Contracts Flashcards
UCC - Essencial Terms (how to start an essay)
The essential requirements to create an enforceable contract are offer, acceptance and consideration. Here, if there is a valid agreement between it will be one for the sale of goods governed by Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code
CL Essencial Terms (how to start an essay)
The essential common law requirements to create an enforceable contract are offer, acceptance and consideration. Here, if there is a valid agreement between it will not be one for sale of goods governed by Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code. Instead, the common law requirements for an enforceable contract will apply
What defines the Intent to Contract?
Objective theory, where the mental intentions of the parties are irrelevant.
Offer (generally)
Commitment communicated to identified offeree containing definite terms
UCC Offer
Objectively expressed intent to be bound to definite terms communicated to an identified offeree. Objective to what the offeree knows.
CL Offer
Definite and seasonable expression of acceptance communicated by any reasonable medium
Mutual Assent
An essential prerequisite to the formation of a contract is an agreement; a mutual manifestation of assent to the same terms
Generally, when can an Offer be revoked?
An offer may be revoked by the offeror (the party who makes the offer) at any time until the offer has been accepted
What are four ways offers can be revoked?
- Lapse of Time
- Death or destruction of subject material
- Revocation
- Rejection-Counter Offer
What is the Mailbox Rule?
Acceptance is effective on dispatch as long as it’s properly addressed and post-paid, rejection on receipt. Revoked offers are effective on receipt by the offeree.
If an offeree changes their mind, the mailbox rule no longer applies and there is a race situation.
What are five types of Irrevocable Offers?
- Option Contract
- Merchant Firm Offer
- Equitable Option
- Unilateral Contract
Option Contract
There is an option contract in which the offeree gave consideration for an irrevocable offer for some period of time
Merchant’s Firm Offer
When a merchant makes a written, signed offer to buy or sell goods including a promise to hold the offer open, the offer is irrevocable for the period stated, not to exceed three months. Liberal in the application, where even printed name can count as signature.
UCC Detriment - Irrevocable Offer
The offeree relied to his detriment upon the offer itself if the such detrimental reliance was reasonably foreseeable by the offeror
When are Unilateral Contracts Irrevocable?
Upon commencement of performance, the offeror must give the offeree the amount of time specified in the offer (or, in the absence of a specified time, a reasonable time) in which to complete the bargained-for promise. However, the offeree’s mere preparation to perform does not preclude the offeror from revoking
CL - Acceptance
Objectively expressed intent to be bound to all the terms of the offer, communicated in proper time and manner. Any new or additional terms change the acceptance to a rejection/counteroffer, and the offer will be dead.
As a general rule, the offeror is the “master of the offer” and may specify the precise acts or words the offeree must perform or use to properly accept the offer.
Parol Evidence Rule
No evidence of any prior oral or written, or contemporaneous oral negotiations may be entered to vary or contradict the terms of a complete integrated written agreement
Integrated Writing
if the writing is both final and complete, then the writing is integrated
Merger Clause
states that the writing is a final, complete, and exclusive statement of all the terms agreed on
Parol Evidence Exceptions
(DAM FOIL): To show duress, ambiguity, mistake, fraud, Illegality, or lack of consideration
Consideration
Consideration exists if both parties engage in a bargained for exchange of acts or promises and both parties incur new legal detriment as a result of the contract. Each promise must be binding and enforceable.
Contract Mods - Consideration - CL
Any contract modifications must also have consideration
Pre-Existing Duty Rule (Rel Consideration)
Where a person performs or promises to perform a legal obligation, or promises to refrain from doing or refrains from down what the person is not legally privileged to do, the person has not incurred detriment. Exceptions: written revival of a debt barred by statute of limitations or if the promise being made now would be inferable at the time it’s made.
Promissory Estoppel (Rel Consideration)
If the offeree determinately, reasonably, and foreseeably relies on the promise consideration is not needed.
