4 ways people outside the original contract relationship can have rights with respect to the contract
2 steps to determining whether the party to the contract is the business or the lliving person who signed the contract
2. determine which living human beings have authority to make the entity liable on a contract
A sole proprietorship is a (1) business. It is not an (2) because the business and the owner are not legally separate. Employees may have auythority to enter contracts on behalf of the sole proprietor, as (3).
A partnership is not usually regarded as an (1) with liability and rights apart from its owners; each partner is regarded as an (2) for the (3).
Limited partnerships consist of limited partners, who are (1) without (2), and (3), with authority to bind the business consistent with the (4). A general partner may be a (5).
A corporation is an (1)–a person separate from the people with whom it has relationships. A corporation has (2) who eelct a (3) that directs the big picture. (4) may be authorized to enter into contracts for the corporation.
3 ways to determine if particular corporate officers may sign an agreement
An LLC may be managed (1) or through a (2). You may have to examine the company’s (3) to determine authority.
3 parties involved in an agency
acts on behalf of another party
agent
party for whom an agent acts
principal
Agency agreements must be written in situations where the (1) would apply.
statute of frauds (e.g., more than one year, real estate agent)
requirement that agency contract be written, if contract to be established by agent must be written
equal dignity rule
5 ways a principal may give an agent authority to act
authoruty given by words or conduct
express authority
authority not expressed in writing or spoken words; arises from circumstances
implied authority
rights and obligations are implied by law, for example, in emergency situations
operation of law
acceptance of acts by agent after they occur
ratification
principal’s dealings with third parties have given them reason to believe that an agent has authority
apparent authority
In cases of showing apparent authority, an attempt to suddenly deny that agency relationship may be overruled by (1)
existence of agency relationship not known to third party
undisclosed principal
existence of agency is known, identity of principal is not known
partially disclosed principal
In an undisclosed/partially disclosed agency, the outside party may sue the (1) for breach, but the principal may owe a (2) the agent.
2. duty to indemnify (reimburse for costs incurred in agency)
relationship in which one person is under a duty to act for the beneit of the other on matters within the scope of the relationship
fiduciary relationship