Contracts Flashcards
What is:
- Void contract
- Voidable contract
- Unenforceable contract
- No legal effect from begging (k to commit a crime)
- Either party can avoid because of legal defense (mental illness / infancy)
- Otherwise valid contract but not enforceable because of defense (SOP)
Two Circumstances Unilateral contract?
A) advertisement get sick
B) advertisement quantity
C) quote
1) express contract
2) offer to the public
A) if you get sick we will give you $100
B) one car at this price
C) contract in response to inquiary “how much for car”
- Bilateral Contract
- Most contracts bilateral?
- Method of acceptance for bilateral contract is usually?
- promise for promise
- yes
- Silent - does not say
Missing quantity term for sale of widgets, contract?
What type of contract quantity does not matter / why?
No contract unless can ascertain
Output / Input contract - quantity is ascertainable
What is a Gap Filler UCC?
(3) instances?
Court will set the term despite the parties having not actually agreed on it.
- nothing stated
- parties could not agree
- third party was supposed to fix term but did not
“Gap Filler”
- Price not stated
- Place of delivery not specified (3)
- Time of shipment / delivery not specified
- Time of payment not specified
- Assortment of goods not chosen (2)
- Reasonable at the time of delivery
- a) at sellers business
b) at sellers home
c) where good are identified know to be by both
parties - Reasonable time
- Due at time and place goods are delivered
- a) buyers chooses if does not choose seasonably
b) seller can reasonably chose
Vague or ambiguous term can you have a contract?
3 example of terms
No
1) fair
2) reasonable
3) appropriate
- Can starting to perform cure vagueness
- Is agreeing to split profits on a liberal basis vague
- Purchase property for 8k or less?
- Can you agree on terms later?
- Whats the exception to agreeing to terms later?
- Yes
- Yes
- Yes
- No
- Price
How is an offer revoked (3)?
- Unambiguous words
- Unambigoius conduct
- that offeror is unable or unwilling to contract
Must the offer be aware of the words or conduct?
a) i revoke offer in private
b) i sell car and do not tell you
c) you see car being driven by someone else
d) i learn of an offer to someone else
Yes
a) not revoked
b) not revoked
c) revoked (if sold to that person unambiguous conduct)
d) not revoked
When can you not revoke an offer if there is reliance (2)
- reasonably foreseeable
- detrimental
What happens if offeror starts performing on condition
acceptance?
a) b sends c keys after c accepted “provided that” arbitration clause
b) B sends C acceptance of purchase order grits “only if” arbitration clause?
c) B adds arbitration clause and C sends grits?
d) what is the difference b and c questions
Can create a contact
a) contract and clause is part of it (common law governance)
b) no contract (UCC governance)
c) yes contract BUT no arbitration clause
d) Bis conditional acceptance “only if”, C is an additional term
4 rules for Mailbox Rule
- All communications other than ACCEPTANCE are effective only when received.
- Acceptance generally effective when MAILED
- If REJECTION is mailed before ACCEPTANCE then neither is effective until received.
- Can’t use Mailbox rule for for option contract
- A sends acceptance after B sent revocation (A did not see revocation first)?
- A sends rejection to B then sends acceptance to B?
- A sends acceptance to B then sends rejection to B?
- What if B got rejection first?
- Contract formed
- Whichever one is received first
- Generally contract is formed
- A would be ESTOPPED from enforcing if B changed position / relied.
What are 3 reasons for not enforcing an agreement based on capacity?
- Infancy
- Mental
- Intoxication (if other party knows)
- What is the Statute of Frauds (SOF) designed to prevent?
- Who uses the SOF?
- How would Plaintiff / Claimant show proof?
- So whites the SOF?
- Claims of the existence of a contract
- Defendant the require plaintiff to show proof
- Writing or Performance
- A defense to a contract claim
What types of things are considered a transfer of land? (5)
- Leases for more than a year
- Sell land
- Leases easement for more than a year
- Mortgages
- Fixtures
When is a writing not required for goods $500+?(3)
- Specifically / unique manufactured goods
- Admissions in Court
- Payment or Delivery of Goods
- S sells T paint on credit. T does not pay. S brings claim against X stating X promised to pay, can X use a SOF defense?
- Same facts but S brings claim stating X “promised to pay if T did not pay” can X use a SOF defense?
- Whats the difference?
- No
- Yes
- No SOF if just promise to pay
YES SOF if promise to pay if T does not pay
What is the first question you have to ask if satisfying the SOF by perform ace?
What type of contract is it
1) real estate
2) services contract
3) sale of good
P agrees to work for D for 3 years. D terminates P after 15 months work. Can D use a SOF defense and prevail?
