Contracts Flashcards
Four types of irrevocable offers
- option contract
- merchant’s firm offer under 2-205
- performance begun following offer for unilateral contract
- detrimental reliance
How can an offer be accepted?
Unilateral contract can only be accepted through performance (becomes irrevocable once performance begins), bilateral contract can be accepted with performance or a promise to perform
Merchants confirmatory memorandum
Applies only when both parties are merchants
Written confirmation of oral agreement
Merchant must object within 10 days or lose SOF defense
Mailbox rule
In a bilateral contract, acceptance is effective upon dispatch
Exceptions: option contract, unilateral contract, offer stipulates that acceptance is valid only upon receipt
Acceptance under UCC
Generally, a buyers order is an offer
Seller can accept by promising to ship the goods or promptly shipping the goods
Frustration of purpose
Purpose of the contract has become valueless by virtue of an intervening event
Commercial impracticability
Unforeseen circumstances that make performance extremely and unreasonably difficult and expensive
Shipping nonconforming goods
Shipping nonconforming goods is both an acceptance of the offer and a breach of the contract
Buyer can accept the whole shipment, reject the whole shipment, or accept any commercially reasonable unit and reject the rest and seek damages
Accommodation exception for nonconforming goods
If seller uses prompt shipment as form of acceptance and notifies the buyer, that goods are being offered as an accommodation, the shipment is viewed as a counteroffer, so buyer can wholly accept or wholly reject the shipment
Acceptance under UCC – Battle of the Forms
An acceptance that contains additional or different terms is effective as an acceptance, unless the acceptance is expressly made conditional on assent to the additional terms
Where both parties are merchants, the additional terms become part of the contract, unless
-they materially alter the terms,
-offer expressly limits acceptance, or
-offeror rejects within a reasonable time
SoF Specially Manufactured Goods Exception
- Goods must be specially manufactured for the buyer
- Seller must have made a substantial beginning on their manufacture or made commitments for their purchase AND
- Goods must not be suitable for sale in the seller’s ordinary course of business
If the exception applies, K may be enforceable without a writing
K =
MA (O + A) + C – D
Express contracts are formed by
Language, oral or written
Implied contracts are formed by
Conduct
Are quasi-contracts contracts?
NO
Bilateral contract
Exchange of a promise for a promise
Each party a promisor and promisee
Unilateral contract
Offeror asks for performance rather than a promise
Offeror/promisor promises to pay promisee on completion
Once the act is completed, a contract is formed
Can ONLY accept by performance, not a return promise
A unilateral contract occurs in only two situations:
(1) when the offeror clearly (unambiguously) indicates that completion of performance is the only manner of acceptance; and (2) where there is an offer to the public, such as a reward offer
Look for: “my offer can be accepted only by …”
Ex: reward for lost dog
Definition of “goods”
Anything movable when identified to the contract
UCC definition of “merchant”
for seller/buyers:
one who regularly deals in goods of the kind sold or who otherwise by their profession holds themselves out as having special knowledge or skills as to the practices or goods involved
for general business practices:
almost anyone
Which law applies for contracts involving goods and nongoods?
determine which aspect is dominant and apply the law governing that aspect to the whole contract
However, if the contract divides payment between goods and services, then Article 2 will apply to the sale portion and the common law will apply to the services portion
For a communication to be an offer, it must
create a reasonable expectation in the offeree that the offeror is willing to enter into a contract on the basis of the offered terms
consider:
-was there an expression of a promise, undertaking or commitment to enter into a k?
-were there certainty and definiteness in the essential terms?
-was there a communication of the above to the offeree?
MUST be objective intent to enter into a contract (reasonable person standard)
Advertisements
Generally not offers, but invitations to deal
Can be offers if there is a quantity term
Exceptions to the general rule that ads are not offers
- ad contains a promise
- terms are certain and definite
- offeree is clearly identified