Ethics Final Flashcards

1
Q

5 required elements of a contract

A
  1. offer and acceptance
  2. mutual intent
  3. consideration - value exchange
  4. capacity
  5. lawful purpose
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2
Q

what is the purpose of contract law?

A

to regulation formation of an agreement between parties and the enforcement of their legal promises

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3
Q

Gratuitious promise

A

A promise made without consideration

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4
Q

Equitable estoppel

A
  • if Party #1 takes action to change terms (ex. payment)
  • and Party #2 accepts actions, without changing written contract, #2 has led #1 to believe that the contract is modified
  • Party #2 is estopped - they cannot insist on reverting to original terms
  • the equitable outcome is to continue with the modified terms
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5
Q

2 types of misrepresentation

A
  1. fraudulent - deceived party can cancel contract, claim compensation for reasonable costs and sue for damages
  2. innocent - deceived party may cancel contract, can only claim for direct costs (ex. cost to remedy errors in specifications)
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6
Q

Contra Proferentum

A

If a contract is worded ambiguously, it is usually interpreted against the party which was most ambiguous

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7
Q

Parol Evidence

A

Evidence outside the contract or extrinsic. Terms are agreed but not documented in written contract (cannot enforce so write it in contract)

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8
Q

Fiduciary duty

A
  • Heightened duty to care for the interest of a party in priority to one’s own interest
  • Duty not to act against the interest of the other party
  • Obligation in circumstances involving relationship of ‘trust’ with a ‘beneficiary’ of the duty of care
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9
Q

Contract breach

A

Failure to perform an ESSENTIAL requirement. Substantial completion and warranties do not count as contract breach

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10
Q

Remedies for contract breach

A
  1. damages (direct and indirect)
  2. Duty to mitigate
  3. Court actions (specific performance or injunction)
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11
Q

What is the goal of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA 1999)?

A

To prevent pollution, protect environment and human health. Placing obligation on corporate officers to take ‘reasonable measures’ to ensure compliance

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12
Q

What is the purpose of the Environmental Assessment Act (2012)?

A

Requirements for major projects under federal jurisdiction

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13
Q

What is the purpose of the Environmental Enforcement Act (EEA 2010)?

A

Consolidates enforcement regimes for protection of flora, fauna, particular geographic areas and enforces CEPA

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14
Q

What is a crisis?

A

Anything that negatively impacts/affects people or the environment, and which is outside their personal ability and accountability to correct

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15
Q

7 steps of crisis management framework

A
  1. apply past process
  2. appoint senior leaders
  3. look for early warnings
  4. understand the problem
  5. assess the damage
  6. resolve crisis
  7. move forward
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16
Q

3 themes of Earth Charter

A
  1. ecological integrity
  2. social and economic justice
  3. democracy, nonviolence and peace
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17
Q

What should a contract owner do if all bids are non-compliant?

A

redefine scope and start again (don’t negotiate)

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18
Q

What is a tender?

A

An offer to contract

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19
Q

In contract law, when is communication deemed to occur?

A

when communication received

unless parties agree on mail

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20
Q

What is an options contact in contract law?

A

holder pays a premium for first right of refusal for a contract, for a defined time

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21
Q

What is a letter of intent?

A

Expression of interest in proceeding with transaction, subject to further agreement

not a contract, but if very detailed could be deemed an offer

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22
Q

When will a court intervene in a contract agreement?

A

If made under duress, fraud, undue influence

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23
Q

What is required for legal capacity?

A

age of majority

competent (mentally sound, not wasted)

corporate power (corporations bounds by acts of its officials)

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24
Q

When is a corporation bound by the acts of its officials?

A
  • acts are withing scope of officials role
  • other party has done due diligence on the official
  • no prohibitions
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25
Q

What must be done to avoid fraud?

A

employ the services of a qualified lawyer to do ‘due

diligence’ and discover any outstanding claims or fraud

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26
Q

What is duress?

A

intimidation, threats, coercion, unreasonably forcing to pay (economic duress)

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27
Q

What are the two types of mistakes?

A

common mistake

unilateral mistake

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28
Q

What is a unilateral mistake?

A
  • party 1 makes error
  • party 2 insists on following contract
  • party 1 may sue or do poor quality work

*party 2 cannot knowingly take advantage of 1. If 2 knows of mistake, contract is void.

