Page 3 Flashcards
What is a gap filler?
Term the court supplies because it thought the parties would’ve agreed on it if it had been brought to their attention, or it aligns with community standards of fairness and policy
Gap fillers are used because it is assumed that what?
Parties must have intended these terms, but just failed to express them
What do the courts consider when creating a gap filler?
- the intention of the parties
- purpose of the contract
- good faith/fair dealing
- reasonableness
Courts refuse to fill material terms if what?
No objective standard can be found
How can time become an indefiniteness issue?
If there was a duration problem
What is the major duration problem that happens to create indefiniteness?
Agreements to agree
If the contract is silent about a material term, does that necessarily mean it fails for indefiniteness?
No, the term can be implied from surrounding circumstances like:
- trade/local usages
- course of dealing
- or filled with a gap filler
How do courts deal with agreements to agree?
- CL: denies enforcement of these where further negotiation is contemplated
- modern: courts will supply the missing term if it was intentionally left open
Modernly, agreements to agree have what implied promise in them?
A promise to negotiate in good faith
If an employment contract doesn’t state duration, what is it assumed to be?
At-will employment
What is at-will employment?
Employment that lasts as long as:
- an employee is able to perform the work hired for
- and the employer continues in the business
How can employment contracts be terminated?
For a good cause or no cause but not for morally wrong cause
What is considered morally wrong cause if you terminate an employee?
Termination motivated by bad faith, malice, or retaliation (considered a breach)
What are the things that must be present in order to make an employee manual enforceable?
- clear language
- handed to employee
- employee reasonably believes it’s an offer
- employee accepts by commencing or continuing work afterward
What is mutual agreement?
Offer and acceptance