[TriLUG] Re: [GoLugTech] legal question

[Rick DeNatale]

On Wed, 23 Mar 2005 12:46:06 -0500, Christopher L Merrill
<chris at webperformanceinc.com> wrote:
> Marc M wrote:
> > PROBLEM for them.  OTOH, striking a line through some things (with
> > initials), is a nice user-friendly way to deal with them.  Most people
> > don't realize they have that right -- customizing the terms of the
> > deal!
> 
> I've done this with more than one employer.  I didn't mention it to the
> HR person...I just did it and handed it back to them.  I'm not sure they
> ever read it.  Probably just checked the back page to see if I signed.
> If they did see my deletions, nobody mentioned it to me.

IANAL but I have been involved in a few contracts and I've watched all
of the episodes of "The Paper Chase" several times.

Contract modifications normally have to be intialed by BOTH parties in
order to be effective.  As Professor Kingsfield said a contract is a
"meeting of minds."  If push came to shove, I'm not sure what the
courts would make of it.

Consider the shoe being on the other foot. If such uni-lateral changes
were kosher, what would stop your unscrupulous employer from making
his own alterations after you read and/or signed the contract?