Contracts Flashcards
Four Questions to Break Down a Contract
(CoBRA)
Four Questions to Break Down a Contract (CoBRA, Contract, Breach, Remedies, Alternative)
1 K? Was there a Contract?
2 Breach? Was there a breach?
3 Remedies? What are the available remedies?
4 Alternative Recourses? If not a contract, what are the alternative recourses?
The Objective Theory of Contracts - Was there a contract?
Acronym
(GMaCD)
The Objective Theory of Contracts - Was there a contract?
Acronym
(GMaCD, Governing, Manifestation, Consideration, Defenses)
Predominant Factor Test
Definition & Factors
(LARN)
Predominant Factor Test (majority rule)
• When the factors show the K to be more based on goods, the UCC prevails; for K’s where services/land are the primary component, the common law prevails
• Factors (LARN, Language, Amounts, Reason, Nature)
◦ Language of K (terms describing the performance of the parties, description of their relationship, etc.)
◦ Nature of the business of the supplier of goods and/or services
◦ The Reason for the parties to enter into this K
◦ The Amounts charged under the K for goods and services
Manifestation of Mutual Assent
(MDC)
Manifestation of Mutual Assent
• A Valid and Enforceable Contract requires three components (MDC, Manifestation, Defenses, Consideration)
◦ Manifestation of Mutual Assent
◦ Consideration (or a consideration substitute)
◦ Defenses (Absence of Defenses to enforcement and formation)
Offers
Requirements of an Offer
(BP)
Offers
• Requirements of an Offer (BP, Bound, Power)
1 Offeror expresses an intent to be bound
2 Offeror intends to confer a power of acceptance onto recipient of communication
Advertisements
Significance of an Advertisement?
What features will change the significance of an advertisement?
(CDEN)
• Generally speaking, Ads are presumed not to be offers, but to be preliminary negotiations, aka an invitation to the consumer/audience to make an offer
• However, an ad could ripen into an offer if they are (CDEN, Clear, Definite, Explicit, Nothing)
◦ Clear
◦ Definite
◦ Explicit, AND
◦ Leave Nothing to Negotiation
Termination of An Offer
(RTDR)
• Termination of An Offer
◦ An offer can be terminated by (RTDR, Rejection, Time, Death, Revocation)
1 Rejection or Counteroffer by the Offeree
2 Lapse of Time
3 Revocation by the Offeror
4 Death or Incapacity of the Offeror or Offeree
(when is an ambiguous response to an offer a…) rejection and preliminary negotiation
(NTBA)
Rejection and preliminary negotiation
• (NTBA, No, Terms, Bound, Assent)
◦ No explicit acceptance
◦ Difference in terms
◦ And either
▪ No intent to be bound, OR
▪ No power of assent conferred
Acceptance by Silence
(BSP)
• Acceptance by Silence (BSP, Benefit, Stated, Previous)
◦ Generally, acceptance by silence is not a valid acceptance
Exceptions to this are described by Rest. 69(1):
1 Benefit Taken: Offeree takes the benefit of offered services, had reasonable opportunity to reject them, and has reason to know compensation is expected
2 Silence as Acceptance Stated: Offeror has stated or given reason to understand that assent may be manifested by silence/inaction, and offeree intends to accept with silence/inaction
3 Previous Dealings: Because of previous dealings or other circumstances, it is reasonable that offeree should notify offeror if offeree does not intend to accept
Disputed Term: factors used to determine the more objectively reasonable understanding of a disputed term
(LPN CD PTA)
• factors used to determine the more objectively reasonable understanding of a disputed term (LPN CD PTA, Language, Purpose, Negotiations, Conduct, Dealing, Performance, Trade, Anything)
◦ Language of the contract (oral or written)
• Ordinary Meaning
• Technical Terms/Meanings/Norms
• Purpose of the Contract
• Conduct other than words by which the parties manifested their assent
• Prior Negotiations
• Course of performance
• Course of dealing
• Trade usage
• Anything else
What constitutes “Performance” as Consideration
(FAR)
1 The performance may consist of (FAR, Forbearance, Act, Relation)
1 An act other than a promise, or
2 A forbearance, or
3 The creation, modification, or destruction of a legal relation
What is required for a Promise to be treated as valid Consideration
(PIW)
• Requirements of Consideration by Promises (PIW, Promise, Induce, Was)
1 Promisee’s promise
2 Promisor’s promise given to induce promisee’s promise
3 Promisee’s promise was induced by promisor’s promise
Promissory Estoppel
(PEAF)
Promissory Estoppel (PEAF, Promise, Enforcement, Actual, Foreseeable)
◦ Promise by Promissor
◦ Foreseeable Reliance
◦ Actual and Justifiable Reliance
◦ Justice Requires Enforcement AKA “has the promisee relied on the promise to his or her detriment; as a result of reliance, has the promisee changed his or her position in a way that harm would occur if the promise was not enforced?”
