Do not answer with just a yes or no. For each question, state the facts, and then apply the law to the facts in order to arrive at a conclusion to each question.

Question 1 (30 marks)

Chris wanted to sell his car and advertised it in a magazine at $210,000 on 1 September 2021, giving his telephone number. Mary saw the advertisement and called Chris and made an appointment to see the car on 3 September. Mary liked the car but could not agree on a price with Chris. Mary offered to buy at $198,000, while Chris insisted on $200,000.

On 4 September, Chris sent a letter to Mary offering her the car for $199,000 and saying that the offer would be kept open until 5 pm on 10 September. Mary received the letter on 6 September. In 8 September afternoon, Mary met Lawrence in a public park. Lawrence told Mary that Chris' niece had bought the car earlier that day for $199,900 and the offer for Mary had been cancelled. Lawrence was a common friend of Chris and Mary. In the evening of 8 September, Mary sent a letter to Chris with a view to accepting his offer to sell at $199,000, after meeting with Lawrence earlier on the day. Chris received Marys letter on 10 September and immediately replied by letter that,

I have already sold the car to my niece.

1. Discuss the contract law implications of the correspondences among Chris, Mary and Lawrence, indicating whether Mary could sue Chris for breach of contract.

(20 marks)

2. Suppose that in Chris letter to Mary dated 4 September offering the car for $199,000, Chris provided his email address and indicated that Mary could reply by email. Mary accepted the said offer of $199,000 by sending an email on 8 September, which reached Chris email address as specified, in the evening of 8 September, after hearing from Lawrence earlier on the day that the car had already been sold to Chris niece.

Will you change your answer to Part 1 above? (10 marks)