Agency & PS Flashcards
3 components of Agency
ABC
Assent by both
Benefit of P
Control by P
Entitles that can be Principals
Employer
LLC
LLP
Unincorproated cannot be P bc no legal capacity
Characteristics of IC
Maintain high level of independence
Free to work for other ppl
Fixed fee
Owns own tools
Termination of Agency
Either party can terminate it unilaterally
Common Agency fact pattern
- Arguable formation of agency
- Agent will do work on behalf of P
- P will get sued by TP
Agency - 4 types of legal authority to K
- Actual express authority
- Actual implied authority
- Apparent authority
- Ratification
Diff btw actual and apparent
Actual : P —> Agent
Apparent: P —> TP re agency
Actual express authority
Communication btw A + P—written or oral
Intent: A believed he is doing with P wants. Belief needs to be objectively reasonable
Termination by death— actual express authority
P dies—termination when A has actual knowledge of P’s death
A does — immediately terminates
Actual Implied Authority
Communication btw P+ A
P creates authority by using words or conduct to convey authority to A to do whatever is necessary to achieve goal
A can act within accepted business custom or trade usage
Apparent Authority
Communication btw P + TP
P communicated with TP that caused TP to reasonably believe P consents to acts done on his behalf
Reasonable? Look to their prior business dealings
Revocation of Apparent Authority
P needs to tell TP no more authority
Until revoked, apparent authority exists
Ratification by P
After the fact action
- P has knowledge of material terms of K
- P accepts the K’s benefit
Upon ratification —> P is L for the K
Can Ratify to either A or TP after the fact
NOTE: both A and P can be L
3 types of principles
Disclosed
Partially disclosed
Undisclosed
Disclosed P
Parties to K — P + TP
TP knows:
1. A is acting on behalf of the P
2. P’s identity
Partially Disclosed P
Parties to K — P + TP + A
TP knows A is working for P, but doesn’t know P’s identity
Undisclosed P
Parties to K — TP + A
TP does NOT know:
1. A is working on behalf of P
2. P’s identity
A will be L
Whether undisclosed P is also a party depends if A had authority to bind P to K
Agency Torts v K
Torts - vicarious L
K — actual, apparent, ratification
Vicarious L of P
Only for employees. Not IC
More control, more L
When is a P L for IC ?
Nondelegable duties
- Inherently dangerous tasks
- P neg in hiring IC
- P retains control over certain tasks, and tort occurs during that task
Determine scope of employment for VL
Did A intent to benefit P?
Was A’s conduct the kind that A was hired to perform?
Did the tort occur on the job?
Frolic
Significant deviation — outside scope of employment
Detour
Minor deviation — tort w/in scope of employment
Is P VL for intentional torts of A?
Generally No
Unless:
- conduct occurred w/in general space and time of employment
- A was motivated in some part to benefit P
- act was kind that A was hired to perform
Fiduciary Duties of Agency
Agents owe all Ps 3 duties:
Duty to exercise reasonable care
Duty to obey reasonable instructions
Duty of loyalty
Duty of Loyalty — Agency
- Cannot usurp business opp
- A cannot take secret profit
- A cannot compete in competing business
PS — Definitok
Two or more ppl
Carry on a for profit business
As co owners
Share profit
Share control