Contracts Flashcards
Valid Contract?
- offer
- acceptance
- consideration
- no defenses to formation or enforcement
Offer
- Manifestation of a present intent to contract demonstrated by a promise, undertaking or commitment;
- Communicated to an identified offeree; and
- Definite and certain terms
Advertisements NOT offers; RESPONSE to the ad could be an offer
Has offer been terminated?
- Lapse of time (accepted within specified time or reasonable time if not specified)
- Revocation
- Rejection
- termination by operation of law
Revocation
Revocation is effective when received by offeree
Certain offers are irrevocable:
- merchants firm offer
- option contracts
- detrimental reliance
(often will involve a subcontractor relying on bid and submits general bid in reliance)
- beginning of performance of unilateral contract
Merchant’s Firm Offer (UCC)
Merchant promises to hold offer open in signed writing –> then fully enforceable for up to 3 months (even without consideration), unless
ONLY APPLIES TO GOODS UNDER UCC
*if no time period stated within the offer, then only enforceable up to 3 months
*option contracts NOT limited to three months
Rejection
Effective upon receipt
- attempting to accept after a rejection is a new OFFER
Counteroffer will act as a rejection.
– Mere inquiry is NOT a counteroffer.
Acceptance Under Common Law = Mirror Image Rule
Acceptance of each and every term of the offer; mirror image
Any deviation results in rejection and counteroffer
Detrimental Reliance / Promissory Estoppel
- Promisor makes promise with knowledge that offeree will rely on promise;
- Offeree reasonably relies on promise to their detriment;
- Fulfilling promise is only way for equitable fairness
*equitable relief if no valid consideration
Acceptance Under UCC = Battle of the Forms
Inclusion of additional/different terms by offeree in a definite and timely acceptance does not constitute a rejection/counteroffer, unless the acceptance is made expressly conditional on the different terms
Mailbox Rule
Acceptance is effect upon dispatch, when properly mailed/posted
UNLESS offeror opts out (rejection was sent first)
Material Change under Battle of the Forms
Material Change = would result in surprise/hardship if done without the other party knowing; substantially affects economic risks/benefits
- indemnification
- disclaimer of warranties
- change that alters usual remedy for breach of K
*if modification is material change, will not become part of the contract
Acceptance of Bilateral Contract
Accepted by promise to perform or by the beginning of performance, unless otherwise specifically stated
Silence typically not acceptance unless reasonable if result of prior trade practices/dealings
Under UCC, Acceptance Can be:
(1) promise to ship OR
(2) current/prompt shipment of conforming goods;
(3) prompt shipment of nonconforming goods
Prompt shipment of nonconforming goods under UCC & Rules of Accommodation Notices
Results in ACCEPTANCE and breach; unless seller provides accommodation notice (this will be a counteroffer)
Nonconforming goods can be accepted in whole OR rejected in whole by Buyer
- If accepted –> contract for non-conforming goods is formed!
Acceptance of Unilateral K
Only complete performance constitutes acceptance of offer
- Not required to give offeror notice that he’s begun performance, but must give notice within reasonable time after performance completed
Consideration
Bargained for exchange AND detriment to promisee or legal benefit to promisor
Valid consideration if:
- promises to do something that he has a legal right not to do
- promises not to do something he has a legal right to do
- engages in behavior he has a legal right not to engage in
- refrains from behavior he has a legal right to engage in
Examples:
promise to quit smoking/actually quitting smoking = valid consideration
Promise to quit using cocaine = invalid because illegal
Returning a pet and then learning of an offer/reward after return = invalid consideration
Preexisting Duty Rule
Past consideration is generally invalid; performing or promising to perform for an existing legal duty = past consideration
Exceptions to Preexisting Legal Duty Rule
- Written promise to pay time-barred debt
- New or different consideration promised
- Promise ratifying voidable obligation (minors contract)
- Compromise of honest dispute
- Unforeseen circumstances make modification fair/equitable (modern rule) OR rise to impracticability (majority)
- Good faith modification under Article 2
Promissory Estoppel/Detrimental Reliance means consideration is NOT necessary if following elements exist:
- Promise was made;
- Was reasonably foreseeable / expected for the promisee to rely on the promise by the promisor
- Promisee reasonably relied on the promise to their detriment
If available, entitled to reliance damages
Valid Defenses to Contract Formation
MFIISU
- Mistake
- Fraud/Misrepresentation
- Illegality of consideration/subject matter
- Incapacity
- SOF
- Unconscionability
Unilateral mistake
Contract is voidable if non mistaken party knew or should have known of mistake
Mutual mistake
Contract voidable by adversely affected party if:
- Mistake concerns basic assumption on which the contract was made;
- Mistake has material effect;
- Party seeking avoidance did not assume risk
Ambiguous Terms
If one party is aware of ambiguity –> contract valid.
