Exam 3 Flashcards
Sources of Contract Law
Common law and Uniform Commercial Code (for sale and lease contracts)
Function of contract law
Provide stability and predictability for commerce
Contract
An agreement that can be enforced in court.
Objective theory of contracts
Use circumstances to determine parties’ intent
Four elements of a contract
- Agreement (offer and acceptance)
- Consideration (bargained for exchange)
- Contractual capacity
- Legality
Consideration
Any promises made by the parties to the contract must be supported by legally sufficient and bargained for consideration (something of value received or promised).
Defenses to enforceability of contract
- Lack of voluntary consent (fraud, undue influence, etc.)
2. Wrong form (not in legal format)
Bilateral contract
Offeree accepts offer by promising to perform (no performance needs to take place for contract to be formed)
Unilateral contract
Offeree accepts only by performance (once performance has been substantially undertaken, offer is irrevocable)
Formal contracts
Contracts in writing, special form required for enforceability
Express contract
Explicitly stated in words (oral or written)
Implied contract
Conduct of the parties, rather than words, creates and defines the terms of the contract
Reqs. for Implied Contracts
- Plaintiff furnished good or service
- Plaintiff expected payment, and defendant knew payment was expected
- Defendant had a chance to reject and didn’t
Executed contract
A contract that has been fully performed on both sides
Executory contract
Contract that has not been fully performed on both sides
Voidable contract
One or both parties can avoid or ratify contract
Unenforceable contract
Otherwise valid contract rendered unenforceable by legal defense or statute
Quasi contract
Not an actual contract. Equitable remedy created by courts where no agreement exists
Plain meaning rule
Courts will not permit external testimony/evidence if meaning of contract terms is clear and unambiguous.
Ambiguous contract
- The intent of parties cannot be determined from the contract’s language
- The contract lacks a provision on a disputed term
- A term is susceptible to more than one interpretation
- There is uncertainty about a provision
Agreement
Parties must agree on the terms of the contract and manifest to each other their mutual assent.
Requirements of offer
- Offeror’s serious intention
- Definiteness of terms
- Communication to offeree
Offeror’s serious intention
Judged by what reasonable person in offeree’s position would conclude about offer
Definiteness of terms
Required to determine breach of contract and give an appropriate remedy
Minimum reqs. of definiteness of terms
- Identification of parties
- Object or subject matter of contract
- Consideration to be paid
- Time of payment, delivery, or performance
Termination of offer
Offer can be terminated at any time before acceptance by either (1) action of the parties, or (2) operation of the law