Source
r/Ask_Lawyers•
Progenitor

In America, if I offered a $500K reward to return my stolen dogs, no questions asked, do I have a legal obligation to stay true to that claim or can I still call the police to pick up the person who has my dogs when (s)he returns them to collect the money?

Copying a train-wreck of a thread in r/answers, I was curious what this sub thinks of this question. I am a random guy from the UK and doesn't have any contact with a certain LA celebrity.

Original thread as an FYI https://www.reddit.com/r/answers/comments/ltedbk/in_america_if_i_offered_a_500k_reward_to_return/

Posted Feb 27, 2021, 6:22 PM UTC

24
vomitCowI am not a cat.•

These are two separate questions so I’m just going to answer the question of whether someone has to pay up if they offered $500K for finding their dogs.

Generally, the answer is yes. This is what you call a unilateral contract. It’s when one party promises to do something if another party fulfills the request. Here, Lady Gaga said if you find my dogs and return it to me I’ll give you $500K.

To go further, a valid contract needs the following: offer, acceptance, consideration, meeting of the minds, capacity, and legality. Most contracts do not need to be written. Going through each element:

  • Offer: Lady Gaga offers $500K for the return of her dogs.
  • Acceptance: You find the dogs and return them to Lady Gaga.
  • Consideration: Lady Gaga is offering $500K, and you’re offering to return the dogs.
  • Meeting of the minds: You both understand the gist of the transaction. Return of dogs for $500K.
  • Capacity: Both of you were in sound mind when the contract was made. There’s no signs of mental illness or the inability to understand the consequences of the contract.
  • Legality: There’s nothing illegal about offering a reward for finding something.
12
prpslydistracted•

None of which addresses the violent assault on the dog walker, correct? That isn't Lady Gaga's call it is the police/DA?

Totally different issue, assuming the person who returned the dogs is in some way knowledgeable of the the person who shot him?

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vomitCowI am not a cat.•

Yes, I purposely left out any part that has to do with the shooting and robbery. I don’t know how that would complicate things as I don’t do criminal law, so I spoke only on the legality of reward money.

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