contract
voluntary exchange of promises creating obligations which, if defaulted on can be enforced and remedied by the courts
elements of a contract
consensus
mutal agreement
be willing to commit themselves to terms
terms must be ambiguous
consideration
the price each party is willing to pay to participate in the contract
capacity
legally capable of understanding
legality
object and consideration involved in the agreement must be legal
intention
must intend that legally enforceable obligations will result from contract
offer must contain
Invitation to treat
invitation to potential customers to engage in the process of negotiation
offer by cinduct
offer may be implied by conduct
typical process to create a contract
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communication of an offer
end of an offer
if illegal/destroyed
standard form contract
an offer with fixed terms that the customer is invited to accept
duty of good faith
directors and officers of a corporation who are making decisions in their capacities as corporate fiduciaries, must act with a conscious regard for their responsibilities in that role.
acceptance
communication of acceptance
bargaining process
trading promises and all parties derive some benefit
gratuitous promise
one sided agreement in which only one of the parties is getting something from the deal
not enforceable
adequacy of consideration
need not be fair but unfair consideration may indicate undue influence, insanity or fraud
existing duty
a change in the contract requires new consideration
no additional consideration is permitted for public duty
past consideration
considered no consideration
valid consideration
settlement out of court - each party gives up court determination of the matter