Law:Mock exam corrections Flashcards
In the context of the English legal system, which of the following are examples of delegated legislation?
1) Statutory instruments.
2) Acts of Parliament.
3) Bye Laws.
Feedback:
Acts of Parliament are primary legislation.
Available Answers
(1) and (3). (2 Marks)
XYZ Co, a firm of accountants, negligently audits the annual accounts of Zrow plc and reports that the accounts show a true and fair view when subsequently it is shown that they are not.
Who can sue XYZ Co?
Feedback:
It is for the company to bring the action.
Available Answers
Zrow plc (1 Mark)
Which of the following statements about company charges is incorrect?
-Charges must be registered at Companies House within 21 days of creation.
-Charges must be registered at the company’s registered office.
-Fixed charges take priority over floating charges.
-Later fixed charges take priority over earlier fixed charges.
Feedback:
The correct answer is later fixed charges take priority over earlier fixed charges.
Available Answers
Later fixed charges take priority over earlier fixed charges. (1 Mark)
Which of the following is not a situation in which the court will ‘lift the veil of incorporation’?
-Where the members of directors are using the veil to evade their legal obligations.
-Where the directors are in breach of the regulations governing the giving of financial assistance for the purchase of the company’s own shares.
-Where the corporate structure is being used as a sham.
-Where it is in the public interest.
Feedback:
The other options are all situations of where a court will ‘lift the veil’.
Available Answers
Where the directors are in breach of the regulations governing the giving of financial assistance for the purchase of the company’s own shares. (1 Mark)
Which of the following would be a valid method for a promoter to ensure that the expenses they incur in setting up a company will be recoverable?
-By making it clear that in all transactions that they are acting as agent for the company.
-By entering into a contract with the company after its incorporation for reimbursement of expenses by the company.
-They have no automatic right, but by drafting the articles of the company, they can provide for the reimbursement of expenses.
-By declaring in all transactions that they are a trustee for the company.
Feedback:
The first, second and final options all relate to the period prior to incorporation, when the company does not exist and therefore cannot be party to an agreement.
Available Answers
By entering into a contract with the company after its incorporation for reimbursement of expenses by the company. (1 Mark)
Anna, Bella and Cara set up an ordinary partnership without a partnership agreement some years ago. Their trade was to sell party supplies but Bella and Cara are now wanting to expand into catering services. Anna doesn’t think this a good idea. Bella and Cara have been introduced to Doreen, who is an experienced caterer and they would like Doreen to become a partner in the partnership.
Are the following statements true or false?
- A change in business requires a simple majority consent of the partners.
- New partners can only be introduced with the unanimous consent of existing partners.
New partners can only be introduced with the unanimous consent of existing partners.:
A change in business requires a unanimous decision.
New partners can only be introduced with the unanimous consent of the existing partners.
A change in business requires a simple majority consent of the partners.
Available Answers
False (Correct)
New partners can only be introduced with the unanimous consent of existing partners.
Available Answers
True (Correct)
Which of the following is not a requirement of a Limited Liability Partnership?
-Sign and file accounts
-Appoint auditors if appropriate
-Notify the Registrar when a member leaves
-Submit a copy of the partnership agreement to the Registrar
Feedback:
There is no requirement to submit a copy of the partnership agreement to the Registrar.
Available Answers
Submit a copy of the partnership agreement to the Registrar (1 Mark)
Are the following characteristics of a general partnership?
- There must be an intention to trade.
- Partners are only liable for contracts they personally signed.
Partners are only liable for contracts they personally signed:
There must be an intention to make a profit rather than the intention to trade.
All partners are jointly liable for the firm’s debts.
There must be an intention to trade
Available Answers
No (Correct)
Partners are only liable for contracts they personally signed
Available Answers
No (Correct)
Nit is involved in legal activity, from which he makes a large amount of money. He also owns a legitimate taxi company and passes off his illegally gained money as profits of that company. Pat is Nit’s accountant, and although he has no actual knowledge of the illegal activity, he is growing increasingly suspicious.
Are the following statements true or false?
- The maximum period of imprisonment for Nit if he was found to be guilty of money laundering would be 10 years.
- Pat has no legal duty to disclose his suspicions of money laundering until he acquires actual proof it is taking place.