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29
Q

What is a common mistake?

A

contract provisions not documented correctly.

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30
Q

What can a party do to deal with a common mistake?

A

Apply to court for order of rectification

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31
Q

What are the two ways of interpreting a contract?

A

strict: precise wording, true construction
liberal: intent

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32
Q

How are contracts generally interpreted?

What is the exception?

A

to most reasonable meaning

exception: if contract unconscionable to begin with

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33
Q

What does ‘reasonably implied’ mean?

A

Terms that do not have to be specified in writing

e.g. don’t break any laws

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34
Q

T/F: contracts imply a fiduciary responsibility

A

F: Not necessarily, since relationships are created by mutual intent

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35
Q

When are exemptions invalid?

A
  • misconduct occurs
  • contract breached
  • clauses unreasonable
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36
Q

What is an exemption clause?

A

Exempts a party from a certain liability

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37
Q

What are the reasons for contract discharge?

A
  • performance completed
  • express terms
  • agreement
  • frustration
  • force majeur
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38
Q

What is an express term?

A

condition under which a contract may be terminated

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39
Q

force majeure

A

A clause that frees the parties from obligation for events outside of control (war, riot)

Does not cover predictable complications (labor disputes, acts of nature)

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40
Q

What is frustration?

A

Change in circumstances beyond control of parties AND unforeseeable

e.g. government work stoppage, facility destroyed

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41
Q

warranty

A

not a vital obligation, equivalent to a guarantee

in consumer law: a promise made by manufacturer about a product

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42
Q

What is repudiation?

A

Party refused to perform essential requirement

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43
Q

In case of repudiation, what can the non-defaulting party do?

A
  • insists on fulfillment (or other remedy)
  • discharge contract
  • ignore (agree to changing contract)
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44
Q

quantum meruit

A

contractor may be paid ‘as much as is reasonable deserved’ for time and materials

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45
Q

What are the two types of damages?

A

‘Direct’ damage: defaulting party must remedy the failure to perform

‘Indirect damage’: non-defaulting pty. may recoup other loss; economic

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46
Q

What are the actions a court can take in case of contract breach?

A

specific performance: oblige party to do something

injunction: order party to stop doing something

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47
Q

What are some PEO guidelines related to environment?

A

solid waste management

drinking water systems

site assessment, remediation and management

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48
Q

What is ISO14001

A

standard for environmental management

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49
Q

What is the foundation of ISO14001?

A
  • understand organization
  • determine issues, compliance, activities, products & services
  • consider authority to exercise control
50
Q

What does paragraph 5.1 of ISO 14001 discuss?

A

leadership and commitment

51
Q

According to ISO 14001, how should management demonstrate leadership & commitment with respect to the environmental management system?

A
  • take accountability for effectiveness

- ensure that policy is compatible with strategy

52
Q

What are the 4 categories of sustainable development practices promoted by Engineers Canada?

A

Include others
plan, analyze, manage
lead
follow rules, prevent harm

53
Q

What are the 10 sustainable development practices promoted by Engineers Canada

A
  1. maintain knowledge
  2. multi-disciplinary teams
  3. consider social impacts
  4. design sustainability outcomes & indicators
  5. assess economic cost/benefit
  6. plan efficient solutions
  7. discover innovations
  8. lead/consult with employees & public
  9. comply with legal requirements
  10. manage risk
54
Q

What are the 11 principles of climate adaption and mitigation promoted by Engineers Canada?

A
  1. integrate adaption
  2. integrate mitigation
  3. review standards
  4. professional judgement
  5. interpret information
  6. innovation in mitigation
  7. use specialists
  8. effective language
  9. plan for service life
  10. risk management
  11. monitor liabilities
55
Q

What step in the crisis management framework involves appointing the crisis team?

A
  1. Appoint senior leaders
56
Q

For crisis management, what type of events should you focus on?

A

high impact (even if low probability)

57
Q

When resolving a crisis, what are better: moral decisions or legal decisions?

A

moral decisions

58
Q

What was the focus of the ‘silent spring’ of 1962

A

pesticides and agricultural chemicals cause problems

59
Q

What was the outcome of the 1972 UN stockholm environmental conference?

