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
If there is acceptance, do ADDITIONAL TERMS become part of K?
If both parties are merchants, terms become part of K UNLESS
- Offer expressly limited to acceptance by its terms
- Additional terms materially alter deal OR
- Offeror objects within a reasonable amount of time
If an exception applies, what happens to additional terms?
They are knocked out and you use UCC gap fillers.
Remember, if exception applies, there is still acceptance - this just decides terms.
**If both parties are not merchants, use gapfillers, and terms of offer control
If there is acceptance, do DIFFERENT TERMS become part of K?
In Florida, use same analysis as additional terms.
Majority rule - knockout rule - different terms knock each other out and gapfillers apply
What if offer and acceptance don’t match but the parties perform?
Under UCC, court will “frankenstein” the contract - cobble something together
When is consideration present?
- When promisee incurs a legal determent OR promisor receives a legal benefit AND
- The promise induces the detriment and the detriment induces the promise
Are gift promises consideration?
No
Are preexisting legal duties consideration?
No. Can’t agree to pay someone not to smoke crack
Is past consideration sufficient?
No.
Is an illusory promise consideration?
“I’ll buy your truck if I feel like it”
Not consideration
Is a promise to pay a debt barred by the SOL enforceable?
Yes if it is in writing and signed by the party to be charged
Does a contract modification need to be supported by consideration under CL?
YES!! Even if both parties agree to the modification without it - IT IS unenforceable.
EXCEPTIONS:
-promise ratifies a voidable obligation
-promise is made to a third party
-there is an honest dispute as to whether a duty owed
Does a contract modification need to be supported by consideration under UCC?
No, s/l/a the modification is made in good faith
Under CL, how can you argue that modification is enforceable even if not supported by consideration?
- unforseen difficulties in K that make performance impractical - argue that performance is new consideration
- in lease, can pay in advance as new consideration
If you do not have an enforceable contract, what theories still allow you to recover?
- Promissory Estoppel
- Quasi-contract
- Moral obligation plus subsequent promise
What is the doctrine of promissory estoppel?
Promises that lack consideration may still be enforced if:
- Promisor should reasonably expect the promise to induce action or forbearance (forseeability)
- Promise does induce such action or forbearance (detrimental reliance) AND
- Injustice can only be avoided by enforcement of promise.
E.g. charitable donation
**Can be used too supply consideration and to defeat SOL defense
What damages are recoverable under the doctrine of promissory estoppel?
RELIANCE DAMAGES - Monetary value of losses incurred in RELIANCE on promise
Doctrine of Quasi -contract
Contracts that lack consideration may still be enforced if:
- P confers a measurable benefit;
- P reasonably expected to get paid AND
- It would be unfair to let D keep benefit without paying (“unjust enrichment”)
**necessaries for minors covered at FMV
What damages are recoverable under the doctrine of quasi contract
RESTITUTION - an amount equal to the economic benefit that plaintiff conferred on defendant
Can P recover under the quasi contract theory from an unconscious D
Yes, P ccan recover for providing help.
But NOT from “officious intermeddler” e.g., house painter
Elements of implied-in-fact contract are the same as __________
Quasi-K
We are looking for ways to infer mutual assent
What are the defenses to contract formation that make contract VOIDABLE?
- Incapacity
- Mistake
- Misrepresentation
- Undue Influence
- Unconscionability
- duress - threat, anything but physical
What are the defenses to contract formation that make contract VOID?
- Duress - physical threat
2. Illegality
What are the three types of incapacity?
- Infancy
- Intoxication
- Mental Illness
Infancy
Contracts with minors are voidable. Minor can either upon turning 18:
- Rescind K and avoid liability (must take steps w/in a reasonable time) OR
- Affirm K and hold other party liable - can do this expressly or impliedly by failing to disaffirm w/in a reasonable time
If minor rescinds contract, what is he liable for?
He must return anything he received, and he is liable for FMV of goods/services received for NECESSITIES
In Florida, does marriage remove defense of incapacity?
Yes, even if marriage is later dissolved or terminated
When is a contract with a mentally ill person voidable?
When by reason of mental illness a party is unable to:
- Understand in a reasonable manner the nature and consequences of a transaction OR
- Act in a reasonable manner in relation to the transaction and other party has reason to know of condition
When can a mentally ill person disaffirm a contract?
- When he is lucid. However he CANNOT disaffirm if:
1. contract was fair on its terms
2. other party did not know of mental defect
When is a contract with a mentally ill person VOID
if the party is adjudicated incompetent
When is a contract with an intoxicated person voidable
Voidable if the OTHER PARTY has reason to know AND the party is unable to:
- Understand in a reasonable manner the nature and consequences of a transaction OR
- Act in a reasonable manner in relation to the transaction and other party has reason to know of condition
When does a mutual mistake occur?
-when both parties are mistaken as to the basic assumption on which the agreement is made
When can a party rescind a deal based on mutual mistake?
If:
- there is a mistake of fact existing at the time deal was made (not opinion)
- Mistake relates to basic assumption of K;
- Mistake has a material impact and
- Impacted party did not assume risk of mistake
When does impacted party assume risk of mistake?
- Conscious ignorance - when he is aware he only has limited knowledge but proceeds anyway
- Risk is allocated by agreement (“as is”)
When does a unilateral mistake occur
A mistake by one party that is unknown the to other party
Eg. buy software for computer that is not compatible
When can a party rescind a deal based on unilateral mistake?
If:
- there is a mistake of fact existing at the time deal was made (not opinion)
- Mistake relates to basic assumption of K;
- Mistake has a material impact and
- Impacted party did not assume risk of mistake AND
- Mistake would make contract unconscionable OR the other side knew of, had reason to know, or caused mistake. E.g. formula price is faulty.
When does Ambiguity make contract voidable?
Both parties know/should know: No k unless both parties intended same meaning
One party knows/should know: Binding K based on ignorant party’s reasonable interpretation.
LOOK AT SUBJECTIVE INTENT