Contract & Sales Flashcards
Nonconforming Goods & Perfect Tender Rule
A buyer can reject but the seller has the right to cure within the original time for performance. A seller cures but gives notice of his intention to fix before the end date of the contract. The buyer must accept the cure unless it is still defective.
How long does a seller have to cure?
Until the original end date of the contract, however, A seller is allowed extra time to cure only if prior dealing with the buyer, led the seller to reasonably believe that the defective shipment would have arrived acceptable.
How long does a seller have to cure? The exception to the Perfect tender rule.
Until the original end date of the contract, however, A seller is allowed extra time to cure only if prior dealing with the buyer, led the seller to reasonably believe that the defective shipment would have arrived acceptable.
Perfect Tender Rule and Installment Contracts
Installment contracts can only be rejected if the nonconformity substantially impairs the value of the entire contract. Each installment can only be rejected if the value substantially impairs the entire installment shipment.
Specific Performance
Specific performance is granted when: (i) there is a valid contract; (ii) the legal remedy is inadequate (this is when the subject matter of the contract is rare or unique like land sales); (iii) enforcement is feasible, and (iv) mutuality of remedy is present. Specific Performance is a court order requiring a breaching party to perform under a contract.
Specific Performance Exceptions
- Sale to BFP: There is no specific performance in land sales when the land has been sold to a BFP.
- Unclean Hands: the party seeking specific performance is guilty of wrongdoing in the transaction being sued upon.
- Laches: Party delays in bringing an equitable action and the delay prejudices the Defendant.
- Can’t be used for service contracts
Mutual Assent
Offer + Acceptance. A meeting of the minds and an objective manifestation to contract, if offers stating the same terms cross in the mail it does not create a contract.
Offer
An offer is an expression of willingness to enter into a bargain made in a way that the other party could reasonably believe that he could conclude the bargain by accepting. Must show intent to offer and definite terms.
Acceptance
Assent to an offer’s term. In a unilateral contract, this is only by performance in a bilateral contract you can perform or promise. Can’t accept an offer if there is no knowledge of it.
Consideration
Bargained for exchange of something of legal value.
First, there must be a bargained-for exchange between the parties; and second, that which is bargained for must constitute a benefit to the promisor or a detriment to the promisee.
Modern courts would hold that a promise to forbear suit on a claim that the promisor honestly and reasonably believes to be valid is a good consideration to support an agreement, even if the claim ultimately turns out not to be valid
Defenses to a Contract
- Mistake
- Lack of Capacity
- Illegality
- Statute of Frauds
Requirements Contract
buyer promises to buy all they require from the seller and the seller gives them that amount. exception: can’t be unreasonable amounts on a whim. Although no specific quantity is mentioned in offers to make these contracts, the offers are sufficiently definite because the quantity is capable of being made certain by reference to objective, extrinsic facts. Consideration also is present, as the promisor is suffering a legal detriment; it has parted with the legal right to buy the goods from another source.
Output Contract
Seller promises to sell all of the goods it produces and buyer agrees to buy then.
Essential Terms of a Contract
- Names
- Price (NEEDED IN LAND so supplement)
- Subject Matter
- Time
Terms can be supplemented and vague terms can make a contract void
The UCC provides that a written contract’s terms may be explained or supplemented by evidence of course of performance, course of dealing, and usage of trade-regardless of whether the writing appears to be ambiguous
How to Terminate an Offer
- Lapse of time
- Rejection (express or by counter offer) by offerer
- Revocation by offeror
A rejection is effective when it is received.
Merchants Firm Offer
An offer between merchants that is in writing and signed by the offeror is held open, no longer than three months if no time is stated, and assurance is given.
Contract Formula
K = MA (Offer and acceptance) + consideration - Defenses
Limits on Offeror’s Power to Revoke
- Option Contract
- Merchant’s Firm Offer
- Determinantal Reliance
- Beginning Performance in response to a true unilateral contract
How to termiante an offer by law
- Death/ Insanity
- Destruction of Subject Matter
- Supervening illegality
Exceptions to the mailbox rule
- Stipulates acceptance is not effective till received
- Option Contracts
- Rejection sent before acceptance - whichever arrives first
Statute of Frauds MY LEGS
Marriage
Year +
Land
Executor of an Estate
Goods $500+
Securities
Mirror Image Rule
Common law, acceptance has to mirror each and every term of the offer
Battle of the Forms
An acceptance that adds terms to an offer is valid between merchants the terms become part of the contract unless they materially alter the offeror’s objective, or the offer is limited to its terms. This does not invalidate the contract, it just determines if those terms will be included.
If both parties to the contract are merchants, the additional terms in the acceptance will be included in the contract unless they materially alter the original terms of the offer; the offer expressly limits acceptance to the terms of the offer; or the offeror has already objected to those terms, or objects within a reasonable time after notice of the terms is received. Whether an alteration is material is a fact question.
