Contracts Flashcards
What is a bilateral contract?
Basics
A bilateral contract is one consisting of the exchange of mutual promises. That is, a promise for a promise. Each party is both a promisor and a promisee.
What is a unilateral contract?
Basics
A unilateral contract is one in which the offeror requests performance than a promise. Here, the offeror-promisor promises to pay upon the completeion of the requested act by the promisee. Look for “offer… only by” or a reward offer.
What is the defintion of “goods” under the UCC?
Basics
All things movable at the time they are identifeid as item to be sold under the contract
What is the UCC defintion of “merchant”?
Basics
Article 2 defines “merchant” as one who regularly deals in goods of the kind sold or who otherwise by their profession holds themselves out as having special knowledge or skilss as to the practices or goods involved.
For a communication to be an offer, it must create a ____________ in the offeree that the offeror is willing to enter into a contract on the basis of the terms.
Mutual Assent - Offer and Acceptance
reasonable expectation
What terms must be included in a real estate transaction?
Mutual Assent - Offer and Acceptance
Must identify the land and the price terms. Land must be identified with some particularity.
What terms must be included in a sale of goods contract?
Mutual Assent - Offer and Acceptance
Must include a quantity
When may an offer be revoked indirectly?
Mutual Assent - Offer and Acceptance
An offer may be revoked indirectly if the offerree recieves:
1. Correct information
2. From a reliable source
3. Of acts of the offeror that would indicate to a reasonable person that the offeror no longer wishes to make the offer.
When is rejection effective?
Mutual Assent - Offer and Acceptance
Upon **reciept **by the offerer
When can an offer not be revoked?
Mutual Assent - Offer and Acceptance
- Option Contracts
- Merchant’s Firm Offer
- Detrimental Reliance
- Beginning Performance in Response to True Unilater Contract offer
(See other flashcards for defs)
What is an option contract?
Mutual Assent - Offer and Acceptance
An option is a distinct contract in which the offeree gives consideration for a promise by the offeror not to revoke an outside offer.
What is the Merchant’s Firm Offer Rule?
Mutual Assent - Offer and Acceptance
Under Article 2:
1. if a merchant
2. Offers to buy or sell goods in a signed writing
3. the writing gives assurances that it will be held open
then, the offer is not revocable for lack of consideration during the time stated, or if no time is stated, for a reasonable time (but in no event may such period exceed ** 3 months**)
What is detrimental reliance in the context of revocability?
Mutual Assent - Offer and Acceptance
When the offeror could reasonably expect that the offeree would rely to their detriment on the offer, and the offeree does so rely, the offer will be held irevocable as an option contract for a reasonable length of time
When may silence be viewed as an acceptance?
Mutual Assent - Offer and Acceptance
A court may find silence works as acceptance if, because of prior dealings or trade practices, it would be commercially reasonable for the offeror to consider silence an acceptance.
What is the mirror image rule?
Mutual Assent - Offer and Acceptance
Under the common law, when you say “yes” to an offer, that becomes the basis for a contract, so you’re accepting that offer exactly as it is – with no changes or modifications. Therefore, the acceptance must be a mirror image of the offer. If it isn’t, there’s no contract.
What is the Battle of the Forms?
Mutual Assent - Offer and Acceptance
Article 2 provides that inclusion of additional or different terms by the offeree in a definite and timely acceptance does not constitute a rejection and counterofferor, but rather is effective as an acceptance.
When do are additonal terms in a UCC contract for goods not an acceptance?
Mutual Assent - Offer and Acceptance
- Limits acceptance to its term; Conditional acceptance
- Materially alter the contract
- The offeror objects to the new terms
If any of these, then contract is still formed, but additonal terms are not included.
What is the accomadation shipment rule?
Mutual Assent - Offer and Acceptance
The shipment of nonconforming goods is an acceptance creating a bilateralcontract as well as a breach of the contract unless the seller seasonably notifies the buyer that a shipment of nonconforming goods is offered only as an accomadation. The buyer is not required to accept accomadation goods and may reject them.
