Contracts Flashcards
C offers to sell D a hat for $700. D responds buy stating I will buy it for $600. C says nothing. Can D accept for $700?
Counteroffer - rejected offer. Cannot accept.
B borrows $5000 from A, fails to pay, and asks A to accept $4600. Agreement is?
Unenforceable - accord must be supported by consideration
B borrows $5000 from A, fails to pay, and asks A to accept $4600. Is this a novation?
No. Novation is substitution of parties.
Agreement is unenforceable due to lack of consideration.
A contracts with B to paint A’s tractor. A dies. Does this discharged B from performing?
No.
A contracts with B to paint A’s tractor. Tractor is destroyed. Does this discharged B from performing?
Yes. Impossibility.
A communicates with B to sell A’s land to B. nothing is said as to price. Can B accept?
No. Common law, need price and description of land to constitute an offer.
A communicates with B to sell A’s car to B. nothing is said as to price. Can B accept?
Yes. Valid offer. Sale of goods, article ii applies. Court can supply reasonable price.
A communicates with B to sell A’s car to B for a fair price. Can B accept?
No. Vague terms cannot be supplied. Article ii does not matter.
Look for fair, reasonable, appropriate price
B offers to supply A with all its needs for shirts for five years. No quantity is specified. Valid offer?
Yes. Output contracts can be valid.
B contracts with A to supply A with all its needs for shirts for five years. In the first two years A’s need are 1000. Year three then A needs 1020. What result?
Still valid contract, increase is not disproportionate.
B contracts with A to supply A with all its needs for shirts for five years. In the first two years A’s need are 1000. Year three then A needs 10,000. What result?
Not a valid contract too disproportionate.
A sends a note to sell computer to B. Can B accept five years from now?
No, lapse of time. Beyond a reasonable time.
A sends an inquiry to B about buying a horse. B sends a price quotation. Did B make an offer?
Yes, exception to general rule that price quotation is not an offer.
B offers to sale A a car. Next day B says at home, “I changed my mind.” Did B revoke?
No. Communication not made to A.
Accord breached by debtor. What can the creditor sue on?
Original contract or accord agreement.
Not both.
B offers to sale A a car. Next day B sells car to C. Did B revoke?
No, conduct was not communicated to A.
How can performance be discharged once a party is under a duty to perform?
Full performance
Good faith tender of performance
Mere promise is insufficient
B offers to sale A a car. Next day B sells car to C. A learns of sale and accepts. Did B revoke the offer?
Yes. Unambiguous conduct and offeree learns of conduct.
B offers to sale A a car. Next day B offers to sell car to C. A learns of proposed offer to C. Did B revoke the offer to A?
No. Not revoked. Can make multiple offers.
B offers to sale A a car. A pays B $10 to keep the offer open for a week. Can B revoke the offer to A?
No. Irrevocable because consideration is paid.
B offers to sale A a car. A pays B $10 to keep the offer open for a week. A accepts eight days later. Can B revoke the offer to A?
Yes option expired, now it can be revoked.
A can accept if B did not revoke.
B offers to sale A a car. A asks B to keep the offer open for a week because A’s mom is dying. Can B revoke the offer to A before the end of the week?
Yes. Still revocable. No option because no consideration.
B a computer dealer offers to sell ink to A. The offer is oral and expressly keeps it open for a week. Can B revoke?
No. Not in writing and not signed by merchant.
B a computer dealer offers to sell ink to A. The offer is signed and in writing to keep offer open. A pays nothing to B to keep the offer open. Can B revoke?
No. Firm offer rule because B is a merchant.
B a computer dealer offers to sell a monitor to A. The offer is signed and in writing to keep offer open. Can B revoke the offer after two months?
No. Firm offer rule, cannot revoke for up to three months.
B a computer dealer offers to sell a monitor to A. The offer is signed and in writing to keep offer open for five months. A accepts after four months. Can B revoke the offer?
Yes. Firm offer rule applies up to three months.
B a computer dealer offers to sell ink to A. The offer is signed and in writing. A pays nothing to B to keep the offer open. Can B revoke?
Yes. No expression to keep open.
B offers A to $200 to paint house and it can be accepted only by painting. A starts to paint. Can B revoke?
No. Unilateral contract - start of performance makes offers irrevocable.
B offers A to $200 to paint house and it can be accepted only by painting. A buys $80 of paint and rollers. Can B revoke?
Yes. Mere preparation is not performance.
B borrows $5000 from A, fails to pay, and asks A to accept $4600. Is this an accord and satisfaction?
No. Agreement is unenforceable due to lack of consideration.
Accord agreement breached by creditor by refusing accept payment. What can the debtor sue on?