Mailbox Rule
When accepting an offer by mail, your acceptance is valid upon dispatch
Pre existing duty rule
Past consideration is invalid
Exceptions to the Pre-Existing Duty Rule
- Written promise to pay a time-barred debt
- New or different considerations promised
- Promising to ratify a voidable obligation
- Compromise of honest dispute
- Unforeseen circumstances make modification fair and equitable
- Good faith modification under Article 2
Substitutes for Consideration
- Promissory Estoppel
- Detrimental Reliance
Promissory Estoppel
b) Issue # 1: Was There a Promise?
c) Issue # 2: Did the promise induce an action/inaction?
d) Issue # 3: Was that action reasonably expected by the promisor?
e) Issue# 4: Would Injustice be avoided by enforcement?
f) Issue #5: What would be the scope of the damages?
Detrimental Reliance (a type of promissory estoppel)
Under the doctrine of detrimental reliance, a promise will be enforced to the extent necessary to prevent injustice if it was made with a reasonable expectation that it would induce reliance, and such reliance was in fact induced.
Unilateral Mistake
The contract is voidable only if the non-mistaken party had reason to know of the mistake. If a mistake is to terms, and only one party is aware there is a contract.
When writing is inaccurate because of a misrepresentation by the person who created the writing, the innocent party can seek reformation of the contract to reflect the original expressed intent of the parties
Mutual Mistake
The contract is void by the adversely affected party when the mistake concerns a basic assumption on which the contract was made, the mistake has a material effect, and the party seeking avoidance did not assume the risk. If the mistake is in the terms if both parties are confused or if neither was aware contract is void.
Defenses to Contract Formation
- Mistake
- Ambiguous Terms
- Fraud
- Misrepresentation
- Illegality of consideration or subject matter
- Incapacity (infant, drunk, mental illness, duress, undue influence)
- SOF
- Unconscionablitliy
Fraud
when either this is misrepresentation in the inducement of the contact or misleading statements in the contract
Misrepresentation
a false statement of material fact that affects the other person decision in entering a contract
Duress
Fearing for safety and then entering the contract. A person is wrongfully forced or coerced into entering the contract.
Undue Influence
To prove undue influence, a party must show that one party to the contract is a person with weaknesses which make him likely to be affected by such persuasion, and that the party exercising the persuasion is someone in a special relationship with the victim that makes the victim especially susceptible to such persuasion.
Unconscionability
If a contract is unfair or oppressive to one party in a way that suggests abuses during its formation, a court may find it unconscionable and refuse to enforce it.
Parol Evidence Rule
When parties intend that writing is the final expression of their bargain, no prior or contemporary expression is admissible to vary the terms. Contracts are final and complete for sure when there is a merger clause that states it’s final.
Even if the agreement is completely integrated under the parol evidence rule, evidence is admissible to define (as opposed to vary) the terms of the contract.
When the parties to a contract express their agreement in writing with the intent that it embodies the full and final expression of their bargain, the writing is an “integration,” and under the parol evidence rule, admissibility of evidence seeking to vary its terms is limited.
If the writing is only a partial integration, and not a complete embodiment of the parties’ intentions, under the parol evidence rule, it cannot be contradicted, but it may be supplemented by proving consistent additional terms
The parol evidence rule provides that where the parties to a contract express their agreement in a writing with the intent that it embody the final expression of their bargain, any other expressions, written or oral, made prior to the writing, as well as any oral expressions contemporaneous with the writing, are inadmissible to vary the terms of the writing. Certain forms of extrinsic evidence are deemed to fall outside the scope of the parol evidence rule. For instance, a party to a written contract can attack the validity of the agreement. One way of doing so is by asserting that there was an oral agreement that the written contract would not become effective until the occurrence of a condition. Such a condition would be deemed a condition precedent to the effectiveness of the agreement, and evidence of the condition will be freely offered and received.
Exceptions to Parol Evidence Rule
- If the writing is incomplete, evidence is allowed to supplement
- Concerning Validity
- Evidence to interpret terms
- Evidence Showing consideration
- Evidence in action for reformation
Gap Fillers - Art 2.
Article 2 will fill in certain things if necessary:
1. Price (reasonable)
2. Place of delivery (sellers business)
3. TIme of shipment (reasonable time)
4. TIme of payment (a receipt of goods)
5. Assortment (buyer’s option)
Noncarrier Cases
Merchant: Where the seller is a merchant, the risk of loss does not pass to the buyer until the buyer takes physical possession of the goods.
Nonmerchant: Risk passes upon tender of delivery
Carrier Cases
Shipment: Risk passes on delivery to the carrier
Destination: Risk passes on tender at the destination to buyer
FOB: Risk passes on delivery to FOB location
Implied Warranty of Merchantability
Goods are fit for their ordinary purpose, this is implied in every goods contract unless disclaimed. For a disclaimer to be effective, a disclaimer must be part of the offer and acceptance process or must be agreed to by the buyer as a modification