Kaplan Contract Foundation Slides Flashcards
Contract Formation Coverage Areas
- Offer
- Acceptance
- Consideration
- Consideration Substitutes
- Counter Offer
- Revocation
- Modification
- UCC
- Common Law
- Preexisting Duty Rule
Checkpoint Items
- Contracts involving the Sale of Land
- Contracts containing contingencies
- I will buy if I can get certain financing
- I will sell my house first
- Consideration and substitutes for consideration
- Modification
- Contracts mixing goods and services
Approach to Contracts
- What Law Applies - UCC or Common Law
- What Kind of Contract - Unilateral or Bilateral
- Who are the parties?
- Merchants/Kids-necessities
What is an Offer
An objective manifestation by the offeror of a willingness to enter into a bargain creating the power of acceptance in the offeree
What is an Acceptance
An objective manifestation by the offeree to be bound by the terms of the offer
Termination of an Offer (ways to terminate an offer)
- Death of the offeror
- Revocation
- Verbal
- Written
- Actions inconsistent with the offer
- Can be communicated by a third party
- Rejection
- Counteroffer
- Lapse of Time
Rejection versus Inquiry
Rejection terminates the offeree’s power of acceptance. Inquiry does not terminate the offeree’s power of acceptance. Offeror can renew offer in the face of a rejection
When an offer is made the Offeror can
Revoke
When an offer is made the Offeree can either
- Accept
- Reject
- Counteroffer (Which is a rejection with an offer)
- Inquiry
UCC 2-206: Non Conforming Goods
If non-conforming goods are shipped, the shipment serves as an acceptance and at the same time a breach
Unilateral Contract
Offeror makes an offer that calls for performance; the Offeror is ONLY looking for performance
Bilateral Contract
Offeror and offeree exchange mutual promises; the Offeror is ONLY looking for a promise to perform
UCC 2-205: Firm Offer Rule
A signed writing by a merchant which by its terms gives assurances that it will be held open is not revocable for lack of consideration for the stated period of time not to exceed three months
Consideration
Bargained for Legal Detriment
Consideration – Considerations
- Look for a valid contract
- Is there a bargain the court MUST enforce?
- Bargained for exchange
- Forbearance to sue
- Look for a substitute for consideration
- Is there a bargain the court should enforce?
Implied in Law Contracts
- A quasi-contract is NOT an actual contract, rather a legal substitute for a contract formed to impose equity between two parties
- A contract SHOULD have been formed, even though in actuality it was not
- Implied in law contracts are used when a court faces a situation of injustice to enforce the agreement to ensure fairness
Modification
A subsequent agreement that alters or changes the parties’ duties and obligations under the terms of their original contract
Modification - UCC requires
1- Good Faith
2- NO additional Consideration is required
Modification - Common Law
Preexisting Duty Rule
- New Consideration Required
Preexisting Duty Rule
Performance of an act by which a party is already contractually bound to perform does not constitute valid consideration for a new promise