Termination of a contract Flashcards
What is the difference between express and implied terms?
express terms -> statements made by parties by which they intend to be bound.
Implied terms -> implied by fact or law
What are 2 ways parties may vary a contract?
- exchange fresh consideration
- sign a deed which amends the terms of the contract
What are 4 ways express terms can be validly incorporated into a contract?
- written document signed by both parties (validly executed contract containing the terms)
- Reasonable notice
where terms are not in the signed written document but are elsewhere (e.g. written notice or separate document)
- previous course of dealing on exactly the same terms
- oral statements made prior to entering into the contract -> part oral, part written contract
can be express terms or representations. Use objective test to see if they are express terms.
Note that parties can use an entire agreement clause to ensure no oral statements are considered to be terms.
What are 3 ways implied terms can be incorporated into a contract?
i. facts based on business efficacy
ii. custom
iii. law
What is ‘imputed intention’?
attributing to the parties an intention which they did. not have, or at least did not express to each other. The intention is one which the. parties “must be taken” to have had.
courts can add terms based on the imputed intention of parties -> intention that a reasonable man would conclude should have been there to make the contract workable.
What are the 3 main statutes which incorporate implied terms into a contract?
Sale of Goods Act 1979
Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982
Consumer Rights Act 2015
When do each of the following apply:
- Sale of Goods Act 1979
- Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982
- Consumer Rights Act 2015
- Sale of Goods Act 1979
Business buying items from another business.
- Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982
Business buying a service from another.
- Consumer Rights Act 2015
Consumer buying goods or services from a business.
What are the 5 main implied terms in:
- Sale of Goods Act 1979
Business buying items from another business.
- title - seller has the right to sell the goods
- Correspondence with description
- satisfactory quality
- fitness for a particualr purpose
- sale by sample - bulk sale must correspond with sample
What are the 3 main implied terms in:
- Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982
Business buying a service from another.
- Service to be carried out with reasonable care and skill.
- Reasonable time of performance
- Consideration must be reasonable (reasonable price to be paid where this has not yet been fixed)
What are the main implied terms in:
- Consumer Rights Act 2015
Consumer buying goods or services from a business.
(3 for the sale of goods and 3 for the sale of services)
Sale of goods:
- satisfactory quality
- Fitness for a particular purpose
- Correspondence with description
Sale of services:
- reasonable care and skill
- Consideration must be reasonable (reasonable price to be paid where this has not yet been fixed)
3.Reasonable time of performance
Contract terms can be classified into which 2 categories?
- Conditions
- Warranties
Which is more important/ the ‘root’ of the contract - a warranty or a condition
condition
What does it mean for a term to be the ‘root’ of the contract
- condition (rather than a warranty)
- most important part of the contract
- if it is breached, the contract can no longer go ahead; if it does go ahead it will be substantially different to what was originally intended by the parties.
What are 2 questions to ask to help determine if something is a condition rather than a warranty (forming the ‘root’ of the contract)?
If condition is breached:
- Is the other party entitled to damages; and
- has a “right of election”
(means that party can choose to a) repudiate the contract ending it immediately or b) affirm the contract)
What is a party entitled to if a contract warranty has been breached?
damages only