Contracts Flashcards
When Ks contain
services & goods?
1: K LANGUAGE
DETERMINE APPLICABLE LAW BY PREDOMINATE PURPOSE OF K
Offer?
MANIFESTATION
of a willingness to enter into an agreement
(by offeror)
that creates a power of acceptance
(in offeree).
Pre-existing Duty?
cannot be deemed consideration
for a K
OR
modification of a K
[CL] Pre-existing Duty re: Modification:
Exceptions?
- Parties agree to performance different than required by original K
- Unforeseen Circumstances: performance rendered substantially more burdensome than reasonably anticipated** **by the parties when they entered K
Risk of loss:
Merchant? Non-merchant?
Breach?
- Merchant seller: risk passes to buyer when he receives[physical possession]
- Non-merchant: upon tender of delivery
- Effects of Breach:
- Seller breaches: risk remains with him
- Buyer breaches before risk passes–seller may-to extent of any deficiency in his insurance–treat risk of loss as resting on the buyer for commercially reasonable time
[Common Law] Acceptance?
Must:
- Mirror offer &
- Communicate to offeror
*Offer silent re: method communication? reasonable
- same means that offeror used,
- means ordinary in the trade, OR
- means equivalent in expeditiousness & equivalence
Accord & Satisfaction?
- A: K where oblige promises to accept substituted performance in satisfaction of obligor’s existing duty.
- Requires consideration SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT from that required in original K. **[Creditors allowed to accept partial payment as an A&S, if GF dispute as to amount owed.] **
- A alone will not discharge the original duty, but _suspend it until S is completed. _
- S: performance of accord that will discharge original debt.·
Calculating lapse of time in offers?
- Date for offer termination: **Midnight on that date **
- Specified # of days for offer termination: Time starts to run from time offer received
[Statute of Frauds]
[UCC]
Partial Performance?
re: Divisible Goods?
Indivisible?
K enforceable re: goods
- **“paid for & accepted” or “received & accepted.” **
- actions by both parties indicate K existence
- Divisible goods: **PP secures enforcement quantity ALREADY **
- Paid for by buyer OR
- Delivered by seller
- Indivisible: enforces entire K
Ks governed by the Statute of Frauds?
M. SOUR:
- Consideration of Marriage
- Suretyship/Guarantee • Exceptions: (1) creditor discharged original debt on faith of guarentee by 3rd party OR (2) main purpose of guarontor’s promise is to protect own economic interest–not debtor’s interest–then not w/in SoF
- Longer than One Year [from creation of K to performance; if at all possible CAN end w/in a year, than iSoF (i.e., excludes lifetime employment K b/c can die w/in 1 year)]
- UCC- Sale of Goods over $500 [doesn’t have to be $ can be goods worth over $500]
- REAL PROPERTY - Sale of Interest in Land [future sale/lease not current] • Real estate brokerage agreements: service Ks not governed by SoF
Defense:
Incapacity:
Mental Incompetence?
Need not be insane, but must be incompetent at time of K formation. FACTORS:
- Adjudicated incompetent & guardian appointed
- No judicial declaration:
- Cognitive defects: unable to reasonably understand nature & consequences of transaction [on drugs]
- Volitional defects:
- person unable to act reasonably in relation to transaction; &
- other party knows of condition [manic depression when K-ing]
Misrepresentation: Fraudulent Nondisclosure?
∆’s silence where there is a duty to disclose
- nondisclosure was MATERIAL
- REASONABLE RELIANCE on nondisclosure&
- **Following circumstances: **
i) RELATIONSHIP of TRUST & CONFIDENCE ii) made an assertion that was true but rendered untrue by intervening events
iii) if GF would require that party disclose info
Quantum Meruit?
Right to reasonable value of benefits
conferred
- Means of enforcing both implied-in-fact & implied-in-law contractual obligation
- measure of damages for services performed w/o a binding or enforceable contract
Battle of the Forms?