A

declaration of principles;

have more prudent core environmental consequences

60
Q

What was the outcome of the 1987 UN Brundtland report?

A

defined sustainability; development must no impair future generations

61
Q

What was the outcome of the 1987 Montreal protocol?

A

remove CFCs (ozone layer issue)

62
Q

What was the outcome of the 1992 Rio earth summet?

A

pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

63
Q

What was the outcome of the 1997 Kyoto protol?

A

pay credits to not reduce emissions

64
Q

What was the outcome of the 2007 UN Bali road map?

A

total emissions increase ok if reduce emissions/joule

65
Q

What is the IPCC?

A

UN intergovernmental panel on climate change (est. 1988)

66
Q

What is the issue with cap & trade?

A

subject to fraud

67
Q

What is the issue with subsidies to reduce emissions?

A

mostly benefit investors, not innovators

affect purchase timing but not overall

68
Q

What is sustainability?

A

culturally consistent, non-competitive caring ideology

long term environmental, organization and social value

69
Q

What are the requirements for sustainability?

A

institutions
law and order
education
ethical decision making

70
Q

What are the main challenges for sustainability?

A
  • negligence, corruption
  • waste
  • needs are culturally defined
  • population growth
71
Q

What are the 3 steps in the engineers role for sustainable business

A
  1. operational optimization
  2. organizational transformation
  3. systems building
72
Q

What are the 3 categories of sustainable development policies?

A
  • human development
  • institutional
  • structural/physical
73
Q

What are the different ways to integrate sustainability?

A
  • strategic
  • financial
  • operations
74
Q

What are the ways to ‘make the case’ for sustainable development?

A
  1. integrate sustainability
  2. entice customers
  3. engage employees
  4. reinforce supply chain
  5. invest in community
  6. maintain accountability
75
Q

What are the 4 commitments of the earth charter?

A
  1. respect earth and life
  2. care for community
  3. build democratic societies that are peaceful
  4. secure earths bounty for future generations
76
Q

Why is the earth charter no sustainable?

A

less focused on economics, law and order, self interest

77
Q

What are the three themes of the earth charter?

A
  1. ecological integrity
  2. social & economic justice
  3. democracy, nonviolence & peace
78
Q

What are the 3 groups of indigenous in Canada?

A

first nations
metis
inuit

79
Q

3 themes of Earth Charter

A
  1. ecological integrity
  2. social and economic justice
  3. democracy, nonviolence and peace
80
Q

What are the 3 groups of indigenous in Canada?

A

first nations
metis
inuit

81
Q

Where can conflict arise from

A
  • power struggles
  • lack of trust, history of bad faith, lack of respect
  • lack of info
  • failure to execute instructions
82
Q

when can conflict be useful

A
  • bringing causes of problems to the surface
  • developing alternatives and solutions
  • generating a more creative product
  • obliging others to clarify views
83
Q

Strategies for conflict

A
  • avoid
  • accommodate
  • compromise
  • collaborate
  • force
84
Q

What is the issue with “rational tools” like scorecards?

A

obscures assumptions

85
Q

What are the different types of power?

A
legitimate
information
referent
reward
coercive
expert
86
Q

What is referent power?

A

charisma: attract others

87
Q

What are the four components of working with others?

A

apply power
confirm interests
anticipate attitudes
engage others suitably

88
Q

What is the framework for approaching conflict?

A
  1. observation
  2. feel
  3. need
  4. request
89
Q

What are the four effective leadership attributes?

A
  1. maturity
  2. strategic awareness
  3. executive presence
  4. execution orientation
90
Q

What is execution orientation?

A

Engage others to solve issues, innovate, & get things done

91
Q

How to legal rules around diversity create tension?

A

don’t deliver equality unless underpinned by social mechanisms

92
Q

Why do dispersed multicultural teams have less conflict than co-located?

A

less gossip, differences less important

focus on task at hand

93
Q

What are the pros and cons of political correctness

A

pro: avoid offending

cons

  • stifle innovation
  • reinforce bias
  • create entitlement and divisions
94
Q

What leads to higher satisfaction in culturally diverse teams?

A

motivation

95
Q

What are the management techniques for diverse teams?