Elements of Unconscionability
(BRBL)
(BITE)
• Elements of Unconscionability (need both procedural AND substantive to satisfy)
1 Procedural Unfairness - steps in creating the contact were unfair to one party, such as (BRBL, Bargaining, Resources, Biases, Language):
◦ Unequal bargaining power
◦ Language barriers
◦ Negotiation resources
◦ Biases
AND
2 Substantive Unfairness - the terms to creating the contract were unfair to one party, such as (BITE, Bargain, Industry, [unequal] Terms, Effects):
◦ Unequal terms
◦ Unusual terms compared to industry
◦ One-sided bargain
◦ Overly-favorable effects of terms
inquiry for mental incapacity (regarding capacity to contract)
(U ARK)
• inquiry for mental incapacity examines whether the party is (U ARK, Unable Act, Reason Know)
◦ Unable to act in a reasonable manner in relation to the transaction AND
◦ The other party has reason to know of their condition
Incapacity due to Age
(CAM DMR)
• Elements (CAM DMR, Contract Adult Minor, Disaffirmed Minor Reasonable)
◦ Contract between adult and minor
◦ Minor disaffirmed
▪ while a minor or
▪ within reasonable time after reaching majority
Contracts: Misrepresentation
(FH JIM)
Elements:
• (FH JIM, Fraudulent, Harm, Justified, Induces, Misrepresentation)
1 A misrepresentation
2 That is either fraudulent or material
3 Which induces assent (meaning that it substantially contributes to the decision to manifest assent) AND
4 In a justified manner of reliance
Harm suffered (not required by all courts)
Duress
(TIN RA)
• (TIN RA, Threat, Induces, No Reasonable Alternative)
1 Improper threat, including action that would be a breach of the duty of good faith performance
2 That induces assent, and
3 Leaves the victim no reasonable alternative but to assent
Undue Influence
(V RIP)
• Elements of Undue Influence (V RIP, Vulnerable Relationship, Improper Persuasion)
1 The victim is particularly vulnerable to the persuasion of the other party because of some kind of relationship of submissiveness, dependence, or trust and
2 Improper or unfair persuasion is employed by the stronger party
Mutual Mistake - what is it and when is it a defense?
(B AMR)
• (B AMR, Both, Assumption, Material, Risk)
1 A mistake of both parties that
2 Goes to the basic assumption on which the contract was made
3 Which has a material effect on the agreed exchange of the parties, and
4 The party seeking relief did not bear the risk of mistake
Bearing The Risk of a Mutual Mistake
(AIA)
• (AIA, Agreement, Ignorance, Allocation):
◦ By agreement of the parties (e.g. express language, an “as is” clause, etc.)