“DEFINITE & SEASONABLE EXPRESSION OF ACCEPTANCE will operate as an acceptance EVEN THOUGH it states ADDITIONAL or DIFFERENT TERMS”
- Exception: Conditional Acceptance [Acceptance expressly made CONDITIONAL on ASSENT to ADD’L or DIFFERENT TERMS]
Impossibility Exceptions?
- parties allocated for risk of contingency & provided remedial measures in event of occurrence
- performance rendered ONLY TEMPORARILY IMPOSSIBLE, then will typically only suspend obligations of parties until impossibility ended
3rd-party beneficiary does not have the
right to sue until her rights __________.
VEST
- Parties to K free to modify or rescind it by mutual consent & may modify or rescind 3rd-party beneficiary provision w/o beneficiary’s consent unless & until beneficiary’s rights under the K have vested. Unlike INTENDED beneficiaries, incidental beneficiaries: have no Standing to sue.
Is 3rd-party beneficiary’s right to sue subject to any defenses promisor may have to enforceability of K?
- 3rd-party beneficiary’s rights are entirely dependent on underlying K; thus, defenses had against original party are transfered.
- Defenses that cannot be asserted: based on separate transactions.
FREE ALONGSIDE
seller must deliver goods along side the vessel
Statute of frauds:
time of writing?
Does not need to be written
at time promise is made
Offer: Revocation?
Termination of offer; Offeror may revoke for any reason, if:
- Revoked before offer acceptance; &
- Effectively communicated
2 forms of revocation:
- a) Direct revocation: through direct communication
- b) Indirect revocation (Constructive revocation)
Detrimental Reliance?
When offeree detrimentally relies on offeror’s promise, offer may become irrevocable; promissory estoppel
- PROMISE
- REASONABLE & FORESEEABLE RELIANCE
- ACTUAL RELIANCE
- INJUSTICE w/o ENFORCEMENT
Liquidated Damages Clause:
Penalty
provision to punish a breaching party to prevent them from breaching. You have a right to breach & pay damages.
Factors:
- intention of parties, benign or punishment.
- reasonableness of liquidated clause; anticipated damages; possible to forecast damages.
- breach vs. actual harm; is it reasonable comparable?
- *Burden of Proof: On party calling it a penalty. *if the court concludes the liquidated damages clause is a penalty: the aggrieved party, takes out the provision and we’re left w/ CL.
Assignment of Rights?
owner of right MUST
- manifest intention to assign, AND
- make “a present transfer”
Contrast with a promise to make a future transfer of a right you expect to come into existence at a later date: Not an assignment.
Incapacity:
MINOR:
EXCEPTIONS?
Necessaries: such as food, clothing, shelter, & medical [autos/educ. depends] are VOIDABLE;
Merchant’s relief is quasi-contractual only;
May ONLY receive reasonable value NOT K price.
[UCC]
Warranty of fitness for particular purpose:
Modification/exclusion REQUIRES?
CONSPICUOUS WRITING
“Past/Moral Consideration”? Exceptions?
promise given in exchange
for something already given/performed
will NOT SATISFY bargain requirement
Exceptions:
- reobligating self for DEBT extinguished by statute of limitations [time not amt]; OR
- reobligating self for debt extinguished by bankruptcy, debts discharged by BANKRUPTCY, reobligates self to prior debt
[UCC]
Express Warranties
- Affirmation fact/promise: Good will do what I said
- Description goods: Good resembles description
- Sample/model: Rest of goods like sample
[Common Law]
Conditional acceptance?
counter-offer
(Look for “if,” “On the condition that,” “but,” etc.)
[UCC] “Firm” Offer? Enforceable for?
Merchant can make firm offer (irrevocable offer) to either buy or sell goods w/o consideration, if:
- MERCHANT OFFEROR
- Writing signed by Offeror (merchant)
- Offer expressly states it will be held open
**ONLY ENFORCEABLE FOR 90 DAYS **
- Exception: 1) signed written renewal OR 2) option
Anticipatory
Repudiation?
