Contracts Flashcards
Article 2
Applies to the sale of goods (Moveable, personal property)
Common Law
Applies to any other Contract
Do the parties have to be merchants for Article 2 to apply?
No, just has to be a contract for a sale of goods
Mixed Contract (Goods and Services)
Which is more important? What item does she want and what’s being thrown in?
Whatever is more important apply law (good= article 2, class= common law)
Texas Essays on Contracts
No Common Law, UCC only
Texas Essays on Contracts Article 2A
Lease of goods
Express Contract
Created by the parties words (oral or written)
Implied Contract
Created by parties conduct
Contract
Legally enforceable agreement
- Not every agreement is enforceable
Restitution (Quasi- Contract)
Protects against unjust enrichment whenever contract law yields an unfair result.
- Restitution is remedy of last resort
- Recovery in restitution is reasonable value of benefit conferred, not contract price
Recovery in Restitution
Value of benefit conferred, not contract price
Bilateral Contract
Where an offer can be accepted I any reasonable way (flexible)
Unilateral Contract
Where an offer can be accepted only by performing (inflexible)
- Where offer says accepted only by performing
- Reward, Contest, Prize
Was there an offer?
A manifestation of an intention to be bound
- A possibility of contract formation
Advertisements in Contracts
Generally not an offer (no quantity term)
- Trade Journal is not an advertisement (broader communicating media)
- Exception: Where the advertisement specifics quantity, then ad is an offer
Open Price Term
Court will read in a reasonable price except for a contract involving sale of real property - - No price, read in
- Usually fair market value at time of contract
Quantity and Requirement Contracts, Article 2
- Quantity can be measure by buyers needs or requirements, don’t have to be a specific number
- Even if ordering in good faith buyer cannot take seller by surprise. Buyer won’t be able to make seller give. Any increase cannot be out of line with buyers prior requirements
When does an offer lapse?
an offer lapses after a stated term or after a reasonable time has passed
- Offer doesn’t last forever, lapses after reasonable time
What effect does revocation have on the offer?
An offer terminates when the offeror revokes the offer
When can an offer be revoked?
An offer can be revoked any time before acceptance
What are the two types of revocation
Direct Revocation, Implied Revocation
Direct Revocation
The offeror indicates directly to the offeree that he has changed his mind about the deal
- Doesn’t have to say “revoke offer” just something ot let offeree know that he has changed his mind
Indirect Revocation
The offerror engages in conduct that indicates he’s change his mind and the offeree is aware of the conduct
- Look Out: where offeror has made offer, sold to someone else, and then original oferee comes to accept offer. If offeree did not know about transaction the offer was not revoked. Need evidence that oferee knew about transaction, then offer will be revoked and won’t be able to accept
Option
An option is a promise to keep the offer open that is paid for. Promise + $
- Offer cannot be revoked
Firm Offer
- Offer cannot be revoked
In a sale of goods (article 2), if a merchant promises in a signed writing to keep an offer open the offer is irrevocable - Held open for 3 months, can’t contract for anymore time
- If time period not stated it will be for reasonable time not to exceed 3 months
- Look Out: where it’s just a writing to agree to sell something for certain price, won’t be a firm offer. Has to have a promise to keep offer open
Foreseeable reliance before acceptance
- Offer cannot be revoked
Offeror expects offeree to accept first and then rely - Usually not foreseeable that this would be other way around
- Subcontractors know that contractors rely on their bids. Won’t need acceptance first
Starting to perform on a unilateral contract
- Offer cannot be revoked
- What if you did things in order to prepare but did not start? Mere Preparation does not make offer irrevocable under this exception. Have to actually started the contract job. (Could be foreseeable reliance though)
When is revocation effective?
When it’s received (no mailbox rule)
- If person accepted before they received your revocation in the mail, have to accept because revocation only effective when received not sent
A revocation _______s an offer
Terminates
What effect does a rejection have on an offer?
An offer terminates when the offeree rejects it
What effect does a counter offer have on an offer?
Counteroffer is treated as a rejection and terminates the offer
Counteroffer vs. Mere Bargaining
Mere bargaining is not a counteroffer/rejection. If just mere bargaining could always accept original offer
- How about $50 vs. I will only pay $50
Conditional Acceptance
Operates as a rejection and a counter offer under common law and article 2
- Remember an offerror could always agree to this and accept counter offer
- I will only accept if I get 10% off full cash payments
Acceptance Varying Offer / Common Law
Acceptance must mirror offer
- Adding of changing any terms operates as rejection (even minor change)
Acceptance Varying Offer / Article 2
No mirror image, adding and changing term does not prevent acceptance BUT term only included if:
A. Both parties are merchants
B. No material change and
C. No objection within a reasonable time
- If term customary it’s not a material change, disclaiming warranties material change
- Any response will reject term even if it’s minor
- Can form a contract and leave that term out
Death of either party before acceptance
Terminates a revocable offer but not an irrevocable offer (option or firm offer)
Has offer been accepted/ Contract Language
If it says you can only accept one way, telling the person “I accept” will not be acceptance, have to accept how the contract says
Has offer been accepted / Bilateral Contract
Starting performance is acceptance and carries with it an implied promise to finish the job
- Bilateral, doesn’t say how you can accept so can accept in any reasonable way
Has offer been accepted/ Unilateral contract
Completing performance is acceptance merely starting performance is not
- Don’t have to finish job, but once you start performance offeror cannot revoke offer.
Improper Performance
Simultaneous acceptance with breach
Improper Performance / Sale of Goods Accommodation
If seller tells buyer its sending nonconforming goods as an accommodation there is no acceptance and no breach
Oferees Silence as Acceptance
Generally not an acceptance
- If you don’t respond to this by 10 you have accepted
When is acceptance effective?
