AGENCY LAW Flashcards
What is the definition of AGENCY?
A relationship that subsist between the
- PRINCIPAL and
- AGENT who has been authorized to act or represent him in dealing with others
Reason to have an agent?
( 5 example )
- To save time and work
- For the Agent expertise
- For urgent matters
- Logistic problem
- Social status of the parties
Give the definition of Agent and Principal
AGENT:
- a person employed to do any act for another or to represent another when dealing with third person
PRINCIPAL:
- the person for whom such act is done, or who is represented
2 types of contract in agency
- Contract between Principal and the Agent
- agent gets his authority to act - Contract between Principal and Third party
- through the work of agent
Who can be a principal?
i - Age of majority (18 years old and above)
ii - Sound mind
Who can be an agent?
Anybody can be an agent
If an agent is below 18 years old or unsound mind, what happened?
1) The agent is not liable towards the Principal for any act done by him as an agent
2) The principal is liable for the authorized act of the agent
3 types of Agent
- UNIVERSAL AGENT
- agent with extensive power
- can do all the act that the Principal can do - GENERAL AGENT
- act generally in transaction relating to a particular trade/business - SPECIAL AGENT
- appointed to do specific act
- authority is limited to do that specific act only
Classification based on function (7 answer)
1) DEL CREDERE AGENT
- undertake that the third party will perform his obligation in consideration with extra commission. will be liable if 3rd party fails to perform obligation.
2) FACTORS
- commercial agent that is entrusted with the principal’s goods for sale. sell the goods in his own name without disclosing the principal. has lien over the goods if commission not paid by the principal.
3) BROKER
-commercial agent employed to make contract between principal and 3rd party for commission. find buyer, find seller, negotiate and make contract.
4) AUCTIONEER
- sell goods by auction. start as agent for seller, after accept bid, become agent for buyer.
5) BANKERS
- agent for customer. bank employees are agent for the bank.
6) PARTNER
7) DIRECTORS
5 WAYS OF CREATION OF AGENCY
- Express appointment by the principal
- Implied appointment by the principal
- Ratification by the principal
- By necessity
- By holding out (doctrine of estoppel)
- EXPRESS APPOINTMENT (CREATION)
The principal make an appointment of agent either orally or in writing
S.140 Contract Act
“an authority is said to be express when it is given by words spoken or written”
- If an agent act beyond his authority, it will not bind the Principal
- IMPLIED APPOINMENT (CREATION)
S.140 CONTRACT ACT
“when the principal either by word of mouth or conduct, holds-out that the other person has the authority to act for him
or
“it can be implied from the surrounding circumstances that the principal had given authority to the agent to act on his behalf”
- RATIFICATION (CREATION)
When agent do something on behalf of the principal beyond his authority. The principal may accept and ratify the act of the agent.
S.149 CONTRACT ACT
“where acts are done one person on behalf of another but without his knowledge or authority, he may elect to ratify or to disown the acts. if he ratifies them, the same effect will follow as if they had been performed by his authority”
- agent is appointed but had exceeded his authority
- a person who has no authority has acted as if he has authority
- RATIFICATION (CREATION)
What are the condition to be fulfilled?
(8 answers)
- act is unauthorized
- act must not be unlawful
- must act as an agent for the principal
- agent must have a principal who is actually in existence
- principal must have contractual capacity
- principal must have full knowledge
- must ratify the whole act
- ratification can’t hurt the 3rd party
- BY NECESSITY (CREATION)
An agency that arise as a result of an emergency or urgency of the situation.
3 situation that arise agency by necessity:
s.142 CA
“an agent has authority, in an emergency, to do all such acts for the purpose of protecting his principal from loss as would be done by a person of ordinary prudence, in his own case, under similar circumstances”
- Wife who has been deserted by her husband and could not support herself, may pledge her husband credit.
- Person who is entrusted with a property may do certain act when it becomes necessary in order to preserve that property for him.
- A captain of a ship, may pledge the ship as security for the cost of repair, for it to continue the voyage.