**reason for parties to anticipate breach prior to time of breach. **
Failure to provide CLEAR, UNEQUIVOCAL & DISTINCT assurances constitutes an anticipatory repudiation.
Based on: reneging party’s statement, OR (2) a voluntary act of party making him unable to perform. If neither applies, may ask for a reasonable demand [(a) UCC: Must be WRITTEN (b) CL: Oral or written] for clear, distinct, & unequivocal assurances
When contractual obligations are delegated, the delegator is not ___________.
released from liability, and recovery can be had against the delegator if the delegatee does not perform.
[UCC]
Warranty of fitness for particular purpose: Modification/exclusion requirement is not need when?
Inconspicuous writing not needed if:
- buyer fully examined goods or refused to do so, b/c warranty **waived if defect would have been apparent from examination **
- Course of performance, usage or trade indicate warranty mod/ex
- K expressions like “as is” or “with all faults” that make plain there is no warranty
[UCC]
Implied Warranties
Title against infringement
**Merchantability **
Fitness for Particular Purpose
An individual who is the subject of a court-ordered guardianship over that individual’s property lacks the capacity to _______.
enter into a K.
- Consequently, any contract purportedly entered into by such an individual is void. (Note: If item is a necessity, may be able to recover reasonable value in restitution under a quasi-contract action, but cannot enforce original K of sale.)
What happens when Transaction involves a “Shrink-Wrap” K?
[UCC]
- (a) “Shrink wrap” K: Ks contained w/in already purchased items
- Boilerplate terms mere proposal for K, follow rules governing transactions not “b/w merchants” OR retention & use constitutes acceptance of terms
Invitation to
deal/receive offers
Preliminary communication
inviting others to produce an offer
that still reserves a final round of approval
with speaker
[SoF][CL]
[Signing requirement]
“Tacking Together” Multiple Docs
All docs must be signed OR
signed docs incorporate unsigned docs
Not incorporated: EXCEPTION:
- a) @ least 1 signed writing unambiguously establishing contractual relationship b/w parties
- b) signed & unsigned docs clearly refer to same subject matter
- c) clear & convincing evid of acquiescence to unsigned docs by party against whom enforcement sought
Advertisements?
Considered invitations to receive offers from the public, unless:
1) Associated with REWARD, or
2) Ad sufficiently specifies & limits subject matter & who may qualify as an offeree (e.g., “Used car for sale for $5,000. First come, first served”; 1st 100 customers, anyone in store by 9:00 am).
Defense-Duress?
compelling another party to act by means of inappropriate conduct
- Threat: manifestation of intent to inflict harm on other person (words or conduct)
- Threat to purse criminal charges is always wrongful
- Threat to purse civil action only wrongful, if done in bad faith
- Economic duress
UCC:
Warranty of Merchantability:
If a buyer, before entering into a K,
** has examined the goods as fully as the buyer desires,**
or has refused to examine the goods,
there is no______________.
implied warranty with respect to defects that an examination would have revealed to the buyer
[UCC]
Warranty of merchantability? Modification?
fit for the ordinary purposes for which such goods are used
may be modified/excluded,
**doesn’t need to be in writing **
[3rd-Party Beneficiaries]
At what point does an intended beneficiary’s right to sue vest?
- Once beneficiary brings suit to enforce
- Beneficiary changes position on reasonable reliance on K
- Beneficiary manifests assent either by promisor or promisee’s request
- If rights have vested under express terms of K
Risk of loss:
Bailee
If held by bailee risk passes to buyer when
- title passes to buyer;
- bailee acknowledges buyer’s right to possession; OR
- bailee receives title & has time to present to bailee
Illusory Promises?
Promise to perform that
leaves performance up to
the discretion of promising party
[doesn’t constitute consideration]
Injunction
preventing someone from doing something
(Most common: Employment Ks)
Delegable Duties–exclusions?
- Personal service cases
- When K prohibits delegation.
(a) CL: Attempt to delegate is a breach.
