Larceny requires the intent to permanently deprive the owner of their property. If the man genuinely believed the bicycle was abandoned, he lacked the intent necessary to commit larceny. This belief, if reasonable, could serve as a defense, even if mistaken.
The store’s best defense would be to show that it exercised reasonable care under the circumstances, such as having procedures in place to regularly inspect and clean the premises. If the store can demonstrate that it acted reasonably, even if the spill was not cleaned up immediately, it might avoid liability. However, this defense is difficult since the store employees were aware of the spill.
Under contract law, any modification to an existing contract must be supported by new consideration. In this case, the builder was already obligated to complete the renovation for $50,000, so the demand for an additional $10,000 without new consideration is unenforceable. The homeowner is not legally obligated to pay the extra amount.
The law may violate the Free Exercise Clause, which protects individuals' rights to practice their religion. Even though the law appears neutral, the Free Exercise Clause requires that the government not prohibit religious practices unless there is a compelling state interest, and the law is narrowly tailored to achieve that interest. In this case, a blanket prohibition on religious symbols might not meet this standard.