Breach of accord agreement
Not entitled to punitive damages.
C offers to sell D land for $700. D pays $5 to keep open for a week. Next day, D responds buy stating I will buy it for $600. C says nothing. Can D accept for $700 two days later?
Yes, option exception to counteroffer.
C offers to sell D a hat for $700. D asks whether will take $690. C says no. Can D accept for $700?
Yes. Not a counteroffer, mere inquiry and bargaining.
C offers to sell D a land for $700. D accepts only if C removes the trash from the land. Valid contract?
No. Conditional acceptance is not valid and rejection of offer.
L offers to lease a room to T. T adds an arbitration clause and signs lease. Valid acceptance?
No. Counteroffer. T cannot accept.
P offers to sale a book to S. S adds an arbitration clause and signs the agreement. Valid acceptance?
Yes. UCC applies. New term is not a condition of acceptance. Response is express to require arbitration.
P offers to sale a book to S. S adds an arbitration clause and signs the agreement. Valid acceptance if both parties are merchant?
Yes. Merchant is irrelevant. UCC applies. Additional term is not conditioned on acceptance.
P offers to sale a book to S. S says “I accept, deliver it on Monday.” P says nothing. Is there a contract with the additional term?
Yes there is an acceptance and contract formed.
Deliver date is not added as a term. Need to be merchants, term is not material, and not objected to by original offeror.
P offers to sale a book to S. S says “I accept, deliver it on Monday.” P and S are merchants. P does not object. Is there a contract with the additional term?
Depends on whether deliver date is material. Fact question.
B offers A to $200 to paint house. A says nothing to B. A starts to paint. Did A accept the contract?
Yes, start of performance is acceptance.
B offers A to $200 to paint house and acceptance only by performance. A says nothing to B. A starts to paint. Did A accept the contract?
No. Start of performance is not acceptance in unilateral contracts.
B offers A to $200 to paint house and acceptance only by performance. A says nothing to B. A starts to paint, but C offers A to paint his house for $700. A leaves B’s house and does not complete. Can B sue for breach?
No. Start of performance is not acceptance for unilateral contracts, no contract formed.
Y sends an offer to X on 1-2. X sends accepts on 1-5. X receives revocation by Y on 1-7. Valid contract?
Yes valid contract.
Generally acceptance effective when sent. Acceptance before revocation.
Y sends an offer to X on 1-2. X rejects and sends rejection on 1-4. X changes mind and sends acceptance on 1-6. Valid contract?
No. Rejection if arrived before acceptance.
Y sends an option contract to X To buy land by 1-2 at 5 pm. Y accepts at 4:30. Valid contract?
No. Option must be received before deadline. Cannot use mailbox rule.
Y orders red hats from Z. Z sends blue hats and sends explanation that Z is out of red hats. Valid contract? Breach by Z?
No contract. Accommodation.
No breach.
Y offers to sale a hat to Z for $700. Can Z assign offer to X?
No, offers cannot be assigned.
Y offers to sale a hat to Z for $700 with an option? Can Z assign option to X?
Yes. Options can be assigned, unless stated otherwise.
L rents T a room. Before lease expires, L sends a promise to keep rent at same rate. T paints the room. L changes rental rent. Can T sue L for breach by increasing rent?
No. No contract, no consideration.
Maybe promissory estoppel (reliance is reasonable and foreseeable; necessary to avoid injustice)
A contracts with B to paint A’s tractor. B dies. Does this discharge the contract for impossibility?
No.
Only if B was necessary, special skills, to effectuate contract.
Y orders red hats from Z. Z sends blue hats. Valid contract?
Yes, valid contract. Breach of contract.
B asks A not to listen to music and will pay $50. A does not listen to music. B refuses to pay. Enforceable contract?
Yes. Legal detriment.
B saves A life. C is grateful and says he will pay B $4500. C changes his mind. Valid contract?
No. Past consideration is not consideration.
C sees A is in danger, and asks B to save B. C is grateful and says he will pay B $4500. C changes his mind. Valid contract?
Valid contract.
A contracts with B to perform for $800. B refuses to pay unless paid $900. A promises to pay $900. B performs. A pays $800. Is there consideration to pay the extra $100?
No. Pre-existing duty. Need separate consideration.
F owes D $600, debt is due and undisputed. F and D agree that F will pay $500 and D will not take action against F. Is there new consideration? Enforceable?
No. No.
When debt is due and undisputed, no new consideration for release.
B asks A, who is 10 years old, to walk a dog for $60. A walks the dog. B refuses to pay. Can A sue on the contract?
Yes, capacity of plaintiff is irrelevant. Voidable contract.
