Contracts

What is Law Generally accepted “Rules of Behaviour” Contract Law developed from the need to enforce promises or an undertaking. These promises were enforced by the King represented by the courts To ensure that every one received consistent justice, decisions were recorded so that future decisions could be based on similar principles The is called Common Law

Sources of Law Common Law – Is law derived from previous decisions on cases of similar merits. Known as Judge made law. Why is this important? To allow for certainty! This system has problems, what are they Contract Law is based on Common Law

Sources of Law Statute Law Law enacted by parliament Ensure that law will reflect the needs of the community

Source of Law Were there is a conflict between statute law & common law Statute Law will prevail This has important ramifications for Contact Law Contract Law has been affected by statute law

Civil Court System in NSW Magistrates Court Cases up to $ District Court Cases up to $ Appeals Supreme Court NSW Unlimited Appeals CTTT Cases up to $ Appeals Other Tribunals i.E. Land Environment Court Court of Appeal NSW Appeals High Court of Australia Final Court of Appeal Appeals Federal Court of Australia Commonwealth Matters Bankruptcy, Trade Practices Full Bench Federal Court of Australia Each State will have a similar system

Civil Court System in NSW Magistrates Court Cases up to $ District Court Cases up to $ Supreme Court NSW Unlimited CTTT Cases up to $ Other Tribunals i.E. Land Environment Court Court of Appeal NSW High Court of Australia Final Court of Appeal Federal Court of Australia Commonwealth Matters Bankruptcy, Trade Practices Full Bench Federal Court of Australia Binding Precedence Lower Courts are bound by decisions from a superior court in their jurisdiction District Court of NSW is not bound to follow decisions of the Supreme Court of Victoria

Contracts What is a Contract ? A legally enforceable promise by one party do something or to refrain from doing something To be legally enforceable the agreement must comply with Common Law requirements for a valid contract

Essentials of a Valid Contract Intention for the parties to enter into a legal relationship enforceable by law Offer & Acceptance Valuable Consideration or execution under seal Legal Capacity to Act Genuine Consent Legality of the Objects of the Contract

Intention Is there an intention to enter into a legally binding agreement Social Agreement are presumed no Business Agreement are presumed yes Intention can be expressly excluded

Essentials of a Valid Contract Intention for the parties to enter into a legal relationship enforceable by law Offer & Acceptance Valuable Consideration or execution under seal Legal Capacity to Act Genuine Consent Legality of the Objects of the Contract

Offer Offer may be in writing, verbal or implied by conduct Offer must be communicated The Offer can be withdrawn at any time before acceptance (Postal Rule) An offer will lapse if - not accepted with in a stated time - not accepted within a reasonable time - a counter offer is made by the other party

Offer Invitation to Tender is not an offer – Invitation to treat Offer will terminate on rejection

Essentials of a Valid Contract Intention for the parties to enter into a legal relationship enforceable by law Offer & Acceptance Valuable Consideration or execution under seal Legal Capacity to Act Genuine Consent Legality of the Objects of the Contract

Acceptance Must be final and not qualified (other wise it is a counter offer Only person who offer has made to can accept Silence is ineffective Conduct can constitute acceptance Once accepted no other negotiations can be conducted Method of Acceptance can be specified (See Postal Rule)

Essentials of a Valid Contract Intention for the parties to enter into a legal relationship enforceable by law Offer & Acceptance Valuable Consideration or execution under seal Legal Capacity to Act Genuine Consent Legality of the Objects of the Contract

Valuable Consideration Something of Value – Usually Money Does not have to be a fair deal Simple Contracts must have consideration This is the fundamental Difference between a contract & a promise

Essentials of a Valid Contract Intention for the parties to enter into a legal relationship enforceable by law Offer & Acceptance Valuable Consideration or execution under seal Legal Capacity to Act Genuine Consent Legality of the Objects of the Contract

Legal Capacity Minors generally do not have legal capacity except -Items of necessity -Items that are beneficial Mentally ill do not have capacity An intoxicated person does not have capacity - but on sobering up can affirm the contract Corporations are treated as individual entities and have capacity to contact – beware who you are contracting to Alien Enemies capacity is reduced Convicts have capacity Married Women – Unfortunately are allowed to contract to receive credit cards

Essentials of a Valid Contract Intention for the parties to enter into a legal relationship enforceable by law Offer & Acceptance Valuable Consideration or execution under seal Legal Capacity to Act Genuine Consent Legality of the Objects of the Contract

Genuine Consent The consent must not be induced by deception of fraud Contract can not be formed under duress Contract cannot be formed by Unconscionable Conduct

Essentials of a Valid Contract Intention for the parties to enter into a legal relationship enforceable by law Offer & Acceptance Valuable Consideration or execution under seal Legal Capacity to Act Genuine Consent Legality of the Objects of the Contract

Legality The object of the contract cannot violate Statute law - you can not contact to kill someone and then expect a court to enforce payment Illegal under Common Law - Contract to commit a tort - Promote Corruption - Prejudicial to Administration of Justice - Prejudicial to Public Safety

Forms of Contract Simple Contracts Can be either Verbal or Written Implied Can evidenced by Written Communication

Forms of Contract Formal Contracts Derived from old law before the Common Law principles of Contracts was developed Method to make promise enforceable Must be written Sometimes referred as Deed

Forms of Contracts Express Contract Normal Type of Contract Conditions & Warranties documented Supporting Documents i.e. Drawings, Spec etc Dispute Resolution Process? Time For Completion Liquidated Damages Spelt out

Form of Contract Implied Contract Contact constructed by the courts Actions or Inactions by the parties indicate a contract exists Conditions & Warranties to be determined by the court at a later date

Implied Contracts Builder Contracts to build house on C1 block of land By error Builder builds on C2 land which is next block. C1 is unaware of this. Most evenings C2 has a beer with the builder and has a chat. C2 has an implied contract and must pay the builder. C2 has a duty to stop the builder

Contract Terms Condition Major requirements of the Contract Fundamental to the contract Breach allows innocent party to either Terminate the Contract or Sue for Damages

Contract Terms Warranties Minor Term of the contract Contract is not substantially different Breach allows innocent party to sue for Damages Termination will be a breach of contract and innocent party may be liable for damages

Contract Terms Innominate Terms May either be a warranty of Condition (Paint one door the wrong colour v’s the whole building) Is a subjective assessment Most terms will fall in this area Must take care in dealing with these breaches

Operation of Contract Privity Only parties to a contract have rights and liabilities under a contract A contracts with b to build a house for C C cannot sue A for any breach

Operation of Contract Assignment of Contract Rights to a contract by be assigned to a third party Novated Lease is an example of this

Discharge of Contract Discharge of Contract - Conclusion 1.By performance 2.By agreement before completion 3.Operation of Law -Bankruptcy - Liquidation -Merger ? -Fraud

Discharge of Contract Impossibility of Performance - Frustration 1.Absolute Impossibility- contract to renovate house, house burns down 2.Radical Difference – Change of Council or Government Conditions, Court Injuctions 3.Supervening Illegality –Law is Changed after contract is formed to make it illegal? 4.Futility –Where purpose of the contract is no longer valid?

Discharge of the Contract Time - Unless time is a Condition of the contract a contract will not lapse

Discharge of the Contract Breach of Contract- Not every breach of contract allows for the termination of the contract Before this action is taken legal advise should be sought. A court will determine whether the breach was substantial enough Innocent party may be liable for damages

Damages Unliquidated - Determined by Court Liquidated Damages - Genuine Estimate of loss agreed to in contract Penalty - if loss is not Genuine classed a penalty and will be reduced to genuine loss