Contracts COPY Flashcards
Offer
An objective manifestation by the offeror of a willingness to enter into a bargain creating the power of acceptance in the offeree
When an “offer” is sent to multiple people and not all can accept?
NOT AN OFFER - it’s an invitation to BID. An announcement. Usually - the more widespread the audience, the less likely it’s an offer. Ad in the paper - invitation to bid.
Acceptance
An objective manifestation by the offeree to be bound by the terms of the offer
When does an offer terminate?
-Death of the offeror -Revocation (from the offeror) -Rejection -Counteroffer (terminates the offeree’s power of acceptance) -Lapse of time
Rejection vs. Inquiry
Rejection terminates the offeree’s power of acceptance Inquiry does NOT terminate the offeree’s power of acceptance. Offeror can renew offer in the face of a rejection.
The offeror
The master of the bargain. They set the time
Face-to-face conversation rule
When an offeror makes an offer during the course of a face-to-face conversation, the offer lapses at the end of the conversation.
Does an inquiry terminate an offeree’s power of acceptance?
NOPE.
What can an offeror do with a offer?
Can revoke
What can an offeree do with an offer?
Accept, Reject, Counteroffer, Inquiry
UCC 2-206: Non-Conforming Goods
If non-conforming goods are shipped, the shipment serves as an acceptance and at the same time a breach Is NOT a partial acceptance
Unilateral Contract
Offeror makes an offer that calls for performance Looking for ACTION Example: wanted poster for lost dog promising reward.
Bilateral contract
Offeror and offeree exchange mutual promises Looking for PROMISE Ex. A promises her car to B, B accepts by promising to pay A money for the car.
UCC 2-205: Firm Offer Rule
A signed writing by a merchant which by its terms gives assurances that it will be held open is not revocable for lack of consideration for the stated period of time not to exceed three months Here - can’t revoke the offer (terminate it) early. ONLY for merchants. If private person, then this doesn’t apply.
Consideration
Bargained for legal detriment
Consideration considerations
- Look for a valid contract -is there a bargain the court MUST enforce? -bargained for exchange -forbearance to sue 2. Look for a substitute for consideration -is there a bargain the court SHOULD enforce?
Implied in Law contracts
A quasi-contract is not an actual contract, rather a legal substitute for a contract formed to impose equity between to parties -A contract SHOULD have been formed, even though in actuality it was not. -Used when a court faces a situation of injustice to enforce the agreement to ensure fairness Ex. when a doctor tries to save the guy’s life and the guy dies anyway there IS an implied quasi-contract.
Can an offeror terminate an offer at any time before acceptance by revoking it?
YEP. UNLESS they’re a merchant and the UCC 2-205 applies.
When is revocation effective?
Direct revocation - upon communication (ex. call them, write them and tell them the offer has been revoked) Indirect revocation - ex. reading the paper, that the stamp collection that you were going to buy has been sold to someone else.
Generally, as an answer, is “past” or “moral” consideration sufficient to form a contract?
NOPE.
Modification
A subsequent agreement that alters or changes the parties’ duties and obligations under the terms of their original contract.
Modification - UCC
Good faith No consideration required
Modification - Common Law
Pre-existing duty rule New consideration required
Pre-existing duty rule
Performance of an act by which a party is already contractually bound to perform does NOT constitute valid consideration for a new promise. At common law.
Mutual MIstake
BOTH parties are mistaken as to a material element that goes to the HEART or ESSENCE of the bargain. Remedy: Rescission
Unilateral Mistake
Contract ENFORCEABLE against mistaken party UNLESS non-mistaken party knew or should have known of the other’s mistake.
Anti-Assignment Clause
-The assignor need not consult the other party to the contract. -An assignment cannot have any effect on the duties of the other party to the contract, nor can it reduce the possibility of the other party receiving full performance of the same quality. -Certain kinds of performance, therefore CANNOT be assigned, bc they create a unique relationship between the parties to the contract
Implied in Law contract
Legal substitute for a contract formed to impose equity between two parties. A contract SHOULD have been formed, even though it actually was not.
Implied in Fact contract
An agreement founded upon a meeting of the minds, which, although not embodied in an express contract, is inferred from the conduct of the parties. Ex. the guy who contracts with the golf pro for $1000 for lessons for his son, and the pro lets the daughter also participate in all the lessons, he’s entitled to another $1000 for her lessons too.
Remedies - law
Money damages
Remedies - equity
Injunction Specific performance Rescission Reformation Quiet title actions Partition proceedings
F.O.B.
“free on board” Tells us where the risk of loss passes. Ex. “F.O.B. seller’s place of business” - during transit, the risk of loss is on the buyer once it leaves the seller’s place of business.
