Contracts Flashcards
Applicable/Governing Law
The UCC applies to all contracts regarding the sale of goods, and tangible and movable property. Common law applies to all other contracts. Here….
UCC - mention goods, merchant
CL - provision of services or relating to real property
If there is a dispute as to whether the contract is for goods or services, the predominant purpose for the contract as a whole will provide the applicable law for the entire contract.
Statute of Frauds
Contracts must be made in writing and signed if it is for the sale of $500 or more, or for property
Time of the Essence Clause
Generally, time to perform is not an essential element in the contract unless otherwise agreed between the contract or required from the nature of the contract
Only valid if there is extra consideration to ensure that the k is completed on time
Parole Evidence Rule
When a contract was made in writing, evidence existing prior or concurrently with the contract is not allowed in the contract
Exception: subsequent agreements between the parties or construing the ambiguous factors included in the contract
Modification (UCC)
Under the UCC, parties are allowed to modify the contract without consideration as long as it’s done in good faith
Anticipatory Repudiation
Anticipatory repudiation requires that one party expressly and unambiguously states their intent not to perform their duty prior to the date of due performance
Request for Guarantee
A party can request to the other party a request for guarantee to perform when reasonable doubt for the party’s performance exists
Contract Formation
A valid k requires mutual assent to an agreement shown by an offer, acceptance, and consideration
Defense: Mistake
Unilateral: where one party to the k is mistaken to a material aspect of the k. The non-mistaken party did not know or shouldn’t have known that the mistaken parties’ belief
Mutual: both parties are mistaken upon a basic fact of the k
Defense: Parole Evidence Rule
The PER is a rule that bars admitting evidence to a k that is fully integrated (intended to be the final expression of the parties’ agreement)
Fraud is the exception to PER
Defense: Fraud
Fraud is a contractual defense where one party is entitled to recission of the k. Needs to prove that the party made an intentional misrepresentation of material fact and intended to induce and did justifiably induce the plaintiff and the plaintiff suffered damages
K Remedy: K modification
A modification is a change in contractual terms. Under CL, a modification must have new consideration to be effective
K remedy: Reformation
Reformation is an equitable remedy to change the k into the actual agreement of the parties
Equitable Remedy Defense: Unclean Hands
UH is where a party seeking an equitable remedy has committed a wrong within the same transaction as the cause of action
Equitable Remedy Defense: Laches
Laches is a defense to equitable remedies due to undue delay to bring the claim and prejudice to the defendant
The court will look at the SOL, length of the delay, and the reason for the delay
Consideration
Bargained-for exchange
Under the UCC: satisfied by good faith and fair dealing of the parties
Acceptance
Manifestation of assent to terms of offer - can be satisfied expressly or impliedly with acknowledgement or performance
Mirror-image rule
Any other terms will be considered counter-offers and rejections of initial offer
Merchant’s acceptance (READ)
When a merchant’s acceptance is conditional on the Buyer’s assent to additional terms of the acceptance, it can be said that the merchant rejected the offer and proposed a counter
Terms of K
Parties are not required to determine all terms at the outset but material terms must be definite and certain.
UCC: most important term is quantity
Acceptance by Performance
Acceptance can be made through performance. When a party begins to perform, acceptance of and formation of a k is implied
Perfect Tender Rule
Under UCC, a k needs to be performed to the exact terms. The seller needs to follow the k and provide the goods as the k states and when the k states. If the seller sends non-conforming goods, it is up to the buyer whether they will act on the breach.
When non-conforming goods are sent, the buyer can accept, reject and sue for breach, or reject and give the seller reasonable notice.
When the seller does not send the goods on time, that is also considered breach.
As a general rule, a merchant buyer is entitled to reject goods if the goods are nonconforming
Considered nonconforming if there is any defect whatsoever. Need to be exactly as promised
Buyer is entitled to inspect the goods within a reasonable amount of time
General rule: buyer’s acceptance of nonconforming goods constitutes acceptance
Merchant Rule
Under the UCC, if 2 or more parties are both merchants then there are certain rules that follow
Merchant = someone who sells goods in that field