Law Humor

By Judge Jerry Buchmeyer

John Albach's "End of the World" contributions that appeared in the January 2000 column spawned two contributions of unusual, but very "nice" contract provisions:

(1) From Jack Hazlewood of Amarillo, who years ago "happened to stumble on to Roy Rogers' contract with his movie studio (or maybe his agent)" in Nichols Encyclopedia of Legal Forms, this clause buried "deep in the fine print":

Actor [Roy Rogers] shall never in performance to which he is assigned or which he agrees to perform be presented in any role other than the unalterable and unswerving enemy of evil, injustice, and wrong; but shall always be portrayed in roles in which he is to appear as the constant and dedicated champion of right and justice.

(2) From Steven R. Borgman of Houston (Vinson & Elkins), this provision he "drafted in a detailed contract (just to show that not all scriveners insist on aligning the opposing side with the powers of darkness)."

9.8 "Additional Promise to be Nice." Each party shall provide the cooperation, assistance, information, decisions, and approvals reasonably requested by the other from time to time in order to perform its obligations under this Agreement and will do so on a timely basis.

Full post as published by Say What! on June 12, 2009 (boomark / email).