S sells P items on credit. S sues T for the credit alleging that T promised to pay. Does T have a defense?
Not within Statute of frauds, no defense.
S sells P items on credit. S sues T for the credit alleging that T promised to pay if P did not pay. Does T have a defense?
Yes, statute of frauds. Need a writing to satisfy statute of frauds.
S sells P items on credit to be used to perform services for T. S sues T for the credit alleging that T promised to pay if P did not pay. Does T have a defense?
No. Not within statute of frauds.
Main purpose - exception to suretyship.
P claims to have given a option to sell redacre to D. Is the option within the statute of frauds?
Yes.
P orally agrees to sell Redacre to D for $70,000. When P refuses to deed Redacre and D sues for a breach. D is in possession of land, but did not pay. Does S a have valid defense?
Yes. Part performance requires two of: 1) improvements, 2) payment and 3) possession.
Here only possession.
F owes D $600. Statute of limitations runs. F writes to D “I’ll pay you $490.” Valid consideration? Can D enforce the contract?
No consideration, but C can enforce contract.
P orally agrees to sell Redacre to D for $70,000. When P refuses to deed Redacre and D sues for a breach. D is in possession of land and made improvements. Does S a have valid defense?
No, part performance.
B agrees to work for D for three years. B works for 14 months and then D fires B. B sues D for breach? Does D have a valid defense?
Yes. Statute of fraud. Part performance does not apply for service agreements.
Look for recovery under quasi-contract.
No recovery under contract law.
B orally agrees to sell 3,450 items to A for $7,000. B delivers 450 items. B refuses to pay. B sues for breach for failure to pay? Does A have a valid defense?
No. Part performance on part of seller.
B orally agrees to sell 3,450 items to A for $7,000. B delivers 450 items. B refuses to pay. A sues for breach for failure to deliver remaining items. Does B have a valid defense?
Yes. Needs to be part performance on part of seller.
A writing states that “Law firm X agrees to hire A for three years at $70,000 per year.” Signed by B on behalf of law firm X. Law firm X wrongfully dismisses A. A sues Law firm X. Can law firm X raise a valid defense?
Yes. Writing satisfies the statute of frauds.
B sues A for breach of alleged contract to buy flour for $700. Only writing is “I agree to buy 100 pounds of flour.” Signed by A. Is there a valid defense for B?
No, writing satisfies the statute of frauds.
B, barrel distributor, receives letter from A, beer maker, “as we discussed, you will send me 100 barrels.” B does not respond. B never sends the barrels. A sues for a breach, B asserts a statute of frauds. Who is successful?
A, because statute of frauds satisfied. Merchant to merchant. Failure to respond is sufficient. No defense for B.
L sues S for breach of a one year lease that B entered into claiming B is authorized to enter into agreement on behalf of S? Must there be a written agreement to evidence B’s authority to act?
No. Equal dignity. One year lease not within statute of frauds. No writing required.
L sues S for breach of a three year lease that B entered into claiming B is authorized to enter into agreement on behalf of S? Must there be a written agreement to evidence B’s authority to act?
Yes. Within statute of frauds. Equal dignity.
R hires S for eleven months. The sign an agreement, it provides all modification in writing. S claims that there is a new agreement for six months. R alleges that no agreement and sues. Is a written modification needed?
No. New agreement not within the statute of frauds. Ignore the contract provision.
B contracts to sale a car to A for $400. They sign a contract with a provision that all modifications in writing. B claims they later agreed to a price of $489. A refuses to pay. Does B need a writing of modification?
Yes. Under UCC, contract that require written modifications are effective unless waived.
B hires A to injure C. B and A make an contract. A buys a ticket to fly to C and carry out the injury. A fails to pay for the ticket. Can the airline sue for breach?
Yes. Subject matter is illegal, despite illegal purpose.
B tells A that house has no termites. B honestly believes there is no termites. A agrees to buy the house. House does have termites. Can A rescind agreement?
Yes. Misrepresentation: 1) before contract ; 2) by contracting party; 3) false and 4) induces contract.
Does not matter if honest.
B and A contracts to but items shipped by a vessel Peerless. A intends Peerless Super. B intends Peerless Superior. If shipped on Peerless Super. Neither A and B know there are not two boats with same ship. Can A enforce agreement?
No. Ambiguity.
S and A contract for sale of cow. Both were certain cow was barren. Cow was fertile and worth more. S refuses to deliver the cow. A sues. What result?
A wins. Mutual mistake is not enforced. Mistake was an assumed risk.
S has a written contract with A to sell 1000 chickens for 12 months. S delivers 1000 chicken, A sues claiming before the deal S would deliver as many chicken that A needs. A has a writing and would this be considered?
