Which civil case established that an offer can be made to the public at large?

The case that established that an offer can be made to the public at large is indeed the one involving Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co. This landmark case from 1893 is crucial in contract law, particularly regarding unilateral contracts and offers to the general public.

In this case, the Carbolic Smoke Ball Company placed an advertisement stating that they would pay £100 to anyone who used their product and still contracted influenza. This advertisement was deemed a valid offer to the general public. The court ruled that anyone who met the conditions of the offer by using the product could accept it simply by performing the stated action—using the smoke ball—as it was an invitation to treat.

This ruling clarified how public advertisements can constitute binding offers when certain conditions are met, demonstrating the principles of unilateral contracts where acceptance occurs through the performance of the act specified in the offer.

In contrast, other cases listed focus on different aspects of contract law, such as negotiation and acceptance or the intention to create legal relations, but they do not specifically address offers made to the public in the same manner as Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co.