A
  1. find similarities
  2. avoid stereotypes
  3. manage perspectives
  4. solve problems
  5. manage differences
96
Q

What is the 3 step process to improve team performance?

A
  1. understand differences
  2. focus on common goals
  3. deliver results
97
Q

What is fraud?

A

wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain

98
Q

What is undue influence?

A

one party ‘dominates’ another, eg family situation

99
Q

What is a vital obligation?

A

key clause that must be satisfied, and substantial performance is expected

100
Q

What is unconscionable?

A

something a reasonable person would not do

101
Q

What is professionalism?

A

A profession is a self-selected, self-disciplined group of individuals who hold themselves out to the public as possessing a special skill, derived from education and training and who are prepared to exercise that skill primarily in the interests of others

102
Q

Types of licenses and experience required

A
  1. Engineering license/Certificate of Authorization - need if offering services to the public
  2. Temporary - issued on a project basis for max. 12 months
  3. Provisional - 3 years experience outside of Canada, 1 year experience in Canada
  4. Limited - 3 year degree/diploma and 8+ years of experience
103
Q

Basic duties of Engineer (from PEO Practice Guideline)

A
  • top priority is public health and safety
  • legal considerations
  • duty to inform
  • protect oneself
  • protect one’s work
  • good working conditions
  • leadership
  • quality management
  • culture
  • sustainability
104
Q

what is sustainability?

A

meeting the needs of the present without compromising the future

105
Q

what is an expert witness

A
  • possess ‘special knowledge’ that the average person does not
  • interprets technical info for ppl who do not have knowledge
  • need to be impartial and neutral
106
Q

what is a fact witness

A

they just come in to tell the facts, not provide comments or opinions

107
Q

attributes of a consulting engineer

A
  • min. 5 years professional experience, including 2 years of independent work
  • technical competence
  • business and leadership skills
108
Q

what is tort law?

A
  • compensates those injured by wrongdoing of others (usually involves negligence)
  • private parties institute legal actions against each other
109
Q

what is true construction?

A
  • strict/precise wording in a contract

- the contract is interpreted according to the most reasonable meaning

110
Q

what does reasonably implied mean?

A
  • terms do not have to be specified in writing
  • contractors must deliver in compliance with standards and codes
  • material and work is according to proper standard
  • materials are ‘fit for intended purpose’
  • work is carried out in ‘proper and workmanlike way’
  • work is completed within a reasonable time, no undue delay
111
Q

what is a contract?

A

an agreement between parties that can make the two parties agree to do something

112
Q

5 types of contract discharge

A
  1. performance completed
  2. express term - condition under which a contract may be terminated
  3. agreement - mutual consent
  4. frustration - contract closed due to circumstances out of either parties’ control
  5. force majeure - clauses free parties from some obligations
113
Q

when is a contract considered breach?

A

when a party fails to perform an ESSENTIAL requirement

114
Q

types of IP and their timelines

A
  1. trademark - 15 years, renewable
  2. patent - 20 years
  3. copyright - lifetime + 50 years
  4. industrial design - 10 years
  5. integrated circuit topography - 10 years
  6. trade secrets
115
Q

2 types of duty to warn

A
  1. products - manufacturer is liable

2. workplace - employer is liable

116
Q

5 types of liabilities

A
  1. concurrent tortfeasors - more than one party is liable
  2. vicarious liability - one party is liable for another
  3. strict liability - proving fault is not necessary to prove liability
  4. inevitable events - things outside of control
  5. occupier duty of care - owed by occupier to guests
117
Q

what is duty of care?

A

legal obligation to not cause harm. others are relying on our judgement

118
Q

what is basic limitation period?

A

2 years since:

a) the claimant first new injury, loss or damage had occurred OR
b) a reasonable person ought to have known

119
Q

what is the ultimate limitation period?

A

15 years

120
Q

when is there no limitation period?

A
  • family law support matters, debtors & creditors, sexual assault
  • crown recovery of fines/taxes/penalties
  • undiscovered environmental claims
121
Q

when does the limitation period not run

A
  • the claimant is incapable or a minor

- if the defendant conceals injury, loss or damage, conceals act or failure to act or mislead claimant

122
Q

when is a claim discovered?

A

the day an act or omission becomes known

- wrongful conduct and resulting damages