Business Flashcards
Agent Fiduciary Duties
Duties A to P
Duty of Care
Duty to Follow instructions
Duty of Loyalty
Duty of Communication
Independent Contractor
Typically no liablility because principal does not normally have the control required for a principal/agent relationship.
Independent Contractor as Agent exceptions
Ultra hazardous activity
Estoppel
Non-delegable duties
Hiring Incompetency
Intentional Torts
Intentional Torts are normally outside the scope of the agency relationship.
Exception:
Authorized by principal
Naturally occuring from the duties
Motivated by desire to serve the principal
Principal’s Remedies
Discharge
K Lawsuit
Tort Lawsuit
Equitable Accounting Action
Indemnity for Liability to third parties by agents Wrongful actions
Withhold compensation
Effects of Disassociation
The disassociated partner will no longer be entitled to participate in the management of the company and the partnership must buy out the partner’s interest and indemnify him or her against pre and post disassociation liabilities not incurred by the partner’s acts. However, the dissociated partner remains liable and may be liable for certain obligations arising within two years after the date of disassociation.
Principal / Agent relationship
An agency is a legal relationship where an agent is authorized to represent a principal in business dealings with third parties. The Principal-Agent relationship requires 1) assent, 2) benefit for the principal, 3) control of agent and some capacity.
Assent for principal/agent relationship
Must be some agreement, either formal or informal, between the principal and the agent whereby the principal has the right to control the agent. Manifested consent of both parties is required. Evaluated by the objective intent manifested in their actions.
Principal Liability for Agent Contracts
Principals are liable for contracts entered into by agents if authorized. Authority may be by actual, actual implied, apparent, or via ratification.
Partnership
A partnership is an association of two or more people to carry on as co-workers a business for profit. Partnership law is based on the law of contract and agency. A “person” can be an individual, trust, corporation, partnership or other entity.
Partnership Legal Status
A partnership is a legal entity and it is distinct from the partners that make up the partnership. The partnership can own land as well as be sued.
Partnership Governing Law
The Revised Uniform Partnership Act “RUPA” will apply, except to the extent partners create their own written agreements and the RUPA does not preempt those.
Partnership Formation
A partnership can be formed for any legal purpose. There are no formalities to becoming a general partnership. It may exist through conduct alone. Courts will look to the intent of the parties, sharing of profits, and joint title to property.
Profit Sharing (Partnerships)
The contribution of money or services in return for a share of the profits (if any) is prima facie evidence of a general partnership. There must be an intent to carry a business as co-owners.
Partnership by Estoppel
One who represents to a third party that a general partnership exists will be liable, as if it actually does exist (even when it doesn’t).
General Partnerships
General partners hare equal rights and responsibilities in connection with the management of the business and any individual partners can bind the entire group to a legal obligation.
Contract Liability - Partnerships
Parnters are jointly and severally liable for all contracts entered into by a partner in the scope of the partnership business or with authority of the partnership.
Authority of Partners
All partners are agents of the partnership. Thus, the act of any partner for apparently carrying on in the ordinary course of the partnership business, binds the partnership unless the partner had no authority to act and the 3rd Party dealing with the partner had knowledge of that.
Types of Authority (Partnerships)
Actual, apparent, authority by ratification and agency by estoppel.
Actual Authority (Partnerships)
All partners can bind the partnership to any transaction for which they have actual authority to enter into which is the authority a partner reasonably believes he or she ahs based on the communications between the partnership and himself. This is an objective standard.
Types of Partnerships
1) General Partners, 2) Limited Partnerships, 3) Limited Liability Partnerships, 4) Registered Limited Liability Partnership
Express Actual Authority (Partnerships)
Occurs when the principal uses words to express authority to the agent to enter into the contract.
Implied Actual Authority (Partnerships)
Occurs when some conduct of the principal leads the agent to reasonably believe that he or she has authority to act on the principal’s behalf and that authority is reasonably necessary to carry out the objectives of the agency relationship.
Apparent authority (Partnerships)
Occurs when an agent appears to have authority and a third-party reasonably relies on this appearance. The belief must be reasonable.
Duty of Loyalty (Partnerships)
Partners may not engage in 1) self-dealing, 2) usurping partnership opportunities, 3) Making a secret/undisclosed profit at the partnership’s expense.
Breach of Loyalty Remedies (Partnerships)
The partnership may recover 1) losses caused by the breach, 2) may disgorge profits made by the breaching partner.
Knowledge and Notice to Third Parties (Partnerships)
A partnership will not be bound by any partner’s act if the partner lacked the actual authority to enter into the transaction and the third party with whom the partner dealt with either knew or received notification of such fact.
KNOWLEDGE element - Knowledge and Notice to Third Parties
Subjective knowledge of what the person actually knew.
NOTICE element - Knowledge and Notice to Third Parties
A notice is effective once it comes to a person’s attention.
Partners are Agents of the Partnership?
Yes- Partners are Agents of the Partnership.
You got this card right! Good job. You can quit for the day. Bar studies starts tomorrow.
The types of Partnership Property
There are two types: 1) Partnership Capital and Partnership Property
Partnership Capital
Money contributed by each partner for the purpose of carrying on the business side of the partnership. This becomes the share property fo the business.
Partnership Property
Includes everything the partnership owns such as capital property subsequently acquired that is either titled or untitled. A partner has no right to use partnership property for personal purposes.
Titled Property vs. Untitled Property (Partnerships)
Titled: Governed by RUPA. Refers to anything titled in partnerships name and evidenced in the instrument of the transfer.
Untitled: Governed by common law. Courts will assess whether this is separate property or partnership property obtained in the course of the partnership or improved with partnership funds.
Anything paid with partnership funds/credit is presumed to belong to partnership.
Transfer of Partnership Property
A partner may transfer partnership property held in the name of the partnership. Transfer must be made by named partners.
Distributions (Partnerships)
In a general partnership (unless in writing stating otherwise), partners equally share in the profits or losses of the business. In a Limited Partnership, distributions are made by the general and limited partners, in proportion to the value of each partners contribution.
Interests of Partners in a Partnership
Partnership interests include (all seperate headings):
- Management
- Partner account
- Indemnification
- Ability to inspect
- Suing the partnership
- Settlement upon Dissolution
Settlement upon Dissolution (Partnerships)
Upon dissolution, a partner is entitled to a settlement of his or her account.
Limitations on the interests of the partnership
Fiduciary Duties
Duty of Care
Breach of Duties Resulting in Profit
Assignment of Transferable Interest
Authority of Partners
All partners are agents of a partnership. Thus any partner act carrying on during the ordinary course of the partnership will bind the partnership UNLESS 1) the partner had no authority and 2) the third party had knowledge of that.
Actual
- All partners bind with actual authority they reasonably believe they have (objective standard)
Statement of authority
- An express grant of limitation. To be valid it must be filed with the secretary of the state.
Knowledge and Notice (third parties)
- No binding UNLESS 1) the partner had no authority and 2) the third party had knowledge of that.
Contract Liability (Partnerships)
Partners are joint and severally liable for all contracts entered into by a partner in the scope of the partnership.
NOTE: In an Limited Partnership a limited partner is not personally liable for an obligation of the limited partner solely by reason of being a limited partner.