Law Of Contract Flashcards
What is a contract?
An agreement that is legally binding
What are the four stages of a contract?
An offer, an acceptance, consideration and intention to create legal relations
Who is the offeror?
The person making the offer
Who is the offeree?
The person to whom the offer is made
What is an offer?
A proposal of definite terms that is intended to result in a contract if the other party accepts it
What is an invitation to treat?
A statement to someone which shows a willingness to receive offers or which furthers the bargaining process
Which case demonstrates that displays in a shop window or on shelves are invitations to treat?
FISHER V BELL
Which case demonstrates that advertisements, brochures of products for sale and price lists are invitations to treat?
PARTRIDGE V CRITTENDEN
Which case demonstrates that requests for bids at an auction is an invitation to treat?
PAYNE V CAVE
Which case demonstrates that requests for further information and supplying further information are invitations to treat?
HARVEY V FACEY
Which case demonstrates that vending machines and ticket machines make standing offers?
THORNTON V SHOE LANE PARKING
When can a person not accept an offer?
If they don’t know about it
What must an offer be?
Communicated
When will an offer in writing be communicated?
When it is received and read by the offeree
When is an offer made verbally communicated?
When it is heard by the offeree
When is an offer made by conduct communicated?
When it is seen by the offeree
What is acceptance?
An unconditional agreement to all the terms of the offer by words or conduct
What does the case CARLILL V CARBOLIC SMOKE BALL CO say about acceptance?
If the acceptance is of a unilateral offer and by conduct, it must be clear that the offeree did the required act with knowledge and the intention of accepting the offer
What does the case ELIASON V HENSHAW say about acceptance?
When the offeror explicitly sets out a specific way that the offer must be accepted then only that method will do
What does the case FELTHOUSE V BINDLEY say?
Acceptance must be communicated to the offeror or someone acting on their behalf. The offeror cannot impose silence on the offeree as a method of acceptance
What does the case BRINKIBON V STAHAG STAHL day about acceptance?
In terms of modern methods of instantaneous communication, an acceptance is effective when received by the machine, unless it is out of office hours then acceptance is in effect when the offeree might reasonably expect it to be communicated to the offeror
What is the postal rule?
Acceptance takes place when the letter of acceptance is posted by the offeree, it doesn’t matter if it gets lost or delayed in the post and never actually reaches the offeror
Which case demonstrates the postal rule?
ADAMS V LINDSELL
What are the five ways an offer can come to an end?
Rejection, revocation, counter offer, lapse of time or death
What is rejection of an offer?
Once the refusal of an offer has been communicated to the offeror, the offer is at an end and can’t later be accepted if the offeree has a change of mind
What is revocation of an offer?
The offeror can withdraw the offer at any time before acceptance
What does the case BYRNE V VAN TIENHOVEN day about revocation of an offer?
The revocation must be communicated to the offeree and revocation after the time of acceptance is ineffective
What is a counter offer?
An offer ends of there is a counter offer, a response introducing new terms rather than accepting all the terms of the original offer
What does the case HYDE V WRENCH say about a counter offer?
A counter offer is itself an offer and a contract will result if the original offeror accepts
What does the case STEVENSON V MCLEAN say about a counter offer?
A request for further information is not a counter offer
What is lapse of time?
If the offeror has set a time limit for the acceptance then the offer only remains open for that amount of time