K & Sales Flashcards
K
A legally enforceable agreement or promise
• The law recognizes a duty to perform and provides a
remedy in the event of a breach
Unilateral K Revocation
Start of performance makes the offer irrevocable for a reasonable time to complete performance
» Start of performance must go beyond mere preparation
Bilateral K
Anything other than a unilateral contract (promise for a promise)
Quasi K
Not a K, more like an equitable remedy • Usually arises when there is an unenforceable agreement, but one side has realized a benefit Look for: 1) P has conferred a benefit to D 2) P reasonably expects to be paid 3) D knowingly accepted the benefit 4) D will be unjustly enriched if P is not compensated
Void K
K never had any legal effect
Voidable K
One party may elect to void the K
Applicable Law CL
Applies to most Ks, except sales of goods
• Any K not involving the sale of goods should be treated
under common law contract principles
Applicable Law UCC
Governs the sale of goods
• If both parties to a K are merchants, the UCC has additional special rules (e.g., perfect tender, acceptance with additional terms)
Mixed K
For Ks involving both goods and services, the predominant purpose of the K dictates the applicable law
• Exception — if K terms divide payment between the goods
and the services, apply the UCC to the sale of goods portion of the K and common law to the remainder
Offer
An objective manifestation of a present intent to contract
• Demonstrated by a promise, undertaking, or commitment;
definite and certain terms; and communication to an offeree
• Creates power of acceptance in the offeree
Objective Manifestation of Intent
Offer must give offeree a reasonable expectation that offeror is willing to enter into a K
• Would a reasonable person believe that the communication
is an offer inviting acceptance?
Definite and Certain Terms
Not all material terms are required
• Terms must only be sufficient to allow enforcement of the K
• Vague terms or terms of negotiation are not allowed
UCC Offer
Quantity must be certain or capable of being
made certain
Requirement/Output K
May state quantity of goods in terms of the buyer’s requirements, the seller’s output, or in terms of exclusivity
• No unreasonably disproportionate increase in quantity is allowed
Communication to an identified offeree
Offeree must know of the offer and have the power to accept it
Ads as Offers
Generally not offers, unless highly specific as to quantity and clearly indicate who may accept
Revocation
An offeror may revoke her offer, which effectively terminates the offer and the offeree’s power of acceptance
Methods of revocation
1) Unambiguous statement by the offeror to the offeree
2) Offeree becomes aware of offeror’s unambiguous conduct or statement indicating an unwillingness or inability to contract
Limitations on Revocation
Revocation is only effective upon receipt by offeree
• An offer cannot be revoked once it has been accepted
Irrevocable Offers
Offer is irrevocable if:
a) Option K — promise to keep an offer open
• Requires consideration in exchange for the option
b) UCC firm offers — if a merchant offers to sell goods in a signed writing and gives assurances that the offer will be held open, it is irrevocable for up to three months
• No consideration is required
c) Detrimental reliance by offeree — reliance must be reasonable
Rejection of Offer
Rejection by offeree terminates the offer and the offeree’s power of acceptance
Counteroffer
Terminates the original offer and becomes a new offer; bargaining is not a counteroffer
» If response to an offer is a statement — counteroffer
» If response to an offer is a question — bargaining
Conditional Acceptance
Terminates the original offer and becomes a new offer
» Indicated by terms such as “if,” “only if,“ “but,” “provided,” “so long as,” “on condition that,” etc.
CL Acceptance
Acceptance must mirror the offer’s terms; it cannot omit or add new terms
UCC Addt’l Terms
An acceptance that proposes additional or different terms is valid, giving rise to an enforceable K, unless the acceptance expressly requires assent to the different or additional terms
» Both parties are merchants — additional terms become part of the K unless they materially change the offer or the offeror objects within a reasonable time
UCC Acceptance by Prompt Shipment
A merchant may accept an offer to buy goods by either:
a) Providing a promise to ship goods (usually by written confirmation), or
b) Promptly shipping conforming goods
• Shipment of nonconforming goods may give rise to breach
Mailbox Rule Offer
Effective upon receipt
Mailbox Rule Acceptance
Effective upon dispatch
Silence as Acceptance
Generally silence is not an acceptance unless (1) the offeree has reason to believe the offer could be accepted by silence, was silent, and intended to accept by silence or (2) based on prior dealings, it is reasonable to believe the offeree must notify the offeror if there is an intent not to accept.
Exceptions to Mailbox Acceptance Rule
1) A requirement that the terms of the offer control
2) An option contract is effective upon receipt; not dispatch
3) If an acceptance and a rejection is sent and the rejection is sent first, then acceptance controls if it is received first. If the acceptance is sent first, then the acceptance controls.
Acceptance by Performance
An offeree may accept by partial performance (for bilateral Ks)
or complete performance (for unilateral Ks), unless acceptance is limited by terms of the offer
Consideration
A bargained-for legal detriment incurred by each party to a K by promise, forbearance, or performance
Bargained-for Legal Detriment
• The promise must induce the detriment and the detriment
must induce the promise
• Legal detriment — obligation to do or refrain from doing
something one would not otherwise be obligated to do or
refrain from doing
• Pre-existing legal duty — a promise to perform a preexisting legal duty is not valid consideration, unless there is a
new written promise to fulfill a debt obligation (see below)
Reliance/Estoppel
Courts may enforce a promise if:
1) Promisor reasonably expects reliance by promisee
2) Promisee acts or refrains from acting such that his reliance is detrimental
3) Injustice will occur without enforcement of the promise
UCC Modification
Consideration is not necessary for good-faith written modifications to a K governed by the UCC
Incapacity
Infants and mentally incompetent persons lack capacity to
contract
• Intoxication — intoxicated persons may lack capacity to
contract if the other party has reason to know of intoxication
Consequences of Incapacity
Right to disaffirm — person who lacked capacity to contract
(i.e., infant) may disaffirm the K, which renders it void
Implied affirmation (ratification) — a K can be enforced
against an infant at the time of K formation if she has since
gained capacity and retained benefits of the K
Infant Liability for Necessities
Infants are legally obligated to pay for necessities (e.g., food, clothes, medical care)
K Required under SoF
1) Marriage Ks — promises made in consideration of marriage
2) Service Ks incapable of being performed within 1 year
» SoF does not apply to: “lifelong” deals or Ks that say nothing about time for performance — both are technically capable of performance within one year
3) Land-related Ks — transfers of property interests, including
leases for terms greater than one year
4) Executor promises — promises by executors/administrators to personally answer for the debts of the decedent’s estate
5) Guarantees — promises to pay the debt of another
6) Sales of goods of $500 or more
Requirements of SoF
Writing
Essential Terms
Signed by party against who the claim is being asserted
Exceptions to SoF
Service K — only full performance satisfies the SoF
» Sale of goods K — delivery of goods satisfies the SoF
• Custom-made goods — SoF satisfied once seller
makes a substantial beginning toward performance
» Real estate — part performance by the buyer satisfies
SoF if buyer has done two of the following three:
a) Full or part payment
b) Possession of property
c) Improvements to property
Illegality
Look for an illegal subject matter or purpose for the K
• Illegal subject matter — K is not enforceable
• Legal subject matter but illegal purpose — K only enforceable
by one who did not know about its illegal purpose
• Legality is based on the existing law at the time of K formation
Misrepresentation
Includes false assertions, concealment, or misstatements about a material fact before K formation
• K will be voidable if A induces B into a K by misrepresentation and B relies on the misrepresentation
Duress
Includes both economic and physical duress
• Ks induced by duress or coercion are voidable