Kalen is a seventeen-year-old minor who has just graduated from high school. He is attending a university two hundred miles from home and has contracted to rent an apartment near the university for one year at $500 per month. He is working at a convenience store to earn enough income to be self-supporting. After living in the apartment and paying monthly rent for four months, he becomes involved in a dispute with his landlord. Kalen, still a minor, moves out and returns the key to the landlord. The landlord wants to hold Kalen liable for the balance of the payments due under the lease. Discuss fully Kalen’s liability in this situation.

Answer and Explanation:

According to the scenario, the explanation of the given situation are as follow:-

1. Ability of Contract : According to the law except of some contract a minor can enter into any contract. Mr. kalen is a seventeen year old minor and he can entered the rent contract because it is not banned by the government for the minor.  

2. This is a voidable contract because Mr. Kalen is a minor and he not legally capable to entering in agreement. In voidable contract one party has a right to discontinue the contract it is depends on him that he want to void it or not. If he wants to void it he cannot be bound to go further with this contract. If a minor wants he can rightfully dis-affirm any contract in which he enters.

According to the analysis, under this circumstance, Mr. kalen is not bound to the contract because he is still minor and he shows his disaffirmance of contract by returning the key to landlord. So he is not liable for the balance of the payments due under the lease.