Week 5 and 4 : Exemption Clauses and Statutory implied terms - Lecture slides and relevant cases Flashcards
What do the terms of a contract outline?
They outline the specific legal duties and obligations of each party. This forms the foundation of a contractual relationship.
What are the two main types of contractual terms?
Express terms and implied terms.
What are express terms?
Terms explicitly agreed upon by both parties, this can be done orally or in writing. These terms outline the essential elements of the contract.
What are implied terms?
Terms that are not explicitly stated but are still applied by courts and statues to ensure contract functionality and fairness
what is a pre contractual statement
a statement made during negotiations that may or may not become a binding term
what is a ‘term of the contract’
a binding statement within the contract that if proven untrue entitles the misled party to remedies to breach
what is the business efficacy test
a principle where courts imply terms necessary for the contracts practical purpose
what is an exemption clause?
a clause in a contract that seeks to exclude a parties liability in contract breach situations
what is the difference between exclusion clauses and limitation clauses?
exclusion clauses remove all liability whereas limitation clauses’ cap liability to a certain amount
What are the 3 main legal requirements that validate exemption clauses
it must be incorporated as a term
it must cover the loss
it must not violate the unfair contract terms act 1977 or the consumer rights act 2015
what are the 3 main methods of incorporating an exemption clause into a contract
signature
notice
consistent and frequent dealing
How is an exemption clause incorporated by signature
If a party signs a contract they are generally bound by all its terms, even if they did not read it
What are the 2 cases related to incorporation of terms by signature?
L’Estrange v. Graucob 1934 - vending machine - point of law: if a contract is signed they are generally bound by its terms even if they were not read
Curtis v. Chemical cleaning & dyeing co 1951 - dress - point of law: If an exemption clause is misrepresented then it cannot be relied upon as it is relying on the description given
How is an exemption clause incorporated by notice
terms are valid if the non-drafting party receives reasonable notice of the term prior to contract formation
What is the red hand rule - cite related case
Lord denning -the more unreasonable a clause is the greater degree of notice must be given
Spurling vs Bradshaw 1956 - incorporation by frequent and consistent dealings.
- point of law: if you would have been aware of a term from previous contracts it can form part of new
- red hand rule
(case also applies to frequent and consistent dealings)
What are the cases relevant to incorporation by notice/ degree of.
Thompson v. LMS Railway (1930) - platform slip - point of law: only reasonable notice needs to be given not actual
Chapleton v. Barry UDC (1940) - deckchair - point of law: any terms must be on a contractual document and notice must be given before contract formation
How are exemption clauses incorporated by previous dealings
frequent and consistent past dealings between parties can imply the inclusion of certain terms in the contract
What cases are related to incorporation by notice - timing
Olley v. Marlborough (1949) - stolen coat - point of law: for notice to effectively implement an exemption clause it must be given prior to contract formation
Chapleton v. Barry UDC (1940) - deckchair - point of law: Notice of an exemption clause must occur prior to contract formation or it will be rendered un-enforceable + exemption claues must be on a contractual document
How may an adequately noticed individual avoid being bound to the exemption clause considering time
If the individual was notified after the contract was formed then the exemption clause is invalid
what does it mean if the judge ‘calls an obiter’
it is something said in passing that is non-essential to case resolution
this is the other side of an case e.g if he had done this then he would have a case for this
What is the case related to frequent and consistent dealings to incorporate terms into a contract
Hollier v. Rambler Motors (1972) - garage fire - point of law: there must be frequent and consistent dealings prior to contract formation to allow an exemption clause to be implied
What are the main controls protecting consumers from overuse of exemption clauses?
Judicial control e.g the contra proferentem rule
Statutory control e.g UTCA 1977 CRA 2015
What does the contra proferentem rule do?
It interprets any ambiguous terms against the party that drafted the contract.
What is a key case example for the contra proferentem
Andrews v. singer 1934 - new car actually used car
point of law: Any ambiguity or misrepresentation will be interpreted/ construed against the person who attempted to include the term