Contracts Flashcards
What questions do you need to ask when evaluating a contract?
Evaluating a contract requires answering three questions, (1) is there an enforceable contract; (2) has the contract been performed; and if not (3) what are the remedies for the breach.
What is a contract?
A contract is a legally enforceable agreement.
What governs contracts for services and real estate?
Common law governs contracts for services and real estate.
What governs contracts for goods?
The UCC governs contracts for goods.
What is the all-or-nothing rule?
The all or nothing rule requires mixed contracts to be governed by either common law or the UCC.
Are there exceptions to the all-or-nothing rule?
Divisible contracts are the exception to the all-or-nothing rule.
What is the predominant purpose test?
The predominant purpose test determines if services or goods play a bigger role in the contract.
What does a contract require?
A contract requires (1) offer; (2) acceptance; (3) consideration; (4) absence of defenses to formation; and (4) compliance with the statute of frauds.
What is an offer?
An offer is the manifestation of the willingness to enter into an agreement that creates a power of acceptance in the offeree.
What is the objective test?
Offer and acceptance are governed by the objective test which evaluates the outward appearances of words and actions.
Must an offer be direct?
An offer must be direct to the offeree.
Under the common law what must be stated in the agreement?
Under Common law all essential terms must be stated in the agreement.
Under the UCC what must be stated in the agreement?
Under the UCC only the quantity must be stated int he agreement.
What is a requirement contract?
A requirement contract is an agreement for the buyer to only purchase from the seller.
What is an output contract?
An output contract is an accruement for the seller to only sell to the buyer.
What is an Invitation to Deal?
An invitation to deal is not an offer, but instead leave final approval with the speaker.
What is an advertisement?
An advertisement is an invitation to deal.
How many ways may an offer be terminated?
A offer may be terminated in five different ways. (1) revocation by the offeror; (2) revocation through inconsistent actions by the offeror when learned by the offeree; (3) termination by the offeree; (4) termination by death of the offeror; and (5) termination by the passage of a reasonable amount of time.
What is an Option Contract?
An option contract is irrevocable as they are supported by consideration.
What is a firm offer?
A firm offer is irrevocable and requires (1) a writing; (2) signed by the offeror; and (3) contain an explicit provision not to revoke.
How long does a firm offer last?
A firm offer lasts for either (1) a duration stated in the offer; or (2) a reasonable amount of time not to exceed 90 days.
What is a unilateral contract?
A unilateral contract arises from a promise that requests acceptance by an action of that promise.
Does a unilateral contract give the promisee the right to finish?
A unilateral contract gives the promisee the right to finish.
What is detrimental reliance?
Detrimental reliance occurs when the offeree reasonably and detrimentally relies on the offer in a foreseeable manner.
What is acceptance?
Acceptance is the manifesto of a willingness to enter into the agreement by the offeree.
How must acceptance be made?
Acceptance must be made in accordance with the rules of the offer.
How is offer ambiguity resolved under the modern approach?
Under the modern approach, if it is ambitious if it is a unilateral or bilateral offer, acceptance can be made by either performance or a return promise.
How does the UCC treat shipment of nonconofrmin goods?
The UCC treats the shipment of nonconforming goods as both acceptance and breach.
How must an offer be directed?
An offer must be specifically directed to the person trying to accept it.
Must an individual know about an offer to accept it?
An individual must know about an offer in order to accept it.
Must an individual communicate the acceptance of an offer?
Acceptance of an offer must be communicated to the offeror.
When is acceptance effective under the mailbox rule?
Under the mailbox rule an acceptance is effective when it is sent.
Do unilateral reward offers require acceptance of the offer to be communicated?
Unilateral reward offers do not require acceptance of the offer to be communicated.
May silence serve as an acceptance?
A past history of silence may serve as acceptance.
How do implied-in-fact contracts allow acceptance?
Implied-in-fact contracts allow acceptance without writing or speaking.
What is the common law mirror image rule
Under the common law mirror image rule, the terms in an offer and an acceptance must match exactly.
What is a conditional acceptance?
A conditional acceptance is another form of a counter offer.
What is UCC 2-207(1)?
UCC 2-207(a) allows an acceptance to be effective unless the acceptance was made conditional upon those additional or different terms.
What is UCC-2-207(2)?
UCC 2-207(2) allows a new term in the acceptance to control if (1) both parties are merchants; (2) the new term does not materially alter the deal; (3) the offer didn’t limit acceptance to its terms; and (4) the offeror doesn’t object in a reasonable time to the new term.
What is the Knock-out rule?
The majority rule uses the knock-out rule which eliminates both of the different terms and employs UCC gap fillers.
What is UCC 2-207(3)?
UCC 2-207(3) only agreed upon terms in both writings will control, and UCC gap fillers will substitute.
Can a verbal agreement be followed by a written confirmation?
UCC2-207(1) allows a verbal agreement to be followed by a written confirmation, if the new terms are in the written confirmation then 2-207(2) controls.
What is consideration?
Consideration is a deal where the parties exchange promises involving legal detriment or benefit.
Are gift promises and conditional grifts bargained for consideration?
Gift promises and conditional gifts do not count as bargained for consideration.
Must consideration be adequate?
Consideration must be adequate.
what is an illusory promise?
An illusory promise is one in which the promisor does not clearly agree to the deal and therefore there is no consideration.
Is settling a claim sufficient consideration?
Settling a claim is sufficient consideration if there is a good faith belief in the validity of the claim.
Does contract modification require new consideration?
Contract modification requires new consideration to be valid.
What is the pre-existing duty rule?
The pre existing duty rule state a promise to do something that you are already legally obligated to do is not consideration.
What are exceptions to the pre existing duty rule?
The exceptions to the pre existing duty rule are (1) a change in performance; (2) a third party promising to pay; or (3) unforeseen difficulties that would excuse promise.
Is partial payment of a debt sufficient to release a debt?
Partial payment of a debt obligation is only valid if the debt is (1) currently owed; and (2) undisputed.
Does the UCC allow for modification without consideration?
The UCC allows for modification without consideration if it is in good faith.
What is promissory estoppel?
Promisory estoppel arises when one party makes a promise and the other party relies on that promise.
What does a reliance claim require?
A reliance claim requires that (1) the promise would reasonably be expected to induce reliance; (2) the promise took detrimental action in reliance; and (3) injustice can only be prevented by enforcement of the promise.
DO charities need to prove detrimental reliance?
Charities do not need to prove detrimental reliance.
What is a contract implied-in-law?
A contract implied-in-law is when you would have made a contract if you could have, but you could not.
What are the elements of a contract implied-in-law?
the elements of a contract implied in law are (1) the plaintiff confers a measurable benefit on the defendant; (2) the plaintiff reasonably expected to get paid; and (3) it would be unfair to let the defendant keep the material benefit without paying.
What are the seven defenses to contract formation?
The seven defenses to contract formation are (1) misunderstanding; (2) incapacity; (3) mistake); (4) fraud/misrepresentation/nondisclosure; (5) duress; (6) illegality; and (7) unconscionability.
What is misunderstanding?
Misunderstanding is when each party attaches a different meaning to the same word.
How is misunderstanding proven?
To prove misunderstanding, (1) the parties must use a material term that is open to multiple reasonable interpretations; (2) each side attaches a different meaning to the term; and (3) neither party knows of the confusion.
What groups of people lack the capacity to contract?
Individuals that lack capacity to contract are (1) minors; (2) mentally ill persons; and (3) very intoxicated persons.