Contracts Final Flashcards
Mutual Assent
Definition: “parties manifestation of present intent to be legally bound upon terms sufficiently certain”
Common Law: often in the form of offer and acceptance but does not have to be
UUC: can be any manifestation to show agreement, if parties think that they’re in an agreement then there a contract
Offer
“Presenting a desire to form a legally binding contract, inviting someone to consent”
Acceptance
a manifestation of assent to the terms thereof, made by offeree in a manner invited/required by the offeror
Termination of Acceptance
(i) Revocation (taking offer back)
(ii) Lapse (ran out of time)
(iii) Counter Offer
(iv) Rejection (Offeree declines the offer)
(v) Death
(vi) Incapacitation (physically cannot perform anymore)
(vii) Silence (silence means no, unless the have a reason to believe it = accepting §69)
Bilateral v Unilateral Contract
(i) Bilateral (acceptance by promise)
(ii) Unilateral (acceptance by perform)
Option Contracts
The buyer pays the seller an agreed-upon sum to ensure that, for a specified time, the seller will not sell to someone else
- MUST have consideration or else it is not an option contract (saying “ill hold it”)
- This is Irrevocable
Consideration
a bargain for exchange
Elements of Promissory Estoppel
- A promise made to a promisee
- In which the promisor reasonably expects their promise to induce action or forbearance of action by the promisee or a third party
- And the promise being made induces the action or forbearance of action
- Injustice for the promisee can be avoided by enforcement of the promise.
Elements of Misrepresentation
1.A false statement of fact, intention or opinion
2.Addressing a fact, intention or opinion material to the contract
3.Made with the requisite state of mind (intentional, negligent, or innocent)
4.Actually and justifiably relied on by the other party; and
5.Caused damage to the other party.
Elements of Non-Disclosure
1.Failure to disclose a fact
2.A duty to disclose that fact
3.The non-disclosed fact was material
4.The other party actually and justifiably relied on the state of things in the absence of disclosure of the fact; and
5.Damage
Defenses
- Deception
a. Misrepresentation
b. Non-Discosure
c. Concealment - Mistake
a. Mutual
b. Unliateral - Duress
a. Traditional
b. Economic - Illegality
a. Public Policy
b. Licensing
c. Non Compete
5.Incapacity
a. Mental
b. Minority/Infancy
c. Intoxication
6.Unconscionability
a. Procedural: Inability
to bargain OR gross
inequality of power
b. Substantive: Shock
the conscience - Statue of frauds
Elements of Concealment
1.The active efforts to prevents another party from learning a fact
2.The concealed fact was material
3.The other party actually AND justifiably relied on the facts as they appeared without the concealed fact; and
4.Damage
Elements of Mutual mistake
1.A mistake made by both parties about a fact surrounding a transaction at the time the contract is made.
2.Must be concerning a basic assumption to the contract
3.Must have a material effect on the parties’ contractual exchange
*Assumption of Risk
Elements of Unilateral Mistake
1.A Mistake by one party about a fact surrounding a transaction at the time the contract is made.
2.Concerning a basic assumption of the contract
3.Which had a material effect on the parties contractual exchange
4.Either
(a) Non-mistaking party knew or should have known, or caused the mistake OR
(b) The mistake makes the contract grossly unfair (think policy here
Elements of Duress
- One party commits a wrongful act
- Such a wrongful act precludes the other from exercising their free will/induce action (or if economical no other feasible option)
Elements of Illegality
- Contracts prohibited by statutes
- Contracts in violation of licensing statutes
- Covenants not to compete
- Tangential illegality