No. Purpose is to change or contradict. Not admissible because it changes contract.
S has a written contract with A to sell 1000 chickens for 12 months. S delivers 1000 chicken, A sues claiming after the deal S would deliver as many chicken that A needs. A has a writing and would this be considered?
Yes no parol evidence rule.
S has a written contract with A to sell 1000 chickens for 12 months. Before contract, there is evidence that the deal was 1200 for 10 months. Can S use this evidence of a clerical error?
Yes.
S has a written contract with A to sell 1000 chickens for 12 months. Before the deal S tells A that he want supply A with has many chickens as needed. Can A rescind the contract.
Yes for the limited purpose of a defense of misrepresentation to the enforceability of the agreement?
S contracts with B to buy items. Contract is for to deliver items to B. what are S’s obligation if shipment contract?
S must get items to a common carrier
S must make reasonable arrangements for delivery
S must notify the buyer
S contracts with B to buy items. Contract is for to deliver items to B. what are S’s obligation if destination contract?
Seller does not complete delivery obligation until goods arrive at destination.
Accord agreement breached by creditor by suing on original contract. What can the debtor sue on?
- Raise accord agreement as equitable defense
OR
- Wait until creditor is successful then bring action for breach of accord.
S contracts with B to buy items. Contract is for to deliver items to B. what are S’s obligation if FOB B’s location?
Destination contract. Seller does not complete delivery.
S contracts with B to buy items. Contract is for to deliver items to B. what are S’s obligation if FOB S’s location?
Shipment contract.
B buys coffee from A. B is in Ohio and A New York. During shipment, coffee is damaged by rats. A was two weeks late in shipment. Deliver was, FOB, Ohio. Who bears the risk?
A, because there was a breach. Even if unrelated to the problem with the coffee.
B buys coffee from A. B is in Ohio and A New York. During shipment, coffee is damaged by rats. Coffee was shipped, FOB, New York. Who bears the risk?
B, buyer has risk of loss because seller completed the delivery obligations.
B buys coffee from A. B is in Ohio and A New York. During shipment, coffee is damaged by rats. Coffee was shipped, FOB, Michigan. Who bears the risk?
A, seller. Destination contract.
A tells a store owner that he needs a suit for a big meeting. A tells store owner that he needs a suit that fits well. Store owner shows A a suit and says it is top quality. A goes to the meeting and the other laugh at Him. Can A recover under a warranty theory? Which one?
Implied warranty of fitness for particular purpose.
D buys a TV “as is” from store. D gets home and TV blows up. Can D sue under an implied warranty of merchantability?
No. Disclaimer because of words “as is.” That is disclaimer of implied warranty.
B buys a frig from store. Contract says all parts guaranteed for two years and liability limited to replacement parts. A defective part causes a fire and causes $590 damages. Can A sue for a breach of contract and recover $590?
No. remedy limited to replacement parts. Express warranty is limited.
B and A contract for 200 green pants. B delivers, FOB, A’s city, 199 green pants and one red pair of pants. What can A do?
A can accept or reject goods. Buyer has option if not a perfect tender.
B failed to make perfect tender. Perfect tender is for sell of goods only. Complete compliance with contract terms.
B and A contract for 200 green pants. B delivers, FOB, A’s city, 199 green pants and one red pair of pants. A rejects goods, but leaves pants out in the rain. Can B recover for damages?
Yes, buyer who rejects must use reasonable care once goods are rejected.
A and B contract to buy a canoe for $700. B pays for it by credit card. Once canoe arrives, B sees it is the wrong type of canoe and rejects. Is there acceptance?
No. No acceptance without opportunity for inspection. Payment does not matter.
A and B contract to buy a canoe for $700. B pays for it by credit card. B uses the canoe in fresh water. Three months after, B uses the canoe in the ocean and it leaks. Next day B sues A. Can B revoke the acceptance?
Yes, nonconformity substantially impairs, excusable grounds for revocation, and revocation within reasonable time of discovery.
A and B contract to buy a canoe for $700. B pays for it by credit card. B uses the canoe in fresh water. Three months after, B uses the canoe in the ocean and it leaks. One year later B sues A. Can B revoke the acceptance?
No, too long, not a reasonable time to revoke.
S contracts to buy a home from A. S needs the house because S is about to marry B who has three children. Needs home to get children into best school in the city. A breaches. Can S get specific performance to get A to sell home?
Yes. Each piece of land is unique, specific performance is available.
S contracts to buy a home from A. A breaches and sells it to B, bona fide purchaser. Can S get specific performance?
No.