Exam 3 Contents Flashcards
What are contracts governed by?
Common law, unless there is a statutory law governing the contract
Contract (k)
a promise or set of promises for the breach of which the law gives a remedy, or the performance of which the law in some way recognizes as a duty
Objective theory of contracts
A theory under which the intent to form a contract will be judged by:
-outward, objective facts (what the party said when entering into the contract –how the party acted or appeared
-and the circumstances surrounding the transaction) as interpreted by a reasonable person, rather than by the party’s own secret, subjective intentions.
What are the 4 requirements for a contract?
Agreement, consideration, capacity, and legality
Defenses to a K
– Voluntary consent- consent of both parties must be voluntary
* Examples include fraud, undue influence, mistake, or duress
– Form- the contract must be in the appropriate form required by
law
* Some K must be in writing
Bilateral Contract
A type of contract that arises when a promise is given in exchange for a return promise.
Formal contract
A contract that by law requires a specific form, such as being executed under seal, to be valid.
Unilateral contract
A contract that results when an offer can be accepted only by the offeree’s performance.
Informal contract
A contract that does not require a specified form or formality in order to be valid.
Express contract
A contract in which the terms of the agreement are fully and explicitly stated in words, oral or written.
Implied Contract
A contract formed in whole or in part from the conduct of the parties.
the conduct of the parties dictates rather expressed statements define the K
What are the requirements for an implied K?
-Plaintiff furnished some services or property
-Plaintiff expected to be paid for the services or property; Defendant knew or should have known payment was expected
-The defendant had a chance to reject the services or property and did not.
Executed contracts
Contracts in which performance has been completed.
Executory contracts
those contracts in which the terms have not been completely executed or fulfilled
Enforceable contract
a valid contract that can be enforced because there are no legal defenses against it
Unenforceable contract
A valid contract rendered unenforceable by some statute or law.
Voidable contract
A contract that may be legally avoided at the option of one or both of the parties.
Offer
A promise or commitment to perform or refrain from performing some specified act in the future.
Requirements for an offer
-The offeror must have a serious intention to become bound by the offer
-The terms of the offer must be reasonably certain
-The offer must be communicated to the offeree.
Agreement
The parties must agree on the terms and communicate to each other their mutual agreement to the same bargain; traditionally an offer and acceptance
Intention
What would a reasonable person in the offeree’s position conclude the offeror’s words and actions mean?
Situations in which intent may be lacking
- Expressions of opinion- not an offer
- Statements of future intent- “I plan on selling X”
- Preliminary negotiations- a request or invitation to negotiate is not an offer
- Invitations to bid- invitations to submit bids is not an offer; bids submitted are offers
- Advertisements and price lists- are considered invitations to negotiate
- Live and online auctions- again invitations to submit offers
Terms of a K must express or imply what 2 things?
The identity of the parties and the identity of the object or subject matter of the K
Revocation
The revoking or withdrawing of an offer
Option contract
a contract that is created when the offeror promises to hold an offer open for a set time period in return for consideration
Termination by action of the offeree
If the offeree rejects the offer, by words or by conduct, the offer is terminated
Counteroffer
a rejection of the original offer and the simultaneous making of a new offer
What are some terminations of contract by operation of law?
-Lapse of time: an offer terminates automatically when a specified in the offer has been exceeded (if unstated, a reasonable time period)
-Destruction of the specific subject matter of the offer: death or incompetence of the offeror or the offeree
-Supervening Illegality: a statute or court decision that makes an offer illegal automatically terminates the offer
Acceptance
Acceptance
Unequivocal acceptance (Mirror Image Rule)
The acceptance cannot impose new conditions on—or change the terms of—the original offer.
Silence as Acceptance (general rule)
silence cannot constitute acceptance, even when the offer states it can be, unless the offeree has had prior dealing with the offeror. (i.e. landscaper notifies you they are raising rate effective next month and you do not object)
Communication of Acceptance
some K do not require formal acceptance (unilateral). However, bilateral K requires communication of acceptance (bilateral is formed when a promise is made rather than when the act is performed)
Mailbox rule (deposited acceptance rule)
acceptance becomes binding when it is deposited with the postal service
Substitute Method of Acceptance
when the offeror authorizes a particular method of acceptance, but the offeree accepts by a different means.
for example, if an offer states acceptance must be via registered mail but the offeree sends a signed acceptance via overnight courier service, which is considered equally reliable and timely, this could be considered a valid substitute method of acceptance
How e-contracts differ from regular contracts?
Not much; meet the same 4 basic requirements (agreement, consideration, capacity, and legality). Differ in certain documents that can’t be signed electronically, like wills, divorce papers, etc.
What should an online offer include?
-Acceptance of terms: a clause that clearly indicates what constitutes acceptance
-Payment: a provision specifying how payment for the goods/services must be made.
-Return policy
-Disclaimer: a disclaimer of liability for certain use of the goods
-Limitation on remedies: a provision specifying the remedies available for the buyer if the goods are found to be defective or if the K is breached.
-Privacy policy: a statement indicating how the seller will use the information gathered by the buyer.
-Dispute resolution
Click-on agreements
An agreement that arises when an online buyer clicks on “I agree”
Shrink-wrap agreements
Contract terms are inside the box.
Party opening box agrees to terms by keeping merchandise.
E-signature
As defined by the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, “an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record.”
What documents can not be bound by an e-signature?
court papers, divorce decrees, evictions, foreclosures, health insurance terminations, prenups, and wills.
Uniform Electronic Transaction Act
Sets forth rules for entering into an enforceable contract using electronic means.
Consideration
the value given in return for a performance or promise
A legally sufficient value can take what forms?
-A promise to do something that one has no prior legal duty to do;
-The performance of an action that one is otherwise not obligated to undertake
-Refraining from an action that one has a legal right to undertake(forbearance)
Bargained for exchange
The item of value must be given or promised by the offeror in return for the offeree’s promise, performance, or promise of performance.