◦ By conscious ignorance
◦ Allocation of the risk by the court
Unilateral Mistake
(O AMR UKR)
• (O AMR UKR, One, Assumption, Material, Risk, Unconscionable, Knew Reason)
1 Mistake of one party that goes to the
2 Basic assumption on which the contract was made
3 Which has a material effect on the agreed exchange and
4 The party seeking relief did not assume the risk.
5 The party must show that
1 Enforcement of the contract would be unconscionable and the other party has not relied to her detriment or
2 The other party knows or has reason to know of the mistake or her fault caused the mistake
Discharging Contractual Obligations
(FIRM SCAN)
Discharging Contractual Obligations (FIRM SCAN, Full, Impossibility, Release, Mutual, Substituted, Contract, Accord, Novation)
Full performance of contractual obligations
Impossibility, impracticability, or frustration of purpose
Release (in writing only)
Mutual rescission
Substituted contract
Contract or covenant not to sue
Accord & satisfaction
Novation
When a claim is unliquidated or otherwise subject to dispute, it can be discharged by accord and satisfaction if
(NFO)
When a claim is unliquidated or otherwise subject to dispute, it can be discharged by accord and satisfaction if (NFO, Negotiable, Full, Obtained):
The person against whom the claim is asserted tendered a negotiable instrument (i.e. a check),
The instrument was accompanied by a conspicuous statement indicating that it was tendered as full satisfaction of the claim (i.e. “payment in full”)
And the claimant obtained payment of the instrument
An offer can be terminated by
RTDR
An offer can be terminated by (RTDR, Rejection, Time, Death, Revocation)
Rejection or Counteroffer by the Offeree
Lapse of Time
Revocation by the Offeror
Death or Incapacity of the Offeror or Offeree
When is a response to an offer A rejection and preliminary negotiation?
NTBA
NTBA, No, Terms, Bound, Assent)
No explicit acceptance
Difference in terms
And either
No intent to be bound, OR
No power of assent conferred
Acceptance by Silence
BSP
Acceptance by Silence (BSP, Benefit, Stated, Previous)
Generally, acceptance by silence is not a valid acceptance
Exceptions to this are described by Rest. 69(1):
Benefit Taken: Offeree takes the benefit of offered services, had reasonable opportunity to reject them, and has reason to know compensation is expected
Silence as Acceptance Stated: Offeror has stated or given reason to understand that assent may be manifested by silence/inaction, and offeree intends to accept with silence/inaction
Previous Dealings: Because of previous dealings or other circumstances, it is reasonable that offeree should notify offeror if offeree does not intend to accept
factors used to determine the more objectively reasonable understanding of a disputed term
LPN CD PTA
factors used to determine the more objectively reasonable understanding of a disputed term (LPN CD PTA, Language, Purpose, Negotiations, Conduct, Dealing, Performance, Trade, Anything)
Language of the contract (oral or written)
Ordinary Meaning
Technical Terms/Meanings/Norms
Purpose of the Contract
Conduct other than words by which the parties manifested their assent
Prior Negotiations
Course of performance
Course of dealing
Trade usage
Anything else
Elements of Unconscionability (need both procedural AND substantive to satisfy)
Procedural Unfairness - BRBL
Substantive Unfairness - BITE
Elements of Unconscionability (need both procedural AND substantive to satisfy)
Procedural Unfairness - steps in creating the contact were unfair to one party, such as (BRBL, Bargaining, Resources, Biases, Language):
Unequal bargaining power
Language barriers
Negotiation resources
Biases
AND
Substantive Unfairness - the terms to creating the contract were unfair to one party, such as (BITE, Bargain, Industry, [unequal] Terms, Effects):
Unequal terms
Unusual terms compared to industry
One-sided bargain
Overly-favorable effects of terms
Contracts: the inquiry for mental incapacity examines whether (with regard to both parties)
U ARK
the inquiry for mental incapacity examines whether the party is (U ARK, Unable Act, Reason Know)
Unable to act in a reasonable manner in relation to the transaction AND
The other party has reason to know of their condition
Contracts: Incapacity due to Immaturity (when/how the underage person can void a contract due to their incapacity)
CAM DMR
CAM DMR, Contract Adult Minor, Disaffirmed Minor Reasonable)
Contract between adult and minor
Minor disaffirmed
while a minor or
within reasonable time after reaching majority
Misrepresentation
FH JIM
FH JIM, Fraudulent, Harm, Justified, Induces, Misrepresentation)
A misrepresentation
That is either fraudulent or material
Which induces assent (meaning that it substantially contributes to the decision to manifest assent) AND
In a justified manner of reliance
Harm suffered (not required by all courts)