(b) UCC: Not an immediate breach, but it is reasonable grounds for insecurity allowing for a demand of assurances
UCC:
Substantial Performance
w/ regard to an installment K?
UCC requires perfect tender of goods, and substantial performance will not suffice. However, UCC does permit substantial performance with regard to an installment K.
- When a nonconforming tender OR tender of nonconforming goods under one segment of an installment K, buyer may cancel K ONLY if nonconformity SUBSTANTIALLY IMPAIRS value of entire K to buyer.
[SoF][CL]
Writing Requirement?
Multiple docs?
- I.D. parties
- nature & subject matter of K
- essential terms of unperformed promises in agreement
Real prop Ks: Often require address & others more accurate description w/ monuments, meets & bound, etc.
Implied-in-fact K?
Consensual agreement that fails to express agreement of parties in its entirety
[Mechanic fixes car w/o agreeing to price]
Promissory vs. Pure Conditions?
- Promissory: K performance conditioned on the occurrence of PROMISED PERFORMANCE by the other party
- Pure: K performance conditioned on the occurrence of event BEYOND CONTROL of either party
Express vs. Implied Conditions?
Express: parties expressly include in provisions of K
Implied: address order of performance & rights upon breach when not done so expressly. Fairly inferred from circumstances.
A firm offer made by the offeror in an _______
is irrevocable for the stated time period,
where such period is _______,
provided that the offeror is a merchant.
authenticated writing
90 days or less
[UCC]
Imperfect Tender:
Rejecting goods?
Buyer MUST:
- exercise right of rejection w/in reasonable time after delivery &
- notify seller of rejection w/in reasonable period
Once rejected:
- Buyer MAY: bring action for damages for imperfect tender
- Buyer MUST: use reasonable care in holding goods for reasonable time until seller can remove them
Anticipatory Repudiation:
Failure to provide reasonable assurances constitutes?
Aggrieved party’s rights?
Failure to provide clear & unequivocal (Florida: distinct, unequivocal, & absolute) assurances constitutes an anticipatory repudiation.
Aggrieved can:
- Cancel K
- Bring an action for damages or specific performance
- Ignore repudiation, but cannot run up damages
Defense:
Incapacity:
Mental Incompetence:
LEGAL CONSEQUENCES?
- Adjudication of mental incompetence: VOID
- No adjudication of incompetence: VOIDable
- If voided: MUST make other party whole by paying reasonable value for goods received
- Responsible for damages, unless, bad faith on other party then get goods “as is”
- Possibility of Ratification if becomes competent
- Incapacity defenses are available under both common law & UCC
Annuity
K requiring payment of a fixed amount periodically for duration of a person’s life
- Purchaser assumes risk that person on whose life annuity is based will die before price paid for annuity is recouped, and issuer of K assumes risk that that person will live beyond recoupment date. This assumption of the risk is inherent in the nature of the annuity contract.
Limiting remedies, typically does not constitute a material alteration of a K. The statutory limitations period can be shortened by the parties to as short as_________.
One year
Excused Performance: Mistake?
Types?
party makes faulty assumption about fact present at K creation that affects materiality
Unilateral vs. Mutual
Anticipatory Repudiation:
INSECURE PARTY’S RIGHTS?
Right to Suspend Performance, if:
- Goods not yet received
- Party doesn’t respond under a reasonable time, [UCC caps at 30 days]
- Other party responds OR w/ response that doesn’t provide clear & unequivocal assurances (FL: clear, unequivocal & distinct). Reasonableness of response: i) circumstances ii) prior relationship iii) past dealings iv) nature of insecurity involved
Option:
No Time Period Listed
If no time period is provided for the option,
a reasonable term is implied.
Option?
Construction K exception(s)?
An irrevocable offer. Factors:
- Offer
- Promise to keep offer open &
- Enforcement mechanism [consideration received]
- Special rule for construction Ks: Gen’l contractor uses particular subcontractor’s bid to formulate his own, an implied option K is created via promissory estoppel.
Incapacity–MINOR–RATIFICATION?
