MISREPRESENTATION Flashcards
(86 cards)
`to constitute an actionable misrepresentation, there are 5 basic requirements; what are they?
1) it must be a statement
2) be a statement of existing fact or law (mere matter of opinion will generally not suffice)
3) Statement must be false and unambiguous
4) Statement must be by the representor who becomes a party to the contract
5) Party must have relied on the statement and it induced the contract
What is the supporting authority that a statement must be made by word or conduct?
Per Denning LJ in Curtis ‘any behaviour, by words or conduct, is sufficient to be a misrepresentation if it is such as to mislead the other
Per Denning LJ in Curtis ‘any behaviour, by words or conduct, is sufficient to be a misrepresentation if it is such as to mislead the other
What is this authority for?
he supporting authority that a statement must be made by word or conduct?
What is the case example for words under it must be a statement
Sykes
yikes!
in Sykes, the seller failed to disclose that a horrific murder occurred in the house on a seller’s property from which asked if there was any other information which they thought that the buyers should have a right to know
HELD:
No misrepresentation as the seller was under no obligation to tell them about the history of the house
the seller failed to disclose that a horrific murder occurred in the house on a seller’s property from which asked if there was any other information which they thought that the buyers should have a right to know
HELD:
No misrepresentation as the seller was under no obligation to tell them about the history of the house
It must be a statement
words
Sykes
Spice Girls:
In this case a moped manufacturer contracted with the Spice Girls to sponsor a tour. This contract was based on the representation that all 5 members of the band would continue working together. In fact a member left the band less than month after the contract was signed.
HELD:
There had been a misrepresentation by conduct, since the participation of all 5 band members in the commercial had induced the company into entering the contract
It must be a statement
conduct
Spice Girls
It must be a statement
conduct
Spice Girls
Spice Girls:
In this case a moped manufacturer contracted with the Spice Girls to sponsor a tour. This contract was based on the representation that all 5 members of the band would continue working together. In fact a member left the band less than month after the contract was signed.
HELD:
There had been a misrepresentation by conduct, since the participation of all 5 band members in the commercial had induced the company into entering the contract
It must be a statement
conduct
Gordon
hold on!
In Gordon, the plaintiff purchased the property in question following an inspection. However, the vendor was held to have fraudulently concealed dry rot and this was held to constitute a representation that the property did not suffer from dry rot
-Buyer beware did not apply because of the actions and statements intended to mislead the purchasers
the plaintiff purchased the property in question following an inspection. However, the vendor was held to have fraudulently concealed dry rot and this was held to constitute a representation that the property did not suffer from dry rot
-Buyer beware did not apply because of the actions and statements intended to mislead the purchasers
It must be a statement
conduct
Gordon
After establishing words or conduct what must be further considered?
silence and duty of disclosure
Authority for silence is not a misrepresentation?
Lord Thurlow in Fox
There is generally no duty of disclosure as in Keates:
keates was in a runious state
Keates:
A landlord who was letting his house did not tel the tenant that it was in a ruinous condition
HELD:
This failure to disclose material information was held not to be a misrepresentation
A landlord who was letting his house did not tel the tenant that it was in a ruinous condition
HELD:
This failure to disclose material information was held not to be a misrepresentation
It must be a statement
There is no generally duty of disclosure as in Keats
what are the 5 exceptions to disclosure?
health truths change of circumstances active attempt to conceal a defect fidicuiry relationship contracts of utmost good faith
What is the authority for half truths?
Under duty of disclosure exceptions
Nottingham Patent Brick
What is the authority for half truths?
Under duty of disclosure exceptions
Nottingham Patent Brick
nottingham solicitors ey
In this case the purchaser of property asked the vendor’s solicitor whether the land was subject to any restrictive covenants. The solicitor replied that he was not aware of any. However, while this was true, the solicitors lack of awareness was a result of his failure to read the relevant documents. This amounted to a misrepresentation
In this case the purchaser of property asked the vendor’s solicitor whether the land was subject to any restrictive covenants. The solicitor replied that he was not aware of any. However, while this was true, the solicitors lack of awareness was a result of his failure to read the relevant documents. This amounted to a misrepresentation
What is the authority for half truths?
Under duty of disclosure exceptions
Nottingham Patent Brick
Authority for change in circumstances
under duty of disclosure exceptions
Davies and With v O’Flanagan
What happened in the case of With v O’Flanagan?
mrs hanagan !
With v O’Flanagan:
During the course of negotiations for the sale of a medical practice, the vendor mad representations to the purchaser that it was worth a particular sum. By the time the contract was signed, the value of the practice had declined to a substantially lesser sum because the vendor had been ill
HELD:
If a statement made was true at the time but during the course of negotiations becomes untrue, the person who knows that it has become untrue is under an obligations to disclose the change of circumstances.
Therefore the failure of the vendor to disclose the state of affairs to the purchaser amounted to a misrepresentation
During the course of negotiations for the sale of a medical practice, the vendor mad representations to the purchaser that it was worth a particular sum. By the time the contract was signed, the value of the practice had declined to a substantially lesser sum because the vendor had been ill
HELD:
If a statement made was true at the time but during the course of negotiations becomes untrue, the person who knows that it has become untrue is under an obligations to disclose the change of circumstances.
Therefore the failure of the vendor to disclose the state of affairs to the purchaser amounted to a misrepresentation
It must be a statement
Authority for change in circumstances
under duty of disclosure exceptions
O Flanagan
What is the authority of Davies under Change of circumstances
exceptions for duty of disclosure?
mr Davies had a duty to correct
Where a truthful statement of fact is made but is subsequently rendered misleading by a change of circumstances, there is a duty to correct what has become a false impression
Where a truthful statement of fact is made but is subsequently rendered misleading by a change of circumstances, there is a duty to correct what has become a false impression
What is the authority of Davies under Change of circumstances
exceptions for duty of disclosure?
active attempt to conceal a defect
under duty of disclosure exceptions
what is authority under Schneider v Heath
shnide!
schnieider v Heath This case considered the sale of a ship which was sold to the plaintiff who then discovered the bottom of the ship was worm eaten and keel broken
HELD:
It was found that concealing the defect of the ship was fraudulent
This case considered the sale of a ship which was sold to the plaintiff who then discovered the bottom of the ship was worm eaten and keel broken
HELD:
It was found that concealing the defect of the ship was fraudulent
active attempt to conceal a defect
under duty of disclosure exceptions
what is authority?
Shnieder v Heath