False-its 14 years
False
Mick has been employed by Deck Line Ltd for four years. He was aware that the company was experiencing trading difficulties but is still shocked to be sent home without notice when Deck Line Ltd is compulsorily wound up. He sues for wrongful dismissal but at the hearing the liquidator proves that he has discovered that Mick embezzled £20,000 from the company.
Will Mick succeed in his claim?
Feedback:
Although summary dismissal on liquidation is a breach of contract which can be treated as wrongful dismissal, Deck Line Ltd’s liquidator is allowed to justify his action by reliance on evidence uncovered after the event (which is not the situation with unfair dismissal). Hence, Mick’s dishonesty justifies Deck Line Ltd’s action.
Available Answers
No. Deck Line Ltd was justified in its dismissal of Mick. (1 Mark)
How long does film protection last, wb trademark?
15 for trademark, 70 years after death of composer screen-write or director of a film
Information commissioner cap on fines
17m or 4% of global turnover
Brian wrote to Amber offering to buy her tandem for £100 and, sure that she would accept his offer, said ‘If I don’t hear from you, I’ll consider it mine’. Amber meant to write back to Brian to say that she was willing to accept his offer but never got round to it.
Which of the following is not true?
-Silence cannot constitute acceptance.
-There is an implied acceptance because Amber does not reject Brian’s offer.
-Acceptance may be inferred from conduct.
-Acceptance may be made by the offeree or his authorised agent.
Feedback:
There must be some positive act which can be construed as acceptance.
Available Answers
There is an implied acceptance because Amber does not reject Brian’s offer. (1 Mark)
Pamela appears on ‘Crimewatch’ and offers £10,000 as a reward for anyone who can provide information leading to the conviction of the thief who stole her family jewels.
Not having seen or heard about this particular episode of ‘Crimewatch’, Felicity contacted the police and gave evidence about having seen someone leaving Pamela’s house through a back window. She later identifies this man at an identity parade and he is subsequently convicted.
Can Felicity claim the reward?
Feedback:
There can be no acceptance, and thus no agreement, where the person who accepts an offer is not even aware of the offer.
Available Answers
No because she did not know about the reward. (1 Mark)
Nadeem owns a boat yard and is appointed to sell Martin’s yacht for him. In carrying out this task, Nadeem buys a half page of advertising in Yachts’ Monthly at a cost of £400.
Martin did not tell him to advertise in magazines and had rather expected that Nadeem would simply sell it to one of his regular customers, although the matter had never been discussed. Martin refuses to pay the bill for the advertisement when it is forwarded by Nadeem.
Which of the following best describes the legal position?
Feedback:
Reasonable advertising is usually seen as incidental to an appointment to sell goods.
Available Answers
Martin is liable to pay because Nadeem had implied incidental authority. (1 Mark)
A trainee doctor, Zak, was treating a patient, Lily, for depression. In January,200X, Zak changed her drug treatment but Lily became even more depressed and in August 200X unsuccessfully tried to commit suicide.
Lily sued Zak, alleging that he was in breach of his duty of care in failing to introduce the new treatment at a much slower rate, in accordance with guidelines published by the British Medical Association (BMA) in July 200X.
- Is the standard of care owed by Zak that of a reasonable trainee doctor?
- Will Zak be judged by the standards of the BMA’s published guidelines?
Feedback: Is the standard of care owed by Zak that of a reasonable trainee doctor?:
1. No. The standard is that of a reasonable qualified doctor.
Will Zak be judged by the standards of the BMA’s published guidelines?
Available Answers
No (Correct)
Harold decided to take over Bloggs Ltd because he wished to acquire the use of certain property owned by Bloggs Ltd. Harold’s bid price reflected his desire to take over the company but also took into account the profitability of Bloggs Ltd as set out in its most recent accounts.
It later turned out that the accounts of Bloggs Ltd had been prepared negligently and should have shown a smaller profit than they did. Harold sues the accountants who prepared the accounts (and who knew that a take over bid was possible).
Will Harold succeed in an action for negligence against the firm?
Feedback:
The facts are similar to JEB Fasteners Ltd v Marks Bloom & Co 1982, where the action failed on grounds of causation. The claimant took over the company in order to secure the directors’ expertise.
