Contracts Flashcards
Applicable Contract Law?
- UCC Article 2 = Goods (movable tangible things) with special rules for Merchants (deals in goods of the kind or holding out as having special skills/knowledge)
- Common Law = Everthing else
If contract has both goods and other things, predominance test (what is predominate purpose of contract) determines which governs the whole contract.
Contract Formation Requirements?
- Offer
- Acceptance
- Consideration
Three Common Law Offer Requirements?
- Intent
- Definite Terms (QTIPS - Quantity, Time of performance, Identity of parties, Price, Subject matter)
- Communicated to Offeree
Termination of Offer?
- Rejection
- Counteroffer
- Revocation (any time before acceptance) (direct or indirect, unambigious words or conduct, of which offeree is aware)
- Lapse of Time (if stated or otherwise reasonable)
- Death or Incapacity of either party (unless option with consideration)
UCC Offer Requirements?
Inviting acceptance in any manner and by any medium reasonable in circumstances. Purchase order is typically an offer under UCC.
Irrevocable Offers?
- UCC Firm Offers: (a) by a merchant (b) signed writing (c) three month max
- Option Contract
- Detrimental reliance (reasonably relied or started performance)
Acceptance?
- Bilateral (both promise) v. Unilateral (offeror promises and offeree actual performs)
- Must be within reasonable time
- Only by offeree and only in response an offer
- In manner required by offer; if none, then reasonable means
- Common law Mirror Image Rule - acceptance terms mist mirror offer exactly
Mailbox Rule?
Acceptance is effective upon proper dispatch (i.e., no longer has control of the acceptance)
Mailbox Rule Exceptions?
- Offer says otherwise
- Option Contract (upon receipt)
- If both acceptance and rejection sent: if acceptance sent first, then on dispatch; if rejection sent first, acceptance if received first.
Acceptance Varying From Offer (Common Law)?
Mirror Image Rule - Acceptance terms must mirror exactly offer, otherwise rejection and counteroffer.
Acceptance Varing From Offer (UCC)?
Additional Terms:
* If one not a merchant, then proposal only
* Both merchants, then add terms unless (1) offer limited to terms expressly, (2) material alteration; or (3) objection in reasonable time.
Conflicting Terms:
* Knock Out Rule (Majority): Conflicting terms cancel each other out and applies UCC gap fillers
* Treat As Additional Terms (Minority): Apply additional term test above
* Fall Out Rule (Minority)
Acceptance by Shipping (UCC)?
- Shipping conforming goods = acceptance
- Shipping non-conforming w/o acknowledging = acceptance and breach
- Shipping non-conforming w/ acknowledgement = no acceptance but counteroffer
Consideration?
- Illusory Promise - not supported by consideration; not enforceable
- Requirements contract - seller will be exclusive source of all buyer’s requirements; enforceable
- Output contract - buyer agrees to buy all seller’s output; enforceable
- Past/pre-exsting duty - not consideration; not enforceable
- Promissory estoppel - promise that foreseeably (to the promisor) induces reliance and is relied upon; enforceable.
- Gifts - not consideration; not enforceable
Five Categories for Statute of Frauds (MR DOG)?
MR. DOG
2. Marriage
2. Real property
3. Debt of another
4. One year (incapable of performance within year)
5. Goods $500 or more
Exceptions exist for all.
Two SOF Writing Requirements?
- Essential terms
- Signed by party to be charged
Three SOF Writing Requirement Exceptions?
- Merchant’s confirming memo - requires two merchants, one receives signed confirmation, no objection in 10 days
- Judicial admission in pleadings/testimony that there was agreement
- Promissory estoppel - party relied to her detriment (recovery limited to prevent injustice)
Contract Formation Defenses?
- Statute of Frauds
- Misrepresentation
- Fraud
- Unconscionability
- Mistake (mutual and unilateral)
Two Mistakes in Contract Formation?
Mutual: (1) Basic assumption; (2) Material effect; and (3) Risk not assumed by party affected
Unilateral: Same as above plus must show other party knew or should have known.
Two Conditions in Contracts?
- Express = strict compliance
- Constructive = substantial compliance
Two Waivers of Conditions?
- Keeping the benefit on contract
- Failure to insist on compliance
Can retract waiver unless reliance.
Parole Evidence Rule?
Limits the extent to which evidence of things prior to or contemporaneous with signed contract can considered part of contract.