CML - Exam Flashcards
agreement must be lawful concepts?
- statutory illegality
- common law illegality
if an agreement is illegal?
it is generally void and court will refuse to enforce it
when is an agreement illegal?
- prohibited by statute or law
- unfair, unconscionable, unreasonable
can a contract be illegal and valid?
yes, and the courts will enforce it even if it is illegal
intention of parliament when deciding legality?
- decide whether parliament intended it to be illegal and void or illegal and valid
factors to look at to prove if an agreement is valid or void (in terms of legality)?
- whether the purpose of the prohibition was to raise revenue for state; will be valid but parties may pay fine
- whether recognition of the agreement would bring about the harm that legislature was trying to avoid
- would it cause greater inconvenience to void than to allow it to stand
- if imposes a criminal sanction = void
(use if majority of the 4 are met)
contra bonos mores contracts?
contracts which are against public good / morals
contracts which are ALWAYS void?
common law illegality
an agreement:
- to commit crime/delict
- which undermines institution of marriage (agree to never marry, one that threatens a marriage)
- in consideration of sexual immorality
- which conflicts with constitution
- that is unconscionable (grossly unfair)
- contracts in RoT (if unpaid)
unconscionable / unfair / unreasonable agreements?
usually upheld by courts as the law’s function is not to assist the bad bargainer
assessing if an agreement is unconscionable / unfair / unreasonable?
- if it is excessively one-sided in favour of supplier
- if it is so against the consumer that it is unfair
- look at MV of g/s and nature of parties
unfairness under CPA?
unfairness does not have to be extreme to be void; just has to point to unfairness
what happens when contracts are void due to illegality?
in pari delicto rule applies: both parties acted illegally and cannot recover what they performed. if one party did not act illegally may recover their performance under unjustified enrichment bc no pari delicto
if initial possibility of performance is impossible?
will be void as soon as entered into. there will be no breach if someone fails to perform.
objectivity vs subjectivity of impossibility?
if objective = void (attached to performance not person); if subjective = not void, person will be in breach
vis maior?
act of God; always objective
casus fortuitous?
unforeseen events beyond the average person’s control; always objective
if one person guarantees their performance?
can be sued for breach if they fail to perform, even if performance is impossible
impossibility under CPA?
same as common law
supervening impossibility?
when the contract becomes impossible for performance after it was entered into. after acceptance, before perf is due
formalities?
when a contract has to be in writing/signed by the parties; most contracts don’t have this
examples of formalities that must be imposed?
- sale of immoveable property = in writing and signed by both parties
- antenuptial = in writing, signed by both, two witnesses
- surety contract = in writing, signed by/on behalf of surety
essential/material terms of the contract?
the essence of the contract; you wouldn’t know what contract it is without them
incidental terms?
non-essential terms
implied terms?
is binding on both parties even if they have not been expressly mentioned in the agreement
three types of implied terms?
- tacit
- terms implied by law
- terms implied by trade usage
tacit terms?
terms implied on facts and they give effect to the common intention of the parties. term may not be in contract, but parties intended that it be included; would not have entered without it
how to see if term is tacit?
curious bystander test = asked, overheard, “of course it is included, we forgor or it was so obvi we didn’t think to mention it = tacit
terms implied by law?
included in certain contracts and binding of both parties; can be excluded/varied by express agreement
implied warranty against latent defects?
- is a term implied by law
- provides that the seller guarantees that the product has no latent defects and if it does, the buyer will have recourse against them, even if seller was unaware
latent defects?
- are not obvious
- buyer could only see it if told / if pointed out
when is warranty against latent defects implied?
in all contracts of sale, even if:
- not expressly mentioned
- parties don’t know about defect
- parties don’t know about term being implied by law
terms implied by trade usage?
implied in business contracts between people of a certain trade; can be excluded by express agreement
requirements for terms implied by trade usage?
must be:
- certain
- reasonable
- not conflict with law
- generally known and continually used by persons in industry
- must not contradict other express provisions in contract
what is a condition?
a qualification which makes the operation/consequences of the contract dependent on an UNCERTAIN future event
time term vs condition?
time term is certain, condition is uncertain
two types of conditions?
- suspensive
- resolutive
suspensive conditions?
operation and consequences of the contract only come into effect once the uncertain future event happens. valid but not enforceable until condition is fulfilled. if condition fails = end of contract = no breach.
resolutive conditions?
valid and enforceable from beginning, but if condition is fulfilled, contract comes to an end
exclusion clauses?
attempt to exclude one party’s liability which the law would otherwise attach to them
cancelling a contract?
general rule is that you can only cancel a contract if breach is material
cancellation cause?
put into a contract to allow cancellation for any breach
penalty clause?
parties will agree in advance what the innocent party will be able to claim as financial loss in the event of breach. they agree on a predetermined loss.
imposed terms?
express terms imposed on a party to a contract even if they have not read or understood them. will = binding.
example of imposed terms?
- exclusion clauses; normally appear on standard form contracts (not specific for you)