Question

The parol evidence rule is based on the theory that either there never was an oral agreement or, if there was, the parties purposely abandoned it when they executed their written contract.

Answer 1

The parol evidence rule is a legal principle in contract law that prevents parties from introducing evidence of an oral agreement that contradicts the terms of a written contract.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is discussing the parol evidence rule, which is a legal principle in contract law. It applies to disputes where parties have a written agreement but one party wants to introduce evidence of an oral agreement that contradicts the terms of the written contract. The parol evidence rule states that if the written contract is intended to be the complete and final expression of the parties' agreement, then evidence of prior or contemporaneous oral agreements is not admissible to contradict or vary the terms of the written contract.

For example, if two parties enter into a written contract for the sale of a car, and one party later claims that they had an oral agreement stating that the car would include additional accessories, the parol evidence rule would prevent the introduction of this oral agreement as evidence since it contradicts the written contract.

The purpose of the parol evidence rule is to promote the stability and enforceability of written contracts by preventing parties from inserting additional terms through oral agreements after they have already agreed to a written contract.