Chapter 26- Consideration Flashcards
What is consideration
- This is when each side must promise to give or do something for the other party
- Consideration can take many forms such as a service, money or an object.
- originally contracts required a deed but through considerations, both parties show that they accept the terms.
What is is executory consideration
This refers to when both parties have mutual promises and either parties haven’t performed their terms of the contract yet, this is to be done in the future.
What is Executed consideration
This refers to when one party has done all that is required of them leaving the remaining terms to the other party, making it outstanding.
What are the rules in consideration
- Must be sufficient but not adequate
- Must not be past consideration
- It must move from the promisee
- Love and affection is not sufficient enough to act as a consideration
- consideration must be legal
What does it mean to be sufficient but not need to be adequate
- Sufficiency refers to what is being promised e.g a service
- however this service does not need to be adequate, the court does not need to decide whether it has been a good or bad bargain
what does consideration must move from promisee mean
Someone cannot sue on a contract to which they are not a party. “The doctrine of Privity of Contract” rule
Describe the performance of existing duties that are public duties
- If a person is obliged by legal status or by operation of law to carry out an obligation, which forms the basis of their consideration e.g a police man finding a watch in which there was reward but the police were merely carrying out their duty.
- the position can change however if they go beyond what their duty requires them of.
Describe the performance of existing duties that are contractual duties
- Mere performance of an existing contractual duty cannot amount too sufficient consideration under a contract.
Define Promissory estoppel
Promissory estoppel is a legal principle that prevents someone from going back on a promise they made, even if there isn’t a formal contract.
What are the essential elements of promissory estoppel
- an existing contractual relationship should be there
- the claimant must have waived some of their rights
- The rights were waived knowing the defendant would rely on the waiver
state the evaluative points for performance of an existing duty
- A valid consideration can happen if the person goes beyond what their duty requires of them
- Where a party does something in excess of their existing contractual duties
- a valid consideration occurs where the person receiving the benefit will ask for more so will have to pay more ( Practical benefits)
- If someone owes a duty to a third party for a new promise made by another party