Physics Reports vol.47

Contents......Page 7
 Table of Cases......Page 20
 Table of Statutes......Page 56
 Preface......Page 61
 Acknowledgments......Page 62
 Chapter 1 An introduction to law school......Page 63
   1.1.1 Understand what law is......Page 64
   1.1.2 Work effectively at law school......Page 65
    The common law method......Page 66
    Legal problem solving......Page 67
    Research......Page 68
   1.1.4 Remember that reputation matters......Page 69
   1.1.5 Be seen at law school......Page 70
  1.2 Conclusion......Page 71
 Chapter 2 Theories of contract law......Page 72
   2.1.1 History......Page 73
    Standard form contracts......Page 75
    Hypothetical and actual consent......Page 76
  2.2 The contract as promise......Page 78
  2.3 The contract as property......Page 80
   2.3.1 Property and the reliance theory of contract......Page 82
    The harm principle......Page 83
    The corrective justice principle......Page 84
 Chapter 3 Offer......Page 85
  3.0 Introduction......Page 86
  3.1 Offer and acceptance......Page 87
   3.2.1 Is there an offer?......Page 88
   3.2.2 The existence of a definite promise......Page 90
  3.3 Invitations to treat......Page 91
  3.4 Mere puffery......Page 94
   3.5.2 Shop sales......Page 98
   3.5.3 Auctions......Page 99
   3.5.5 Ticket cases......Page 100
  3.6 Termination of offers......Page 110
   3.6.1 Revoking a unilateral contract......Page 111
 Chapter 4 Acceptance......Page 115
   4.1.1 ‘A meeting of minds’......Page 116
   4.1.2 Consciousness of the offer......Page 118
  4.2 Communication of the acceptance......Page 119
   4.2.2 Acceptance by conduct......Page 121
   4.3.1 The postal rule......Page 123
   4.3.2 Instantaneous methods of communication......Page 126
 Chapter 5 Consideration......Page 131
  5.1 Defining consideration......Page 132
   5.1.1 The benefit/detriment requirement......Page 133
   5.1.2 The bargain requirement......Page 134
  5.2 Consideration must move from the promisee......Page 135
   5.3.1 Adequacy......Page 136
   5.3.2 Sufficiency......Page 137
  5.4 Illusory consideration......Page 138
  5.5 Past consideration is not adequate consideration......Page 139
   5.6.1 Compromise......Page 140
  5.7 Existing duties......Page 141
   5.7.2 Existing duty imposed by a contract in which the promisee is already bound......Page 142
  5.8 Promises to pay lesser sums......Page 146
 Chapter 6 Capacity to contract......Page 149
   6.1.1 The position under the common law......Page 150
   6.1.2 Statutory amendments to the common law......Page 151
  6.2 Mentally disabled and intoxicated persons......Page 153
   6.3.1 What is a corporation?......Page 155
   6.3.2 Legal capacity to contract......Page 156
   6.3.3 Contracts preceding incorporation......Page 157
  6.4 Unincorporated associations......Page 158
   6.4.1 Liability of committees......Page 159
  6.5 The Crown......Page 160
   6.6.1 Vesting and transfer of property on bankruptcy......Page 162
   6.6.2 Disclaiming onerous property......Page 163
   6.6.3 Rights and responsibilities following bankruptcy......Page 164
  6.7 Married women......Page 166
 Chapter 7 Intention to create legal relations......Page 168
  7.0 Introduction......Page 169
  7.1 Domestic arrangements......Page 170
   7.1.1 From presumption to construction......Page 171
   7.2.1 Express exclusions......Page 172
   7.2.2 Mere representations and puffery......Page 173
   7.2.3 From presumption to construction......Page 175
    Ermogenous v Greek Orthodox Community of SA Inc......Page 176
   7.3.1 Government schemes and agreements......Page 178
   7.3.2 Voluntary associations......Page 179
   7.3.3 Registered companies......Page 180
 Chapter 8 Certainty and completeness......Page 182
  8.0 Introduction......Page 183
   8.1.1 Severability......Page 185
   8.1.2 Clauses capable of more than one meaning......Page 187
   8.1.3 Discretion and ‘subject to finance’ clauses......Page 189
  8.2 Illusory promises......Page 192
  8.3 Completeness......Page 194
   8.3.1 Specific performance......Page 195
  8.4 Agreements to negotiate in good faith......Page 197
 Chapter 9 Estoppel......Page 203
  9.1 The concept of estoppel......Page 204
   9.1.1 A unified doctrine of estoppel?......Page 206
   9.1.2 An argument for maintaining the distinction......Page 208
  9.2 Promissory estoppel......Page 210
   9.2.1 Elements......Page 217
    iii Detrimental reliance......Page 219
    vi Unconscionability......Page 220
   9.2.2 Relief under equitable estoppel......Page 221
  9.3 Common law estoppel......Page 223
 Chapter 10 Formalities......Page 225
  10.1 Statute of Frauds......Page 226
   10.1.1 Relevant provisions......Page 228
    What should the written evidence contain?......Page 232
   10.1.2 Signature......Page 234