Acceptance is effective when mailed (mailbox rule)
- Can’t revoke offer once it’s mailed (accepted)
What if acceptance is lost in the mail?
burden of loss is on offeror, all that matter is letter was mailed, once mailed its effective
If buyer mails acceptance then calls to reject
mailbox rule applies and buyer accepted first
Exceptions to the Mailbox rule
- If offer says that acceptance must be received by certain date then mailing won’t be effective, letter must be received by that date
- Irrevocable offer: Have to accept before offer expires, mailing won’t be acceptance but receipt will
If buyer sends rejection letter and then acceptance letter
No mailbox rule, it will be a race and whichever one gets there first is effective
Lack of Capacity
Minors, Intoxicated, Mentally incompetant
Incapacitated Defendants rights to contract
Right to disaffirm contract
Minors Age
Minors actual age at time of contract matters, doesn’t matter if they said they were older
Implied Affirmation
Retaining the benefit after gaining capacity
- If you don’t disaffirm contract and continue to use it after gaining capacity contract can now be enforced against you (implied in conduct)
Incapacitated parties and Necessaries
- food, shelter, clothing, medical care
- But only for the reasonable value, not contract price
If incapacitated person is trying to enforce contract
they will be able to enforce it, we care about the capacity of the defendant. The incapacitated person has a right to void but the other party does not
Ambiguity/Misunderstanding
Parties each mean separate thing (different ships): There will be no contract because of ambiguity unless one party knows or had reason to know of the parties meaning. Then there would be a contract and innocent parties meaning would prevail
Mutual Mistake
No Contract if it is to a material fact
Mutual Mistake about value
not generally considered material. Contract will be enforceable as to either party
- If seller didn’t realize it was worth more or buyer thought it was worth more
Unilateral Mistake
One parties mistake is not a fatal flaw unless other party know or had reason to know about it
- Almost never a defense
Consideration
Bargained for legal detriment/benefit
- Can bargain for a promise, performance, or even forbearance
Past Consideration
Can’t use act that was already done for consideration
Adequacy of Consideration
irrelevant, just need a bargain
Contract Modification / Common Law
New Consideration is required to modify contract
- Preexisting duty rule: Performing a preexisting duty is not enough
Need something extra to get more money.
- Only person who can use this is parties to original contract
Preexisting Duty Rule
Contract modification under common law, need new consideration to modify contract cannot by existing duty
Contract Modification / Article 2
Consideration is not required to modify a contract for sale of goods, but you must have good faith to modify
Contract Modification/ Partial Payment of Debt
- If debt is due and undisputed, no consideration to pay part of the debt and forgive the rest. Won’t be valid. You’re not giving them anything the shouldn’t already get
- If you agree to pay portion early or there is a dispute over the actual amount owed then there is consideration to pay some of debt
Time-Barred Debt
a written promise to pay a debt, collection of which is barred by statute of limitations is enforceable even without consideration
Promissory Estoppel
Substitute for consideration
- Forseaable reliance may make a promise enforceable even without consideration
(Right answer only if there is no consideration)
What Contracts need to be in writing (statute of frauds)
MY LEGS
Marriage, Term of Years, Land Sale contracts, Executory Contracts, Goods for $500 or more, Surety Agreements
Statute of Frauds/ Interest in Real Property
- Sale of property needs to be in writing
- Any interest of property needs to be in writing including lease and easements
Statute of Frauds/ Performance cannot be completed within a year
- It does not matter if performance actually takes more then a year. As long as full performance within a year was theoretically possible no writing is required
- Contracts for “rest of life” do not fall under Statute of Fraud (could do in 1 year)
- If you contract with someone for something that’s to take place for more then a year in future needs to be in writing. Duration of that performance is irrelevant, it’s when you contracted for it to happen
Does a contract for the “rest of your life” need to be in writing?
No, possible to do within 1 year
Statute of Frauds / Sale for Goods $500 or more
Needs to be in writing
- If modification to contract is going to take price above $500 needs to be in writing
Statute of Frauds/ Suretyship
A promise to answer for the debt of another
Statute of Frauds/ Contract Modification Clauses Article 2
If sale of goods with modification goes over $500, needs to be in writing now
- If language of contract prohibit oral modification it needs to be in writing: Article 2 lets parties create their own statute of frauds
Statute of Frauds/ Contract Modification Clauses Common Law
clauses prohibiting oral modification are not enforceable so you can always modify a contract orally under common law, even if you have agreed not to
What must writing contain to satisfy statue of frauds under Article 2?
Must contain a quantity and be signed by party to be charged with breach (the defendant)
- If plaintiff is the only one who signed it’s not enforceable
What must writing contain to satisfy statute of frauds for any other contract besides article 2?
material terms and be signed by the defendant
- “I accept your offer” Not good enough, no material terms
Statute of Frauds can be a one way street if both parties didn’t sign. If it has defendant signature it’s enforceable
Exceptions to Statute of Frauds/ Real Property
- Leases of one year or less
- Part Performance: must have 2 out of 3: some payment, possession, improvements
Exceptions to Statute of Frauds/ Performance within 1 year
If person already preformed (ex: 2 years of work) and now refusing to pay, because person already performed they can enforce without writing
- Would still have to prove contract existed (formation issue)
- What if person couldn’t complete full performance (ex: fired 3 months into 2 year contract): Part Performance is not enough to satisfy full performance exception. Wouldn’t be able to recover because of statute of frauds. Could still recover restitution (reasonable value of work done)