Yes, P did not fully perform
- How does part performance work with the sale of goods and SOF?
- Who part performs on a bar exam?
- What question do you then ask?
- General rule part performance satisfies SOF
- The seller will deliver some good but not all
- Who is using the SOF defense / for delivered or undelivered goods?
Part performance works for satisfying the SOF for goods that are _______ but not _________ .
Delivered BUT NOT undelivered
What two things do you need to satisfy the SOF when you use a writing?
- material terms
- writing
What are the courts looking for to see if writing has all the material terms:
- Common law
- UCC
- The who and what
- Quantity
- What is the Iexception where a DEF signature is not needed SOF re goods?
- What is difference common law and UCC material terms
- Both merchants and delay in responding
- Common law need the who and what UCC need quanitiy
Confirmatory Memo?
Once a merchant sends a written confirmation to another merchant confirming an oral agreement it will bind the both the sender a receiver if:
- part has reason to know contents
- does not object in 10 days
- How can a DEF waive his SOF defense?
- What do some cases hold so that DEF cannot rely on a SOF defense (CA Essay)
- Admits in pleadings or court under OATH
- If Plaintiff relied on defendants promise they are ESTOPPED from asserting a SOF claim.
So what can a court CA or other ultimately do re DEF SOF defense?
Apply equitable or promissory estoppel
A. DEF falsely or intentionaly says not w/in SOF
B. DEF know PLAINTIFF is changing position
What are the rules for risk of loss? (4)
- Agreement - agreement of parties in contract
- Breach - breaching party liable for loss even if unrelated
- Common Carrier - risk of loss shifts once seller completes delivery obligation (shipment / destination K)
- Determining factor is seller merchant
First three risk of loss rules do not apply what does rule four state?
Example:
Is the seller a merchant
Merchant = risk of loss when delivered
Non Merchant = risk of loss once tendered
Merchant stove store on dock destroyed (merchant has risk of loss)
Non Merchant stove available on my back porch (buyer has risk of loss)
What type of words oral or written do you look for in express warranty
Steel Example (4)
“a promise of facts”
- All Steel
- Guaranteed 2 years
- Look at this sample
- Top Quality = NO
Implied Warranty fitness particular purpose
- What triggers it:
- What does it mean?
- a) Buyer has a particular purpose
b) Buyer relies on seller to select goods
c) Seller had reason to know the purpose - The goods are fit for that purpose
What are 5 ways warranties are limited?
- Statute of Limitations
- Privity
- Buyers examination of goods
- Disclaimer
- Limitation of remedies
- If a buyer inspects goods and sees things what can this do?
- What does it not do?
- Can eliminate Implied Warranties if the defect is obvious on examination?
- does not eliminate express warranties
- Can you limit express warranties?
- What is generally the test?
- Yes
- Is the limit unconscionable
- Can a warranty of title be disclaimed
- To disclaim Implied Warranty of Merchanablibty with CONSPICUOUS writing what words must be in it?
- generally NO, maybe at sheriffs sale specific language
- must mention “merchantability”
2 ways to limit Implied warranty of merchantablity and implied warranty of fittness
- CONSPICOUS ***
or
- “as is” or ‘with all faults” (no need conspicuous)
How could buyer get in PE of express warranty given orally, but written K contains no warranty and disclaimers? (4)
- Not a complete writing
- Not exclusive expression
- Unconscionable
- Misrepresentation - Mistake
What are the three things to remember about Perfect Tender Rule:
- Only applies to sale of goods?
- Seller does not have to be perfect but the goods and delivery must conform to the K
- Less than perfect, buyer can generally reject goods as long as Good Faith.
What can the buyer do if seller does not meet the perfect tender standard? (2)
Buyer can:
- Retain goods and sue for damages
- reject “all or any commercial untit” and sue for damages
How is rejection of goods limited? (3)
- cure
- Installment K
- Acceptance
When can a buyer reject on an installment contract?
- If there is a SUBSTANTIAL impairment in that installment that cannot be cured
-this is how rejection of goods can be limited
- Once buyer accepts goods what can’t buyer than do?
- So what does a buyer have if non-perfect goods?
- What if the goods are perfect?
- Reject the goods later
- A choice / fork in the the road (accept or reject)
- Must accept
What do you need for revocation of acceptance (3)
Example:
- Substantial impairment of goods
- Excusable ignorance
- Notice to seller in reasonable time after discovery
Sleeping bag does not work in cold bought in summer and used
- If buyer rejects or revokes acceptance, what must he do? (3)
- What are consequences if buyer rejects or revokes acceptance? (2)
- a) notify seller
b) hold goods for seller
c) follow sellers instructions - a) goods back to seller
b) no payment obligation