Specific Performance
A remedy used to enforce a contract for the sale of unique item of personal property or real property
Condition Precedent
An act or an event (other than the lapse of time) that must occur FIRST BEFORE a party is under a duty to perform.
Are minors regarded as having sufficient capacity to comprehend questions involving contractual rights?
NOPE.
Contract with Minors
A person dealing with a minor does so at his or her peril and subject to the right of the minor to avoid the contract. Minors are regarded as NOT having sufficient capacity to comprehend questions involving contractual rights.
What kind of contracts with minors CANNOT be voided?
Taxes Penalties Bank regulations Military Necessities (reasonable rates - can’t collect on additional excessive rates)
Statute of Frauds (types of contracts under)
Marriage Year (1+) Land Executor Guarantee (or suretyship) Sale of goods ($500+) MY LEGS To be enforceable - NEEDS to be in writing.
Main Purpose Rule
An oral promise to answer for the debt of another is enforceable if the promisor’s main purpose is to further his own economic advantage.
Parol Evidence Rule
Once the parties have reduced their agreement to a writing, evidence of any prior oral or written or contemporaneous oral agreements is INADMISSIBLE to alter, vary, or contradict the terms of the writing.
Exceptions to Parol Evidence Rule
Fraud Mistake Illegality Duress Partial Integration Conditions precedent
Can a personal service be assigned?
NO. If you contract with a person because their unique skill, can’t assign it. Would reduce the possibility of the other party receiving full performance of the same quality. Personal service contracts are NON-DELEGABLE.
EXCEPTION TO LAND - STATUTE OF FRAUDS
PART PERFORMANCE - if you moved in, made payments, made improvements on the land. Usually, just ONE is enough. Will enforce the agreement outside of the statute of frauds.
GUARANTEE/SURETYSHIP - Statute of Frauds - when it does NOT need to be in writing
MAIN PURPOSE RULE If the main purpose behind someone promising to take on the debt of another is to benefit the person promising, then does NOT need to be in writing to be enforceable.
When can you bring in prior oral, written, or contemporaneous evidence to a contract that’s not in the actual written agreement?
For purposes OTHER than proving that it’s part of the contract itself - like clarification.
Can an oral condition precedent be brought in to show that a written agreement was subject to it?
YES. This is an EXCEPTION to the Parol Evidence Rule.
UCC Coverage Areas
Merchant Specific Rules (Confirmatory Memo, Firm Offer Rule) Defenses Damages Requirements Contracts Installment Contracts Battle of the Forms
Third Party Beneficiaries - Coverage Areas
Intended Incidental Assignment and delegation
UCC 2-205: Firm Offer Rule
A signed writing by a merchant which by its terms gives assurances that it will be held open is NOT revocable for lack of consideration for the stated period of time not to exceed three months.
Requirements Contract
A contract in which one party agrees to supply as much of a good or service as is required by the other party, and in exchange the other party expressly or implicitly promises that it will obtain its goods or services exclusively from the first party.
UCC 2-712: Cover by Buyer
After covering (getting substitute goods) aggrieved buyer may recover: (Price to cover - contract price), PLUS Incidental and consequential damages. Price to cover is always going to be higher than the contract rate.
UCC 2-615: Impracticability
Delay in delivery OR non-delivery by a seller is NOT a breach of the seller’s performance is made impracticable by a contingency whose non-occurrence was a basic assumption on which the contract was made.
Impossibility - subjective (defense)
Impossibility will NOT excuse duties of performance under a contract Ex. aphids all over the corn.
Impossibility - objective (defense)
Impossibility WILL excuse duties of performance under a contract Ex. if the removal of asbestos from buildings was suddenly illegal.
3rd Party Beneficiary Analysis
- Identify 3rd party beneficiary contract 2. Intent to benefit test (could beneficiary step into the shoes of the contracting party?) -Is 3rd party incidental - if yes, incidental, then no rights -Is 3rd party intended - then step 3 3. Has third party vested? -learned of the contract and assented to it? or -changed positions in reliance on the contract?
UCC 2-601: Non-Conforming Goods
Buyer has three options: 1. Can accept the whole shipment 2. Can reject the whole shipment 3. Can accept any commercial unit or units and reject the rest
Free on Board (FOB)
Indicates that the seller is responsible for getting the goods to a shipper designed by the buyer. At this point, the risk of loss passes from the seller to the buyer.
Incidental Damages
Expenses incurred by the injured party as a result of the other party’s breach of a contract -expenses for inspection, receipt, transportation -storage of rejected goods or services -expenses associated with buying replacement goods or services, AND -any other expense related to delay in delivery or non-delivery