parent nodes: statute of frauds
Cash v Maddox
Facts
P, living in FL, phones D, living in GA, to discuss sale of land
P mails a check to D for $200 with "15 acres in Pickens, S.C., land binder ... etc." on it as part payment
D returns the check, refuses to perform
P sues D for specific performance
Analysis
For a contract to meet the statute of frauds, and thus to merit an order of specific performance, every essential element of the sale must be expressed in the writing. The writing on the check was not specific enough so that a court could order specific performance based on the check. Therefore, P cannot recover from D.
See statute of frauds