Contracts Flashcards
UCC governs all contracts involving
sale of goods
Common law rules govern all contracts involving
services
When a K includes both goods and services, whichever one _______ will determine the governing law
predominates
Merchants include (3)
- A person who regularly deals in the type of goods involved in the transaction
- A person who by his occupation holds himself out as having knowledge or skill peculiar to the practices or goods involved in the transaction
- In some instances, any businessperson when the transaction is of a commercial nature
A valid K requires (3)
Offer, acceptance, consideration
An offer requires what to the offeree
a promise, terms, and communication to the offeree
Promise
A statement indicating a present intent to enter into a contract
CL rule for terms of K
All terms must be provided (parties, subject matter, price, quantity)
UCC rule for terms of K
Essential terms are the parties, subject matter, and quantity. A court will gap fill any missing terms
If the K is silent as to delivery, the default place for delivery under the UCC is
Seller’s place of business
The offer must be ______ to the offeree
communicated
Bilateral contract
K in which parties exchange promises, can be accepted by a promise OR by beginning performance
Unilateral contract
K in which the offeror makes a promise and the offeree must perform; can only be accepted by complete performance
Offered _______ and _________ often indicate a unilateral contract
rewards and contests
To form a unilateral contract, the offeree must (2)
- know about the offer and 2. intend to accept the offer by completing performance
Option contracts (CL)
An offer where the offeror promise to hold the offer open for a certain period of time; the offerree must pay consideration to the offeror to hold the offer open
Firm Offers (UCC)
Offeror is a merchant and the offeror gives assurance that the offer will remain open in a signed writing
Irrevocability of a firm offer cannot exceed _____ days
90
An offer can be terminated if the offeror
revokes the offer prior to acceptance
Revocation is effective when _____
received
Constructive revocation
If the offeree acquires reliable information that the offeror has taken definite action inconsistent with the offer, the offer if automatically revoked
Offers can be irrevocable in certain circumstances (2)
- Option/firm offer
- Unilateral contracts: if the offeree has started to perform under a unilateral contract, the offeror cannot revoke the offer
Counteroffer by offeree
A counteroffer acts as a rejection of the original offer and creates a new offer
If the offeror dies before the offer is accepted, the offer will be _____
terminated
Acceptance is the
objective manifestation by the offeree to b abound by the terms of the offer
Bilateral K can be accepted by
a promise OR beginning performace
Unilateral K can be accepted by
complete performance
Mirror-image rule (CL)
The acceptance must mirror the terms of the offer. Any changes/additions to the terms constitute a rejection of the original offer and counteroffer.
Under the UCC, if one or both parties are not merchants, an acceptance from the offer with changes and additions will be a _____
valid acceptance However, the contract will not include the changes or additions unless the offeror agrees to them
Under the UCC, if both parties are not merchants, an acceptance from the offer with changes and additions will be a
valid acceptance and the K will include the changes or additions unless: they materially alter the terms of the original offer, the original offer limits acceptance to the terms of the offer, or the offeror objects to the changed or new terms
Mailbox Rule
Acceptance is valid once it is placed in the mail
What happens if a party mails a rejection of an offer then mails an acceptance
First communication to be received is effective
Exception to mailbox rule for option K or firm offer
Acceptance only valid when received before the offer expires
Consideration
Bargained-for change in the legal position between parties. Both sides must have a legal detriment (promise to do/not do something or performance/refraining from performance)
Preexisting Duty Rule
A promise to perform a preexisting legal duty will not qualify as consideration because the promisor is already required to perform by the promisor (i.e. no additional legal detriment is being incurred)
Moral consideration
Under the modern trend, a promise not supported by consideration may be enforceable if it is made in recognition of a significant benefit previously received by the promisor from the promisee
Under promissory estoppel, the promise will be binding in the absence of consideration if (3)
- promisor should reasonably expect the promise to induce action or forbearance
- the promise actually induces action or forbearance and
- injustice can be avoided only by enforcement of the promise
Damages awarded under promissory estoppel are usually limited to _______ damages
reliance
Defenses to formation of K
Mistake, Fraudulent Misrepresentation, Undue Influence, Duress, Capacity
Mutual mistake applies if _____ ______ are mistaken as to an ______ element of the K
both parties; essential
If mutual mistake, the parties can ask a court to reform the K and rewrite it to reflect the correct elements of the K.
reformation
Reformation is available if (3)
- There was prior agreement (written or oral) between the parties
- There was an agreement by the parties to put that agreement into writing; and
- as a result of the mistake, there is a difference between the prior agreement and the writing
If reformation is not available, the K may be voidable if (4)
- a mistake of fact existing at the time K was formed
- the mistake relates to a basic assumption of K
- mistake has material impact on the transaction AND
- adversely affected party did not assume the risk of the mistake
Unilateral mistake
Applies if one party is mistaken as to an essential element of the K
The mistaken party can rescind the K if (2)
- the mistake would make enforcement of the K unconscionable or
- non-mistaken party failed to disclose the mistake or caused the mistake
Fraudulent misrepresentation
Intentional misrepresentation of a fact that the innocent party justifiably relies on
2 types of fraud
fraud in the factum and fraud in the inducement
Fraud in the Factum
If a fraudulent misrepresentation prevents a party from knowing the character or essential terms of the transaction, the apparent contract is void
Fraud in the Inducement
If a fraudulent misrepresentation is used to induce another to enter into a K, the contract is voidable by the adversely affected party if she justifiably relied on the misrepresentation in entering into the agreement
Undue Influence
Occurs when a party unfairly persuades the other party to assent to a K
Duress occurs when a party is
improperly threatened and feels he has no meaningful choice but to agree with the K
When a party’s agreement to enter into a K is physically compelled by duress (eg threat to inflict physical harm), the contract is _____
void
When a party is induced to enter into a K due to other duress (eg a threat of pursuing a civil action in bad faith) the K is _______
voidable
SOF requirements
There must be a writing signed by the person to be charged (the person against whom enforcement is sought) that contains the essential terms of the deal