   10.1.3 Joinder of documents......Page 236
    Parol and oral evidence......Page 239
   10.2.1 Acceptance......Page 240
  10.3 Effect of non-compliance......Page 241
  10.4 Part performance......Page 242
 Chapter 11 Express terms......Page 249
  11.1 Pre-contractual terms......Page 250
   11.1.1 Promissory nature......Page 252
  11.2 Incorporation of terms......Page 258
   11.2.1 Incorporation by signature......Page 259
   11.2.2 Incorporation by reference and reasonable notice......Page 260
   11.2.3 Incorporation through course of dealing......Page 261
 Chapter 12 Construing terms......Page 264
   12.1.1 Parol evidence rule......Page 265
    Partly oral and partly written contracts......Page 268
    Collateral contracts......Page 271
    Variation of contracts and rectification of documents......Page 272
  12.2 Extrinsic evidence admitted in the interpretation of documents......Page 273
   12.2.1 Evidence of subjective intention......Page 274
   12.2.3 Evidence of customary or common usage......Page 276
   12.2.4 Evidence of subsequent conduct......Page 277
  12.4 Estoppel and the construction of written contracts......Page 278
 Chapter 13 Implied terms......Page 282
  13.1 Terms implied in fact......Page 283
   13.1.1 Formal contracts......Page 284
    Business efficacy......Page 285
    Obviousness......Page 286
    Consistency......Page 288
  13.2 Terms implied by custom......Page 289
  13.3 Terms implied by law......Page 291
   13.3.1 The implied duty of good faith......Page 293
    The development of the implied duty of good faith......Page 294
   13.3.2 The implied duty to cooperate......Page 298
 Chapter 14 Privity of contract......Page 301
  14.1 The development of the privity rule......Page 302
  14.2 Privity of contract......Page 305
   14.2.1 Privity and the doctrine of consideration......Page 307
  14.3 Remedies......Page 309
   14.3.1 Damages at common law......Page 310
   14.3.2 Remedies in equity......Page 313
    Trusts......Page 316
  14.4 Trident v McNiece......Page 318
  14.5 Exceptions to the privity rule......Page 329
  14.6 Third party beneficiaries and exclusion clauses......Page 330
 Chapter 15 The doctrine of frustration......Page 332
  15.1 The application of the doctrine......Page 333
   15.1.2 Without the fault of either party......Page 338
    Onus of proof......Page 341
   15.1.3 Radically alter the performance of the contract......Page 345
   15.2.1 External events......Page 347
   15.2.2 Personality: death or incapacity......Page 348
   15.2.4 Frustration of purpose: the principle of Krell v Henry......Page 349
   15.2.5 Uncontemplated events......Page 350
   15.2.7 Illegality......Page 351
   15.2.8 War......Page 352
   15.2.9 Delay......Page 353
  15.4 Land......Page 354
   15.5.1 Automatic discharge of obligation......Page 358
   15.5.2 Discharge in futuro......Page 360
 Chapter 16 Misrepresentation......Page 365
  16.0 Introduction......Page 366
  16.2 Positive misrepresentation......Page 367
   16.2.1 Mere puffery......Page 368
   16.2.2 Statements of opinion......Page 371
   16.2.3 Statements of intention......Page 373
   16.2.4 Statements of law......Page 374
  16.3 Silence......Page 377
   16.3.1 Where the silence distorts some positive representation......Page 378
   16.3.3 Where the parties are in a fiduciary relationship......Page 381
   16.4.2 Negligent misrepresentation......Page 382
  16.6 Who may sue for misrepresentation?......Page 384
    Where the statement is non-inducing......Page 385
    Where the plaintiff does not act on the representation......Page 386
  16.7 Rescission......Page 387
 Chapter 17 Misleading or deceptive conduct......Page 390
  17.1 The objective of s 18......Page 391
  17.2 Conduct in trade or commerce......Page 392
   17.3.1 The Taco Bell steps......Page 396
   17.3.2 The ordinary and reasonable person......Page 398
   17.4.2 Silence where disclosure is expected......Page 401
   17.4.5 Character merchandising......Page 402
 Chapter 18 Unconscionable conduct......Page 405
  18.1 The elements of unconscionability......Page 406
   18.1.1 Special disadvantage......Page 408
    Constitutional or situational disadvantage......Page 409
    Limitations to the concept of special disadvantage......Page 410
    ACCC v CG Berbatis Holdings Pty Ltd......Page 412
    Bridgewater v Leahy......Page 415
    Louth v Diprose......Page 420
  18.4 Statutory unconscionability......Page 426
 Chapter 19 Undue influence......Page 430
  19.0 Introduction......Page 431
   19.1.1 Actual undue influence......Page 432
   19.1.2 Presumed undue influence......Page 434
   19.2.2 Guardian and ward......Page 440
   19.2.3 Religious adviser and disciple......Page 442
   19.3.1 Independent advice......Page 449
  19.4 The principle in Yerkey v Jones......Page 450
  19.5 Remedies......Page 454
