Problem.Dispute.Contests

    In 1980, the owner of Bullwinkle's Saloon in Tallahassee, Florida, held one of a continuing series of contests.  He offered to pay $25 to any customer wearing a T-shirt bearing a date prior to 1977 and to pay $5 extra for every year prior to 1976.  In response, one customer wore a T-shirt reading: "900th Anniversary of the Tower of London, 1078-1978.  The customer demanded $4,515.   Need the owner of the Saloon pay?  What if a paleontologist arrived with a T-shirt reading:  "Paleontologists Prefer the Pleistocene, 1 million BC"?  What if an astrophysicist arrived with a T-shirt reading:  "Big Bang, 15 Billion BC"?  

    In June 2005, the Associated Press reported the story of a contest in which a WLTO-FM in Lexington, Kentucky promised "100 grand" to the person listening to the radio show for several hours and thereafter being the 10th caller at a specified time.  Norreasha Gill won the contest but soon discovered that the prize was a Nestle's "100 Grand" candy bar rather than money.  When she demanded money, the station manager offered $5,000 to settle her claim.  She declined and filed suit for $100,000.  Should she prevail?  The radio station may be subject to sanctions by the Federal Communications Commission for a false or deceptive contest description.