Neither party aware OR both parties aware –> NO contract
Fraud/Misrepresentation
Fraudulent Misrepresentation:
If party induces another to enter into K by using fraudulent misrepresentation, the K is voidable by the innocent party if the justifiably relied on the fraud misrepresentation.
Material Misrepresentation:
K is voidable by the innocent party if the innocent party justifiably relies on the misrepresentation and the misrepresentation is material.
Illegality
If consideration or subject matter is illegal –> K void.
Exceptions:
1. The P is unaware of the illegality while the D knows of the illegality;
2. Parties are not in pari delicto (one not as culpable as other)
3. Illegality is failure to obtain license when license is for revenue-raising purposes rather than public protection
Incapacity
- Infancy (minors contract)
- EXCEPTION: if for necessaries (health, subsistence, education) –> minor will still be liable in restitution for value of benefits received - Mental Incapacity: incapable of understanding nature/significance of the K
- Intoxicated Persons: don’t understand the significance of their promise
Statute of Frauds = NEEDS to be in WRITING
MYLEGS
- Marriage (even “if you marry my son”
- Year - promises that cannot be performed within one year from date of K
- Land - promises creating interests in land (lease/easement/fixture/mineral rights/mortgages)
- Executors - promises to pay estate debts from own funds
- Goods - contracts for sale of goods over $500
exception: specially manufactured goods - Suretyship: promise to pay debt of another
Unconscionability
Court may modify/refuse to enforce the entire K or provision if there was an unfair surprise OR oppressive terms
look for:
- inconspicuous clauses that shift risk
- release liability for intentional wrongdoing
- limiting liability to damages
- limit parties to certain remedies
Contract Interpretation / Rules of Construction
- General Rules
- Parol Evidence Rule
- Article 2 Provisions
- gap fillers, delivery terms/risk of loss, warranties & disclaimers - Modifications
General Rules of K Construction
- Contracts construed as whole
- Words generally given ordinary meaning
- Written/typed terms prevail over printed
- Custom/usage in business and locale is considered
- Court will try to find valid K
- Ambiguities construed against contract preparer
Parol Evidence Rule
When parties intend that a writing be a final expression of their bargain, no prior (oral or written) or contemporaneous (oral) expressions are admissible to vary the terms of the writing
*watch out for fact patterns where only one part reduces agreement to writing (employer K) = no parol evidence here because both parties need to intend writing to be final agreement
*Terms of writing may be explained or supplemented by CONSISTENT ADDITIONAL terms; unless, court finds from ALL circumstances that writing was intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the parties agreement
Integration
- Was writing intended as final expression of agreement?
- Whether the integration was complete or partial?
*To determine: court will look to whether the parties intended the writing to be the complete and exclusive statement of their agreement, it must be determined whether parties situated like the parties to this contract would naturally and normally include the extrinsic matter in writing.
Exceptions to SOF
- Merchants confirmatory memo
- Admission in court
- Specially manufactured goods
Merchants confirmatory memo
In agreements between merchants, if one party reasonably after oral conversation sends the other party a written confirmation. Will bind the recipient if:
- Have reason to know of the confirmation’s contents;
- do not object to writing within 10 days of receipt
If Writing Evidences Complete Integration
the writing cannot be supplemented/contradicted
If merger clause present = agreement is complete on its face
If Writing Evidences Partial Integration
Writing cannot be CONTRADICTED, but can be SUPPLEMENTED with additional, consistent terms
*Think of artwork problem: art work by a different painter could not be included (contradictory) but the Frame for a discounted price could be included (supplemental additional) didn’t conflict with the art piece itself
Evidence outside scope of parole evidence rule (may be admitted):
- Evidence relating to validity (formation defects, conditions precedent)
*oral condition precedents fall OUTSIDE scope of parole evidence rule! - Evidence used to interpret (words uncertain / ambiguous)
- Evidence showing true consideration paid
- Evidence in action for reformation
Gap Fillers Under Article 2
If missing:
Price –> reasonable at time of delivery
Place of delivery –> seller’s business
Time of shipment –> reasonable
Time for payment –> upon receipt of goods
Assortment –> buyer’s option
NO FILLER FOR QUANTITY
ROL in Noncarrier Cases
If merchant seller –> risk passes to buyer upon taking physical possession
Nonmerchant seller –> risk passes upon tender of delivery
ROL in Carrier Cases
Shipment: risk passes to buyer when seller delivers to carrier (no specific destination designated)
Destination: risk passes on tender at destination (FOB, Buyer City)
F.O.B: risk passes on delivery at FOB location
FAS: ROL passes to buyer once goods are delivered to dock
UCC presumes shipment K in absence of agreement
Implied warranty of merchantability
Implied in every contract by merchant of goods of the kind sold
Disclaimer: must mention “merchantability” and must be conspicuous if in writing
Can be disclaimed by “as is” / refusal to examine/course of dealing