arrange kennels for her dogs.
The woman sought reimbursement for all associated costs, including ferry tickets from a previously planned holiday. She argued that her boyfriend had enjoyed staying at her house and had looked after her dogs before.
Unfortunately for her, Tribunal referee Krysia Cowie ruled that the verbal agreement could not be enforced. Cowie explained that social arrangements between partners, friends, and colleagues are typically not legally binding unless there is clear intent to be bound by the agreement.
“Partners, friends, and colleagues make social arrangements, but it is unlikely they can be legally enforced unless the parties perform some act that demonstrates an intention that they will be bound by their promises,” Cowie stated.
The tribunal concluded that the promises made were part of the normal “give and take” in an intimate relationship and did not constitute a binding verbal contract.