Requirement Contracts
The buyer expressly agrees to buy all of the buyer’s requirements from the seller. The quantity ordered must be reasonable compared to historical ordering. Consideration was sufficient by buying all requirements.
Output Contracts
The seller agrees to sell all of its output to the buyer. The quantity ordered must be reasonable compared to historical ordering.
Infancy Rule
A contract is voidable by an infant until a reasonable time after reaching age of majority. If the infant confirms the contract after reaching the majority, it’s enforceable.
Intoxication (Avoidance/Reformation)
Intoxication by alcohol or the influence of narcotics can render a party legally incompetent.
Duress (Avoidance/Reformation)
Voidable by the party under duress. Can be shown if contracting party was violent or had a threat of violence, imprisons, wrongful seizing or withholding goods or land, or other wrongful acts or threats.
Undue Influence (Avoidance/Reformation)
A transaction that a dominant party had imposed on a subservient party. Can be shown by evidence.
Intentional Misrepresentation Affect (Avoidance/Reformation)
Contract is voidable by the other party
Unintentional Misrepresentation Affect (Avoidance/Reformation)
The contract is avoidable only if the term is material to the contract
Unilateral Mistake Affect (Avoidance/Reformation)
Normally there is no defense to the contract unless the other party knew or should have known about the mistake.
Mutual Mistake Affect (Avoidance/Reformation)
Both parties are mistaken about a material issue in the contract. Contract is voidable by either party.
Ambiguity in a material term Affect (Avoidance/Reformation)
There will be no contract, unless both parties intend the same meaning to the ambiguous material term, OR unless one party knows about the ambiguity and the other does not. In that case we will enforce the contract the way the non-knowing party thinks
Reformation Equitable Remedy
The remedy which records are ratified if there has been mistake, duress, etc. Only records are reformed, not the actual contracts themselves
Unconscionability Equitable Remedy
If the contract is unfair at the time of formation, than the court can do anything necessary to make the contract fair
Duty to Read
Under the objective theory, it doesn’t matter if a party actually read the contract as long as the other party thought they did.
Statute of Frauds (List)
- Real Estate
- Sales of goods over $500
- Performance of a promise over 1Y
- To answer another’s debt
- Where marriage is a consideration
Express Contract
Formed by statements of the parties
Implied in Fact Contract
Conduct of one or both parties to form the contract
Implied in Law Contract
A quasi-contract determined by the courts to avoid unjust enrichment of one party
Unilateral Contract Contract
Is formed only when one of the parties fully performs their duties under the contract. The offeror will create the offer with terms as such.
Bilateral Contract
Is formed when all parties promises are fully executory
Entire Contract (non-divisible)
Requires substantial performance of all obligations to avoid breach
Advertising Offer Majority Rule
They are not offers, but just invitation to offer. Only time it’s treated as an offer is when it lists all material terms, including specific offeree.
Auction Offer Rule
Always the bidder makes the offer, even without reserve.
Divisible Contract
One that is broken into separate individual components, and expected to be performed that way.
Required Offer Terms
Minority (wrong answer): Offer had to state all material terms. Majority: Offer must state the subject matter with certainty
Commitment Test
Objective, unless there is a difference from the normal course of dealing.
Offer Communication Test
The offer must actually be communicated to the offeree. Unilateral: offeree must know about the offer before completing performance
Offer Revocation
A manifestation of the intent not to enter into the proposed contract. Effective when the offeree receives it (not read or understood)
CL Rejection-Counter Offer
Replay includes a purported acceptance that adds qualifications or requires performance not contained in the offer. Offer is dead, and this becomes the new offer.
Equitable Option
If the offeree determinately, reasonably, and foreseeably relies on the offer, the offer will remain open for a reasonable time.
Offer Lapse of Time Offer Revoke
An offer may expire by the lapse of time (either language, or a reasonable length of time)
UCC Acceptance with New Term (Non Merchant)
Wew or different term is a proposal for addition to the contract