Ch. 9 - Third Party/Agency Flashcards
4 ways people outside the original contract relationship can have rights with respect to the contract
- act as agent for a party
- be a beneficiary
- outside party assigned/delegated rights/obligations
- outside party guarantees performance
2 steps to determining whether the party to the contract is the business or the lliving person who signed the contract
- determine the type of legal entity involved
2. determine which living human beings have authority to make the entity liable on a contract
A sole proprietorship is a (1) business. It is not an (2) because the business and the owner are not legally separate. Employees may have auythority to enter contracts on behalf of the sole proprietor, as (3).
- one-owner
- “entity”
- agents
A partnership is not usually regarded as an (1) with liability and rights apart from its owners; each partner is regarded as an (2) for the (3).
- entity
- agent
- purposes of the partnership business
Limited partnerships consist of limited partners, who are (1) without (2), and (3), with authority to bind the business consistent with the (4). A general partner may be a (5).
- investors
- authority to make decisions or bind the business
- general partners
- terms of the limited partnership agreement
- corporation
A corporation is an (1)–a person separate from the people with whom it has relationships. A corporation has (2) who eelct a (3) that directs the big picture. (4) may be authorized to enter into contracts for the corporation.
- entity
- shareholders
- board of directors
- Corporate officers
3 ways to determine if particular corporate officers may sign an agreement
- obtain a certified copy of the resolution of board of directors, which appoints officers, authorizes agreements, or authorizes officers to sign agreements
- check secretary of state website to determine status of the corporation
- understand state law, which sometimes includes presumptions of authority
An LLC may be managed (1) or through a (2). You may have to examine the company’s (3) to determine authority.
- directly
- board of directors
- operating agreement
3 parties involved in an agency
- principal
- agent
- outside party
acts on behalf of another party
agent
party for whom an agent acts
principal
Agency agreements must be written in situations where the (1) would apply.
statute of frauds (e.g., more than one year, real estate agent)
requirement that agency contract be written, if contract to be established by agent must be written
equal dignity rule
5 ways a principal may give an agent authority to act
- express authority
- implied authority
- operation of law
- ratification
- apparent authority
authoruty given by words or conduct
express authority
authority not expressed in writing or spoken words; arises from circumstances
implied authority
rights and obligations are implied by law, for example, in emergency situations
operation of law
acceptance of acts by agent after they occur
ratification
principal’s dealings with third parties have given them reason to believe that an agent has authority
apparent authority
In cases of showing apparent authority, an attempt to suddenly deny that agency relationship may be overruled by (1)
- estoppel
existence of agency relationship not known to third party
undisclosed principal
existence of agency is known, identity of principal is not known
partially disclosed principal
In an undisclosed/partially disclosed agency, the outside party may sue the (1) for breach, but the principal may owe a (2) the agent.
- agent (since identity of principal unknown)
2. duty to indemnify (reimburse for costs incurred in agency)
relationship in which one person is under a duty to act for the beneit of the other on matters within the scope of the relationship
fiduciary relationship
4 fiduciary duties owen by principal to agent
- cooperate in performacne of agreed duties
- indemnify (reimburse) the agent for expenses reasonably incurred in carrying out the agency
- communicate relevant information
- comply with any contract with the agent
compensation or reimbursement for a loss
indemnification
5 fiduciary duties owed by agent to princpal
- obey lawful directions
- be able to account for principal’s money in the agent’s care
- exercise reasonable care
- keep principal fully informed
- loyalty (not disclose confidential info, no become involved in conflicting relationships)
4 examples of conflicting relationships an agent might encounter, and must avoid
- outside profits (bribes to choose a certain company’s service)
- competing with principal (personally buy a property at a great deal when working as agent to buy property)
- working for competing principals (sales rep for two competing stores)
- secret dealing with principal (selling own property and buying as agent of principal)
4 ways an agency would usually end
- agreement of the parties
- passage of an agreed time
- completion of the purpose
- inability of one of the parties to perform
Agent has a financial stake in the transaction–makes cancellation of agency more difficult
agency coupled with an interest (e.g., faulty Internet service authorized as agent to make charges to credit card)
not a party to a contract but benefits from the contract
third-party beneficiary
a third-party beneficiary, not intended to benefit from contract, does not acquire rights under the contract
incidental beneficiary
a third-party beneficiary, intended to benefit from contract performance as a gift
donee beneficiary
a third-party beneficiary to whom a contract party is indebted and who is intended to benefit from the performance of a contract
creditor beneficiary (e.g., a mortgage lender named on homeowner’s insruance) (court assumes intent to benefit creditor because of legal obligation)
being a party to a contract
privity
creates an agency relationship that remains in effect during the grantor’s incompetency
durable power of attorney
comes into effect at a later date
springing power of attorney (e.g., doctor determines incompetence)
a transfer of property or rights
assignment
transfer of obligatiosn
delegation
Courts tend to rule (1) of allowing assignment
in favor
one who transfers rights to another
assignor