Lueddecke v. Chevrolet Motor Co.

H.W. Lueddecke (plaintiff) wrote to Chevrolet Motor Company (Chevy) (defendant) offering, in exchange for payment, design-change details to fix a vehicle-leaning problem, but Chevy responded that it would not agree to any payment until it could examine sufficient details, inviting Lueddecke to submit drawings; Lueddecke instead described the problem (vehicles leaning after years of use) and his general solution (relocating parts or adding springs) without ever submitting requested drawings or designs, and Chevy declined to enter any agreement. Lueddecke sued, claiming an implied contract existed and that Chevy later implemented his ideas across nearly all its vehicles; the trial court dismissed the claims.