Contract Law

Cover......Page 1
Title page......Page 4
Copyright Page......Page 5
Brief Contents......Page 6
Contents......Page 8
Preface......Page 14
Acknowledgements......Page 15
Table of cases......Page 16
Table of statutes......Page 27
Table of statutory instruments......Page 30
Table of EC legislation......Page 31
Introduction......Page 32
 The origins of contract law......Page 33
 Contract and fairness......Page 35
 The objective approach......Page 36
 The Human Rights Act 1998......Page 37
 Reading on the internet......Page 39
Part 1 The formation of a contract......Page 40
 Chapter 1 Offer and acceptance......Page 42
  Offer......Page 43
  Invitations to treat......Page 45
  How long does an offer last?......Page 48
  Acceptance......Page 55
  Exceptions to the communication rule......Page 60
  Ignorance of the offer......Page 64
  Time of the formation of the contract......Page 65
  Offer and acceptance implied by the court......Page 66
  Agreements to negotiate......Page 67
  Agreements to agree, letters of intent and agreements ‘subject to contract’......Page 68
  Common types of contracts......Page 69
  How important are offer and acceptance?......Page 74
  Problems with offer and acceptance......Page 75
  Answering questions......Page 76
  Summary of Chapter 1......Page 80
  Reading on the internet......Page 83
 Chapter 2 Certainty......Page 84
  Provision for clarification......Page 86
  Reasonableness......Page 87
  The ‘officious bystander’......Page 88
  Answering questions......Page 89
  Summary of Chapter 2......Page 90
  Reading list......Page 91
 Chapter 3 Intention to create legal relations......Page 92
  Social and domestic agreements......Page 93
  Commercial agreements......Page 95
  Answering questions......Page 99
  Summary of Chapter 3......Page 100
  Reading list......Page 101
 Chapter 4 Capacity......Page 102
  Minors......Page 103
  Mental incapacity......Page 108
  Corporations......Page 109
  Answering questions......Page 110
  Summary of Chapter 4......Page 112
  Reading on the internet......Page 114
 Chapter 5 Formalities......Page 115
  Contracts that must be in writing......Page 116
  Contracts that must be evidenced in writing......Page 119
  Summary of Chapter 5......Page 122
  Reading on the internet......Page 123
 Chapter 6 Consideration......Page 124
  What is consideration?......Page 125
  Performance of an existing duty......Page 131
  Waiver and promissory estoppel......Page 138
  Consideration and conditional gifts......Page 143
  Problems with consideration......Page 144
  The future of consideration......Page 146
  Answering questions......Page 147
  Summary of Chapter 6......Page 150
  Reading list......Page 152
  Reading on the internet......Page 153
Part 2 The contents of a contract......Page 154
 Chapter 7 Terms of the contract......Page 156
  Oral statements......Page 157
  Written terms......Page 160
  Collateral contracts......Page 162
  Interpretation of express terms......Page 163
  Terms implied in fact......Page 171
  Terms implied in law......Page 176
  Terms implied by trade usage......Page 177
  Entire agreement clauses......Page 178
  Conditions......Page 179
  Innominate terms......Page 180
  Criticism and reform......Page 183
  Answering questions......Page 185
  Summary of Chapter 7......Page 188
  Reading on the internet......Page 191
 Chapter 8 Unfair contract terms......Page 192
  Common law controls......Page 193
  Statutory controls......Page 202
  Answering questions......Page 209
  Summary of Chapter 8......Page 212
  Reading on the internet......Page 215
Part 3 Vitiating factors......Page 216
 Chapter 9 Misrepresentation......Page 218
  What is a misrepresentation?......Page 219
  Types of misrepresentation......Page 226
  Remedies for misrepresentation......Page 230
  Excluding liability for misrepresentation......Page 237
  Entire agreement clauses and misrepresentation......Page 239
  Answering questions......Page 241
  Summary of Chapter 9......Page 242
  Reading list......Page 245
 Chapter 10 Mistake......Page 246
  General principles......Page 247
  Common mistake......Page 250
  Cross-purposes mistake......Page 255
  Mistakes relating to documents......Page 261
  Criticism and reform......Page 264
  Answering questions......Page 266
  Summary of Chapter 10......Page 268
  Reading on the internet......Page 271
 Chapter 11 Illegality......Page 272
  Introduction......Page 273
  Violation of legal rules and public policy......Page 274
  The effect of an illegal contract......Page 283
  Criticism......Page 285
  Summary of Chapter 11......Page 289
  Reading on the internet......Page 291
 Chapter 12 Duress and undue influence......Page 292
  Duress......Page 293
  Undue influence......Page 297
  Answering questions......Page 305
  Summary of Chapter 12......Page 308
  Reading on the internet......Page 310
Part 4 The rights and liabilities of third parties......Page 312
 Chapter 13 Third parties......Page 314
  The privity rule......Page 315
  Reform......Page 316
  Statutory rights......Page 317
  Common law exceptions......Page 320
  Exceptions in equity......Page 326
  Arguments for the privity rule......Page 327
  Arguments against the privity rule......Page 328
  Answering questions......Page 330
  Summary of Chapter 13......Page 331
  Reading on the internet......Page 334
Part 5 Discharge and remedies......Page 336
 Chapter 14 Discharge of contract......Page 338
  The entire performance rule......Page 339
  Mitigation of the entire performance rule......Page 340
  Vicarious performance......Page 343
  What will amount to frustration?......Page 344
  What will not amount to frustration?......Page 346
  Legal consequences of frustration......Page 349
  The theory of frustration......Page 351
  Actual breach......Page 352
  Anticipatory breach......Page 353
  Effect of breach......Page 354
  Choice to affirm or discharge......Page 356
  Formalities......Page 360
  Answering questions......Page 361
  Summary of Chapter 14......Page 366
  Reading list......Page 369
 Chapter 15 Remedies......Page 370
  Damages......Page 371
  Restitution......Page 398
  Equitable remedies......Page 402
  Specific performance......Page 403
  Injunction......Page 405
  Remedies agreed by the parties......Page 406
  Liquidated damages......Page 407
  Penalty clauses......Page 408
  Extinction of remedies......Page 410
  The statutory time limits......Page 411
  Problems with remedies......Page 412
  Answering questions......Page 414
  Summary of Chapter 15......Page 421
  Reading list......Page 425
  Reading on the internet......Page 426
Part 6 Consumer protection......Page 428
 Chapter 16 Consumer contracts......Page 430
  Key terms......Page 431
  Consumer rights......Page 432
  Manufacturers’ liability......Page 441
  Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008......Page 444
  Consumer credit......Page 447
  Contract law and consumer protection......Page 448
  Answering questions......Page 449
  Summary of Chapter 16......Page 452
  Reading list......Page 453
  Reading on the internet......Page 454
Appendix: Answering examination questions......Page 456
 Essay questions......Page 457
 Problem questions......Page 459
Glossary......Page 462
Index......Page 466