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EXTRA CREDIT A winter storm cuts the power supply and isolates a small town in the mountains.  People rush to buy candles from the town’s only store.  The store owner decides to keep the price of candles unchanged and, instead, rations candles one to a family. a) Who ultimately gets to use the candles distributed by the method of allocation used by the store owner? b) Who ultimately receives consumer surplus (buyer gain from trade) and producer surplus (seller gain from trade) on the exchanges of candles?

Which of the following is false regarding the dissolution of a partnership in Germany?

[Software Dispute] Cole, Kyra, and Morton are partners in a startup company that designs software for the biotechnology industry. Their partnership agreement contained a provision that the partnership would be dissolved when Morton retires, or if any partner commits any act that violates the trust of the other partners. The partnership agreement also provided that all intellectual property related to the business of the partnership, including any patents, be owned by the partnership. Cole decides to open another company, ColeCompany, that would design gaming software. He sets up the company secretively, transfers a patent owned by the partnership to ColeCompany, and does not tell his partners until he is ready to do business at ColeCompany. When Kyra and Morton find out that Cole went behind their backs and opened another business, they tell Cole they can no longer trust him and are dissolving the partnership because of his actions. Cole, who is the software designer for the partnership, tells them if they want to dissolve the partnership, then he will also design software for the biotech industry at ColeCompany. Can Cole design software for the biotech industry at ColeCompany while the partnership is winding-up?

[Candy Company] Milton, Ava, and Hiro own a candy company. The business is failing and Milton is declared bankrupt by the bankruptcy court. Ava wants to keep the business running because she is sure she can turn it around. Hiro tells her that, it’s too late, the partnership is already over because of Milton. Ava tells him that no one has asked to end the partnership so they do not have to dissolve. The partnership debts include a loan to the bank, loans Ava made to the company, and the initial capital that all three partners invested. Milton has no money to pay any of their debts. In what order should the partnership’s debts be paid?

[Drone Debacle] Bruno and Martin run Skyview, LLC, a drone company that takes aerial photographs. After an accident with the drone, Bruno tells Martin that he does not want to be involved in management any longer. Martin tells Bruno that if he stops participating in management, they will no longer be protected by the limited liability of an LLC. Bruno says that if there is a lawsuit, they are both equally liable. Martin replies that if Bruno wants, he could be a limited LLC member and then he won’t have a say in the company. Is Martin correct that they will lost the protection of limited liability if Bruno ceases participating in management decisions?

[Language-Science Kits] The president of Kool Science, Inc., which makes educational science kits for children, calls the president of Language Fun, Inc., which makes foreign language learning materials for children. They discuss production of three educational toys which teach both science and foreign language to children. They agree that Kool will work with Language to create and market the three toys, and that they will use Kool’s manufacturer to produce the product. Does the president of Kool Science have the authority to sign a contract with a supplier on behalf of Language Fun for the language-science kits?

[Software Dispute] Cole, Kyra, and Morton are partners in a startup company that designs software for the biotechnology industry. Their partnership agreement contained a provision that the partnership would be dissolved when Morton retires, or if any partner commits any act that violates the trust of the other partners. The partnership agreement also provided that all intellectual property related to the business of the partnership, including any patents, be owned by the partnership. Cole decides to open another company, ColeCompany, that would design gaming software. He sets up the company secretively, transfers a patent owned by the partnership to ColeCompany, and does not tell his partners until he is ready to do business at ColeCompany. When Kyra and Morton find out that Cole went behind their backs and opened another business, they tell Cole they can no longer trust him and are dissolving the partnership because of his actions. Cole, who is the software designer for the partnership, tells them if they want to dissolve the partnership, then he will also design software for the biotech industry at ColeCompany. Was the partnership rightfully dissolved or wrongfully dissolved?

[Big Spender] Ryan was a partner in ZYX law firm. He decided to withdraw from the partnership because he wanted to retire early in Costa Rica. The partnership agreement of ZYX law firm did not specify the objective or duration of the partnership. Although Ryan gave proper notice, the other partners claimed that he had no right to withdraw. Ryan was angry and decided to get even. Two days after he withdrew and before the partnership had provided notification to any suppliers of his departure, Ryan went to the office supply store at which he typically purchased supplies on account for the firm. He purchased several cameras, a computer, and other items, which he placed on the firm’s account. Ryan just smiled when Joe, the manager at the store, told Ryan that he really appreciated the law firm’s business. The next day Ryan headed for Costa Rica and cannot be located. Joe later requests that ZYX firm pay the bill for Ryan’s purchases. The law firm, whose members had decided to continue the partnership after the dissolution resulting from Ryan’s resignation, refused on the basis that Ryan had no authority to make the purchases. Joe says that he did not know that and that he expects to be paid immediately. Which statement is true regarding whether the law firm is liable for purchases made by Ryan?

[Drone Debacle] Bruno and Martin run Skyview, LLC, a drone company that takes aerial photographs. After an accident with the drone, Bruno tells Martin that he does not want to be involved in management any longer. Martin tells Bruno that if he stops participating in management, they will no longer be protected by the limited liability of an LLC. Bruno says that if there is a lawsuit, they are both equally liable. Martin replies that if Bruno wants, he could be a limited LLC member and then he won’t have a say in the company. Is Martin correct that they will lost the protection of limited liability if Bruno ceases participating in management decisions?

[Cookie Problems] Rashi makes great chocolate chip cookies and sells them in her café called Rashi’s Famous Cookies. Some of her friends have expressed interest in selling her cookies. They want to use her name and identify the cookies as Rashi’s Famous Cookies. Seeing a business opportunity, Rashi agrees to bake the cookies and provide them frozen to her friends who will open other cafés under her café’s name. Rashi strictly controls all packaging and sales. She also frequently inspects kitchens used by the sellers, pursuant to her agreements with them. Lola, one of Rashi’s friends who entered into an agreement with Rashi to open a café and sell the cookies, was not being careful and negligently put a harmful ingredient into the cookie dough resulting in a customer, Jonah, becoming ill. Jonah threatens to sue both Lola and Rashi. Rashi is so exasperated that she cancels all the franchise contracts. Although the franchise agreements provide that,as long as requirements are met, the franchise agreements will continue for a period of two years, Rashi takes the position that the cookies involve a personal service using a trade secret, and that she cannot be held liable to her franchisees for discontinuation of the franchises. What type of arrangement did Rashi make with her friends?