Minor may ratify K upon reaching age of majority [open manifestation of intent to be obligated]
Employment K doesn’t state duration?
Presumption of employment “at will”
(either party can terminate any time, w/o it being deemed a breach of K (unless against public policy, i.e. fired for whistle blowing)).
Employment K provides “permanent employment”?
“Lifetime employment”?
Permanent: Absent contrary intention, “at will,” b/c duration term in K is considered too vague.
Lifetime: courts split–“at will” or literally lifetime.
Employment agreements overcome default rule of employment-at-will via express terms of K, rules published by the employer (such as those in an employee handbook), or by implication (by usage or conduct).
[SoF] [UCC]
Signed Writing?
- writing: intentional reduction to tangible form
- signature: any symbol executed w/ intention to authenticate writing
- sufficient to indicate that a K for sale has been made b/w the parties
[UCC]
Warranty of fitness for particular purpose?
When
- seller at time of K-ing has reason to KNOW
- (a) any particular purpose for which the goods are required &
- (b) that buyer is relying on seller’s skill or judgment to select/furnish suitable goods,
- goods shall be fit for such purpose.
[FLORIDA DISTINCTIONS]
Anticipatory Repudiation?
A refusal to perform that is
“distinct, unequivocal, and absolute” is
repudiation permitting the other party
to seek assurance of performance,
to seek damages, or to mitigate damages.
Defense:
Misrepresentation:
Remedies?
- Avoidance: defend against a breach of K claim
- Rescission & Reliance Damages: bring tort action to rescind K & collect damages for reliance on the misrepresentation, including consequential damages
- Victims of negligent & fraudulent misrepresentation may live w/ the K & sue for the benefit of the bargain [difference b/w received & expected]
- Punitive damages are available for fraudulent misrepresentation [intentional tort]
- Defenses applicable under CL & UCC.
Where a party bestows benefits upon another in connection w/ an oral K, even if enforcement of that K is barred by SoF aggrieved party may recover via?
- PROMISSORY ESTOPPEL address reliance
- QUANTUM MERUIT for reasonable value of services rendered
- RESTITUTION may be filed for value of benefits conferred
Among _______, additional terms contained in an acceptance is automatically included in a K unless the (1) _______, (2) _______, or (3) _______.
Merchants
- offer expressly limits acceptance to the terms of the offer,
- the offeror has already objected to the additional terms or does so within a reasonable time, or
- the term materially alters the original contract.
Bargained-for-Consideration?
Exchange of promises involving a legal detriment or benefit
Gratuitous Promise
vs.
Gratuitous Transfer?
- Gratuitous Promise/executory gift unenforceable
- Gratuitous Transfer/executed gift legally binding
-
How to “execute” a gift/gratuitous transfer:
- A) INTEND TO GIVE YOU GIFT &
- B) EFFECTUATE DELIVERY OR SYMBOLIC DELIVERY
-
How to “execute” a gift/gratuitous transfer:
[UCC]
K formation?
- Both parties intend to contract &
- there is a reasonably certain basis for giving a remedy.
[CL]
Specific Performance
Breaching party ordered to perform.
(1) Only available to aggrieved party when: money damages inadequate.
(2) Specific Performance generally available:
(a) unique objects or (b) real property
(3) Specific Performance Not Available for K for personal services.
An offeree ______ have knowledge of an offer in order to have the power to accept the offer.
MUST
*If an offeree does not become aware of the offer until after acting, then his acts do not constitute acceptance.*
[UCC]
Written Confirmation of a K: ADDITIONAL vs. DIFFERENT terms?
Transactions b/w merchants: distinguish add’l & diff.
ADDITIONAL: automatically enter K UNLESS:
- materially alters K
- receiving party objects w/in reasonable time
- Offer expressly limits acceptance to terms stated herein
DIFFERENT: mere proposals for addition to K; omit both
[UCC] Imperfect Tender: Buyer must accept non-conforming tender if it does _______ of this particular installment & seller gives _______?
not substantially impair value
adequate assurance he can cure