Available Answers
No. Harold’s loss was not caused by the accounts since he was going to take over the company in any event. (1 Mark)
Jack was a skilled worker in leather and ran a business as a sole trader making bridles, saddles and other leather goods.
He was advised by his solicitor to incorporate his business as a private limited company. He took this advice, buying 98 of the 100 shares in Lush Leather Ltd. The company’s liabilities quickly exceeded its assets and the company became insolvent, owing £87,000.
Is Jack liable to indemnify Lush Leather Ltd against its debts?
Feedback:
Lush Leather Ltd is a separate legal person, liable without limit for its own debts. Jack’s shares are fully paid up and he has no further liability. The company does not appear to be a sham.
Available Answers
No. The debts belong to the company alone. (1 Mark)
Oliver has just been appointed as liquidator for Darnitt Ltd.
He has discovered that 18 months previously, the company gave preferences to one of its directors, Harold, and also to Jemma, a person not connected with the company.
Can Oliver treat as void:
- the preference to Harold?
- the preference to Jemma?
Yes, since it was made within the two years prior to liquidation (the relevant time period where a connected person is involved).
No. Only preferences made within the six months prior to liquidation can be set aside in the case of a person not connected with the company.
Which of the following can appoint an administrator out of court?
-The company itself
-The directors
-A secured creditor with a fixed charge
-A secured creditor with a qualifying floating charge (QFC)
Feedback:
Creditors cannot appoint an administrator out of court unless they are also a ‘qualifying floating charge holder’.
Available Answers
I, II and IV only (1 Mark)
Elizabeth decides to sell her string of pearls to Mary and writes to her on 24 February, offering her the string of pearls for £250. At the same time, Mary decided that she wants the pearls and writes to her on 24 February, offering to buy them for £250.
Before either of these letters are received, Mary sees a similar necklace in a shop for £20 and decides to buy that instead.
What is Mary’s legal position?
Feedback:
Two offers do not constitute an agreement, even if they say the same thing. Therefore Option one is wrong. Option four is nearly right. She must revoke her offer before Elizabeth accepts the offer, not before Elizabeth receives the letter. Option two is not right because the lack of agreement comes before the issue of consideration. If there had been agreement, consideration would have been in place.
Available Answers
She is not contracted to buy Elizabeth’s necklace as her offer does not constitute acceptance of Elizabeth’s offer of sale. (1 Mark)
Adam wants to buy a house from Steve. Steve’s neighbour is Simon. Steve has regularly had to ask Simon to moderate the noise coming from his house and has recently even involved the police on the grounds of noise pollution. While Adam was looking around the house, he asked Steve what the neighbours were like. Steve replied that he didn’t see much of them.
Adam buys the house and discovers when he moves in that Simon is a difficult and noisy neighbour. Adam proposes to sue Steve for misrepresentation.
What is the legal position?
Feedback:
Generally in contract there is no rule that you must say what you know, but you must give a complete enough picture so as not to be misleading. Steve’s answer may be true, but it is misleading because he hears his neighbour a lot and has had issues.
Available Answers
Steve is liable for misrepresentation as he had a duty to give an answer to Adam’s question which was complete enough not to give a misleading impression. (1 Mark)
Albie is an electrician. When working in the kitchens of Bob’s restaurant his negligence caused an electrical fire. Due to this fire Bob suffered the following losses.
1) Damage to two ovens
2) Meals cooking in the two ovens were damaged
3) Due to the ovens being out of order for a week an estimated £5,000 profits were lost.
Which of these damages is or are recoverable?
Feedback:
The lost profits are purely financial losses. Damages for such losses will not be awarded unless in the case of negligent misstatement when there is a special relationship between the parties.
Available Answers
(1) and (2) only (1 Mark)
A private company has an issued share capital (fully paid) of £90,000, £10,000 on its share premium account and a negative balance of £5,000 on its revaluation reserve. Its net assets are £112,500.
What is the maximum amount that it can distribute as a dividend?
Feedback:
112,500 - 90,000 - 10,000 + 5,000
The first option is the maximum amount that a public company could distribute.
The share premium account is an undistributable reserve, so the third option is wrong.
Available Answers
£17,500 (1 Mark)