Contracts Flashcards
Steps to analyze a contracts essay
Mutual assent - objective
consideration or substitute consideration
defenses
Statute of Frauds
If contract is a mix of goods and services, do you apply UCC or common law?
- look at predominant purpose
- both CL and UCC cannot govern at the same time
What do you need for a valid offer?
Offeror must
- Manifest an OBJECTIVE willingness to enter into a contract and
- Create a power of acceptance in offeree
Are contest offers and reward offers valid?
Yes. Normally you need the offer to be directed to a specific offeree, but this is an exception
Are advertisements considered offers?
No, they are an invitation to deal.
However, if they are very specific and leave nothing open to negotiation, they can be considered offers.
Under CL, what MUST be part of offer to be valid?
Parties
Subject
Quantity and
Price
Under UCC, what MUST be part of offer to be valid?
Parties
Subject
Quantity
What contracts are valid under UCC even if they don’t have QUANTITY
Requirements and outputs contracts
When is an offer terminated
If any of the following occur before acceptance:
- Offeror REVOKES by express communication
- Offeree learns that offeror has taken action ABSOLUTELY INCONSISTENT with a continuing ability to contract
- Offeree REJECTS offer by express communication
- Offeree counteroffers
- Offeror dies
- A reasonable amount of time has passed
- Subject matter becomes iilegal or destroyed
What types of offers are irrevocable?
- Option contracts - where consideration is given to keep offer open
- Firm offers- UCC
- Offeree has started performance on unilateral offer
- Detrimental reliance - offeree reasonably and detrimentally relies in a forseeable manner
Eg. of detrimental reliance - construction bid becomes revocable offer when GC uses bid to submit proposal to owner
What is a unilateral offer?
An offer requests acceptance by an action (performance).
-start of performance makes offer revocable, but offer is only accepted once performance is complete
What is a bilateral offer?
Can accept by performance or promise
-start of performance manifests acceptance
Requirements of firm offer under the UCC?
Must:
- Be in writing;
- contain an explicit promise not to revoke; and be
- signed by merchant
Firm offers are held open for a reasonable time not to exceed 90 days
What is an acceptance?
Manifestation of a willingness to enter into an agreement by the offeree
OBJECTIVE TEST
Can silence constitute acceptance?
No, unless there is a past history of silence serving as acceptance
Can an offer be accepted or revived after it is revoked?
No
What does the mailbox rule establish?
The moment in time that an acceptance becomes effective
What is the mailbox rule
An acceptance sent by mail, email or fax is valid at the moment of DISPATCH
Exceptions to mailbox rule
- if offeree uses wrong address or postage
- offeror expressly states that acceptance is valid upon receipt
- an option contract is involved
4. Offeree sends termination letter BEFORE acceptance- whichever is received first controls
5. Offeror detrimentally relies on rejection BEFORE he receives acceptance
What does a counteroffer do to the original offer?
Counteroffer is a termination that rejects the original offer and forms a new offer
Mirror Image Rule under Common Law
Terms of acceptance MUST match offer exactly, or it is not an acceptance
Under UCC does acceptance have to match offer?
No
What is two step process under UCC to determine whether purported acceptance is an acceptance or new offer?
- Determine whether there has been an acceptance
2. Determine what terms control
If purported acceptance contains new or additional terms, how to determine if it is ACCEPTANCE?
Purported acceptance must be:
- A definite and seasonable expression of acceptance or written confirmation.
- Sent w/in a reasonable time;
- Operates as an acceptance even if new/add’l terms
- UNLESS acceptance is expressly made conditioned on new terms