What is the mailbox rule?
Mutual Assent - Offer and Acceptance
Acceptance by mail or similar means is effective at the moment of dispatch, provided that the mail is properly addressed and stamped.
What are the exceptions to the mailbox rule?
Mutual Assent - Offer and Acceptance
- The offer stipulates that acceptance is not effective until recieved
- An option contract is involved
- The offeree sends a rejection and then sends and acceptance, in which case whichever is first to arrive
What are the two elements necessary to constitute consideration?
Consideration
- Legal Value
- Bargained-for-exchange
What is a bargained-for-exchange?
Consideration
When the promise induces the detriment and the detriment induces the promise. There is no bargain involved when one part gives a gift to another
What is the pre-existing duty rule?
Consideration
Traditionally, performing or promising to perform an existing legal duty is** insufficient** consideration.
What are some exceptions to the pre-existing duty rule?
Consideration
- New or different consideration is promised;
- The promise is to ratify a voidable obligation (a promise to ratify a minor’s k after reaching majority or a promise to go through with a k despite the other party’s fraud)
- The preexisting duty is owed to a third person rather than to the promisor
- There is an honest dispute as to the duty; OR
- There are unforseen circumstances sufficient to discharge the party (impracticability) or, if the modification is fair and equitable in view of cirumstances not anticipated when the contract was made
What is the traditional view on contract modification?
Consideration
A contract can’t be modified unless the modification is supported by new consideration
What is the modern view on contract modification?
Consideration
The modern view permits modification without consideration if: (1) the modification is due to circumstances that were unanticiapted by the parties when the contract was made; (2) it is fair and equitable
What is the UCC view on contract modification?
Consideration
Under the UCC, consideration isn’t necessary to modify; all the parties need are good faith promises of new and different terms.
What is the legal age of capacity (to enter contracts) in GA?
Defenses
In GA, the recognized age of maj. is 18 years old. However, a minor be emancipated by court order.
GA also recognizes certain statutory exceptions that do not allow an infant ot avoid the contracts he enters into, such as student loans and business and professional contracts.
What is dissaffirmance? (in context of minority contracts)
Defenses
An infant (minor) may choose to disaffirm a contract any time before (or shortl after) reaching the age of minority.
The contract must be disaffirmed as a whole it can’t be affirmed in part and disaffirmed in part.
If an infant chooses to disaffirm, they must return anything that they recieved under the contract that still remains at the time of disaffirmance.
What is affirmance? (in context of minority contracts)
Defenses
A minor may affirm, that is, choose to be bound by the contract in whole, upon reaching majority. A minor affirms either expressly or by conduct, such as by failing to disaffirm the contract within a reasonable time after reaching majority
What are some defenses to contract formation?
Defenses
- Incapacity
- Duress or Undue Influence
- Misunderstanding
- Mistake
- Misrepresentation
- Illegality
- Unconscionability
- Statute of Frauds
What occurs if neither party was aware of an ambiguity in a contract?
Defenses
No contract unles both parties intentded the same meaning
What occurs if both parties were aware of an ambiguity in a contract?
Defenses
No contract unless both parties intended the same meaning
What occurs if only one party was aware of an ambiguity in the contract?
Defenses
Binding contract based on what the ignorant party reasonably believed to be the meaning of the ambiguous words.
When may a mutual mistake to **existing facts ** create a voidable contract? 3 things.
Defenses
- The mistake concerns a basic assumption on which the contract was made (ie the parties think they are contracting for the sale of a diamond but in reality the stone is a cubic zirconia)
- The mistake has a material effect on the agreed-upon exchange (the cubic zirconia is worth only a hundreth of what a diamond is worth)
- The party seeking avoidance did not assume the risk of the mistake (commonly occurs when one party is in a position to better know the risks than the other party)
When is unilateral mistake a defense to contract formation?
Defenses
If the non-mistaken party knew or had reason to know of the mistake made by the other party, the contract is voidable by the mistaken party.