Conditions Flashcards
What is a condition?
A condition is a risk shifting device that states one party’s contractual obligation only kicks in if some future event occurs.
What is an express condition? How must an express condition be satisfied?
Express conditions are created by the language of the K. They must be strictly satisfied unless the condition is excused.
Satisfaction condition
If most reasonable people would be satisfied with the performance, then the condition of satisfaction is met.
BUT: for Ks involving aesthetic taste, subjective standard applies. Party breaches if they in bad faith claim the condition of satisfaction has not been met.
Waiver of conditions – 3 ways
The party receiving protection of condition may waive condition by (1) words or (2) conduct.
(3) A condition is also waived if the other party wrongfully interferes with/hinders the occurrence of the condition. Whether a party has interfered/hindered is judged by a good faith standard.
What is the Constructive Condition of Exchange?
One party’s performance is conditioned on the other side’s performance.
In the CL universe, when is the Constructive Condition of Exchange (CCE) satisfed?
To satisfy the CCE at CL, a part must substantially perform. If a party does not substantially perform, he has materially breached. Even if a party has only failed on a small part of the K, if his failure was willful, then he has still materially breached.
What recovery is possible when substantial performance has occurred? How is that recovery measured?
If a party must pay because the other party substantially performed, but there is still some minor problem with performance, the nonbreaching party can recover DAMAGES.
Typically limited to cost to complete performance; sometimes limited to the diminution in MV.
Can the breaching party who has not satisfied the CCE recover?
If a party has not satisfied CCE, he cannot recover on the K. He maybe can recover on quasi-K theory.
Can a breaching party who fails to satisfy an express condition of the K recover?
No. Usually cannot recover under quasi-K. Express conditions must be strictly satisfied.
Divisibility and substantial performance
If a K is clearly divisible (50 in total v 10 units of 5), then the K will be broken into mini-Ks for the purposes of determining substantial performance.
Possible to have SP on 3/10; can recover on the 3/10.
What does UCC require re: performance? Two exceptions.
UCC requires perfect tender.
Note: SP does NOT apply to UCC; material breach does NOT apply to UCC.
Except 1: if K explicitly changes UCC default rule
Except 2: K is an installment K. If K is installment, then doctrine of material breach/SP applies.
What does perfect tender under UCC require?
Perfect goods
Perfect delivery
UCC perfect tender: revocation of acceptance
The buyer may revoke an acceptance of the goods if the goods seem OK when delivered but
a defect is discovered within a reasonable time.
Under the UCC’s perfect tender rule, when does the seller have a right to cure? Must the buyer give the seller a chance to cure under these two instances?
If the seller fails to tender perfect goods and:
- time is left on the contract, OR
- the seller had reasonable grounds to believe that the buyer would accept a replacement
then the buyer MUST give the seller a chance to cure
- Under the UCC’s perfect tender rule, what unit is the default method of delivery?
- What can the buyer do if delivery is not perfect?
- What is one exception to the perfect delivery rule?
- What is the buyer’s obligation once he accepts the goods?
- If the buyer rejects the goods as nonconforming and time is still left on the K, what right does the seller have?
- The default method of delivery for perfect delivery is ONE delivery of goods.
- If delivery is not perfect, buyer has a right to reject the entire delivery.
- The perfect tender rule does not apply to installment Ks. Instead buyer can reject specific delivery that is not perfect ONLY IF there is (1) substantial impairment in the installment that (2) cannot be cured.
- Once the buyer accepts the goods, he has an obligation to pay.
- The seller has the right to cure and tender conforming goods.