 Chapter 20 Duress......Page 457
  20.1 The elements of duress......Page 458
   20.2.1 Duress, undue influence and unconscionability......Page 459
  20.3 Contracts made under duress are voidable......Page 460
    Threats of violence......Page 461
    Other threats......Page 462
   20.4.3 Economic duress......Page 463
  20.5 The overborne will and the nature of the threat......Page 470
   20.5.2 The nature of the threat......Page 471
  20.6 Causation......Page 475
  20.7 Remedies......Page 476
 Chapter 21 Unfair contract terms......Page 478
  21.1 The Australian Consumer Law......Page 479
  21.2 The rationale behind the Unfair Contract Terms regime......Page 480
   21.3.1 A consumer contract......Page 482
   21.3.2 A standard form contract......Page 483
   21.3.3 An unfair term......Page 484
    The ACL’s examples of unfair terms......Page 485
  21.4 Remedies......Page 486
 Chapter 22 Mistake......Page 489
  22.0 Introduction......Page 490
   22.1.1 Unilateral mistake as to identity......Page 492
    When the parties have contracted at a distance......Page 493
    When the parties have contracted face to face......Page 494
   22.1.3 Unilateral mistake as to terms......Page 495
   22.1.4 ‘Snapping up’ an offer......Page 496
  22.2 Common and mutual mistake......Page 497
   22.3.1 Identifying the subject matter......Page 498
    Absence of subject matter......Page 499
  22.4 Other categories of mistake......Page 501
   22.5.1 Rescission......Page 502
   22.5.4 Rectification......Page 506
    For common mistake......Page 507
    For unilateral mistake......Page 508
 Chapter 23 Termination for breach......Page 513
  23.1 Right to terminate conferred by contract......Page 514
   23.1.2 Effect......Page 515
   23.2.1 Repudiation......Page 517
    Anticipatory breach......Page 521
   23.2.2 Breach of essential term or condition......Page 522
   23.2.3 Breach causing loss of substantial benefit......Page 525
  23.3 Election to affirm the contract......Page 526
 Chapter 24 Discharge of contract by performance and agreement......Page 532
   24.1.1 Time of performance......Page 533
    Application of the equitable rules......Page 534
   24.1.2 Order of performance......Page 535
   24.1.3 Level of performance......Page 536
  24.3 Discharge by express or implied contractual terms......Page 537
    Contingent condition to performance and formation......Page 539
    Relevance of the duty to cooperate......Page 540
   24.3.2 Non-fulfilment of contingent conditions......Page 541
    Consequences of the non-fulfilment of a contingent condition......Page 542
    Restrictions on the right to terminate......Page 544
    Effect of termination......Page 546
  24.4 Discharge by subsequent agreement......Page 547
  24.6 Estoppel and termination......Page 548
 Chapter 25 Common law damages......Page 552
  25.1 Damages......Page 553
   25.1.2 Proof of loss......Page 554
   25.2.1 Expectation damages and reliance damages......Page 555
    Loss of profits......Page 559
    Loss of chance or opportunity......Page 560
    Loss of use of money......Page 562
    Mental distress and loss of reputation......Page 563
  25.3 Account of profits (disgorgement)......Page 564
  25.4 Liquidated damages......Page 566
  25.5 Valuation and assessment......Page 568
   25.5.1 Market value......Page 570
  25.7 Proportionate liability......Page 573
 Chapter 26 Limitations on the award of damages......Page 576
   26.1.1 The ‘but for’ test......Page 577
   26.1.3 Intervening events......Page 578
    Contributory negligence breaking the chain of causation......Page 584
    Intervening event created or enlarged by the breach......Page 587
  26.2 Remoteness......Page 588
   26.2.1 Hadley v Baxendale......Page 589
    The first limb of Hadley v Baxendale......Page 590
    The second limb of Hadley v Baxendale......Page 591
  26.3 Mitigation......Page 593
   26.3.2 Reasonable steps......Page 594
   26.3.3 The impecunious plaintiff......Page 595
   26.3.4 Attempts at mitigation which increase loss......Page 596
 Chapter 27 Restitution and debt......Page 600
  27.1 Restitution and contract provisions......Page 601
    Failure of consideration......Page 602
   27.2.3 Defences to claims for money......Page 604
   27.3.1 The doctrine of substantial performance......Page 606
  27.4 Deposits......Page 608
 Chapter 28 Equitable remedies......Page 611
    Consideration......Page 612
    Inadequacy of common law damages......Page 613
    (ii) Hardship to the defendant......Page 614
    (iv) Readiness and willingness of the plaintiff to perform......Page 615
    (v) Contracts for personal services......Page 618
    (vi) Constant supervision by the court......Page 619
  28.2 Injunctions......Page 620
  28.4 Equitable damages......Page 621
 Index......Page 624