Contract Law Flashcards
(38 cards)
Consideration
something of value that each party gives to the other (binding force in any contract)
Fraud
intentional misrepresentation or deceit with the intent to induce a person to part with something of value
insurance policy
a contract between a policyowner and an insurance company which agrees to pay the insured or the beneficiary for loss caused by specific events
lapse
policy termination due to nonpayment of premium
misdemeanor
a minor criminal offense, considered less serious than a felony
unilateral contract
a contract that legally binds only one party to contractual obligations (one-sided)
contracts
written agreements that are legally enforceable by law
tort
a private, civil, non-contractual wrong for which a remedy through legal action may be sought. Can either be intentional or unintentional. Insurance generally will only respond to unintentional torts
intentional tort
any deliberate act that causes harm to another person regardless of whether the offending party intended to injure that aggrieved party.
agreement
offer and acceptance
consideration
binding force in any contract - something of value that each party gives to the other.
Insured: payment of premium and the representations made in the application.
Insurer: the promise to pay in event of loss
competent parties
legal age, mentally competent to understand the contract, and not under the influence
legal purpose
contract must be legal and not against public policy. must have insurable interest and consent. a contract without legal purpose is considered voice and cannot be enforced
contract of adhesion
is prepared by one of the parties (insurer) and accepted or rejected by the other party (insured). not drawn up through negotiations. offered on a take it or leave it basis
conditional contract
certain conditions must be met by the policyowner and the company in order for the contract to be executed, and before each party fulfills it obligations. insured must pay the premium and provide proof of loss in order for the insurer to cover a claim
unilateral
only one of the parties to the contract is legally bound to do anything. the insured makes no legally binding promises. an insurer is legally bound to pay losses covered by a policy in force
unilateral
only one of the parties to the contract is legally bound to do anything. the insured makes no legally binding promises. an insurer is legally bound to pay losses covered by a policy in force
personal
the insured cannot be changed to someone else without he written consent of the insurer, nor can the owner transfer the contract to another person without the insurer’s approval. life insurance is an exception: a policyowner can transfer (or assign) ownership to another person but it still must be in writing
representations
statements believed to be true to the best of one’s knowledge, but not guaranteed to be true. the answers the insured gives to the questions on the insurance application
representations in insurance contracts qualify as implied warranties
misrepresentations
untrue statements on the application
a written or oral statement that is intended to distract, mislead, or deceive a party to a contract
warranty C440-445, 447
a statement considered to be guaranteed to be true and becomes part of the contract. can either be expressed or implied.
express warranty
statements in a policy are considered express warranty. every express warranty becomes part of the insurance contract.
every express warranty made at or before the execution of a policy must be contained in the policy itself, or in another instrument signed by the insured and referred to in the policy
factual statements about the insured or the risk in an insurance policy are considered express warranty
express warranty
every express warranty becomes part of the insurance contract. i
implied warrenty
an unwritten or unspoken guarantee presumed to be made based on the circumstance of a transaction