Prepare a three paragraph response including the following:

Identify the issue of law posed by the case problem. This will be in the form of a question based on a legal concept from the chapter.

What should be the decision in the case? (i.e. the answer to the issue).

The reasoning for such decision.

Ruth inherited 800 acres of farmland located in Des Moines County from her father following his death in December 1995. At the time, plaintiff farmed the land pursuant to an oral crop-share lease. The lease term was year-to-year, with profits shared on a fifty-fifty basis between plaintiff and Ruth's father. Ruth also worked for her father on the farm over the years until approximately two years prior to his death. She was primarily involved in her father's livestock operation. Plaintiff was also involved in the livestock operation, especially during the two years prior to the time Ruth inherited the farm. During these two years, plaintiff ran the cattle operation under an arrangement similar to the grain operation.

In the spring of 1996, Ruth asked plaintiff if he would continue to farm the ground and raise the cattle as he did for her father. Ruth and plaintiff agreed that plaintiff would continue in the farming operation. They also agreed plaintiff and his wife would reside in one of the houses on the farm rent-free. Unfortunately, this agreement, and any additional terms, was not reduced to writing.

Plaintiff and his wife moved to the farm in June 1996, and plaintiff successfully operated the farm, without incident, until 1999. During this time, plaintiff raised cattle, cultivated and harvested crops, and improved and cared for the land by fixing buildings and removing debris and manure. The farm was generally run down at the time it was inherited by Ruth, and plaintiff improved its condition by performing work not typically done by a tenant farmer.

In 1999 Ruth sought to charge plaintiff rent for the farmhouse in which he was residing in the amount of $550 a month. Ruth also proposed a written farm lease between them that would terminate in 2000. Plaintiff refused to execute the written proposals, and Ruth sought to terminate the tenancy.

Plaintiff responded by filing an action against Ruth for breach of contract. He claimed the 1996 oral agreement with Ruth included a term permitting him to live in the house rent free and remain the tenant on a fifty-fifty basis until he "retired or couldn't work anymore." Plaintiff further claimed he relied on this promise in several ways, including selling his former residence and moving to the farm, purchasing various farm equipment, and improving the land by making repairs and removing debris.

Ruth denied any term regarding the length of their lease, and sought summary judgment. She claimed the statute of frauds prevented plaintiff from establishing an oral contract between the parties.

What would plaintiff use as the basis for his suit? Who should prevail and why?