THE BUFFET CASE: ASPECTS OF CONTRACT LAW IN A TRANSACTION CONCLUDED BY EMAIL

Abstract

The article presents a teaching case focused on the study of contemporary Contract Law, with emphasis on the formation and breach of contracts concluded by electronic means. The narrative describes a service agreement entered into via email for a festive event, in which several inconsistencies arise during the performance phase, revealing potential violations of core contractual principles, such as objective good faith, the binding force of contracts (pacta sunt servanda), and the social function of the contract. Based on the problem situation, the text proposes reflections on the manifestation of intent, the stages of contract formation, its legal nature, as well as the time and place of its conclusion in a digital environment. From a pedagogical perspective, the article justifies the use of the case method as an instrument of active learning in legal education, highlighting its potential for developing critical reasoning, student autonomy, and the articulation between legislation, legal doctrine, and case law. Finally, the article sets out educational objectives, applicable disciplines, guiding questions, and alternative solutions, consolidating the case as a didactic tool suited to the practical and reflective training of law students