Contract Law in Engineering
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Transcript of Contract Law in Engineering
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Contracts Definition
A promise that the law will enforce.
Development of Contract Law Common law once required all contracts to
be in writing, with a seal affixed.
Later, some payment was required before a
contract could be enforced.
Mutual promises became enforceable in the
1600’s.
By the 1900’s, courts began to consider the
fairness of contracts before enforcing them.
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Auckland University of Technology
College of Engineering
Contract Law in
Engineering Presented by
Prof. Tomas Ucol-Ganiron Jr
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Types of Contracts (or Agreements)
Bilateral and Unilateral Contracts
Bilateral: both parties make a promise.
Unilateral: one party makes a promise that the other party can accept only by doing something
Bilateral vs. Unilateral Express vs. Implied
Executory vs. Executed
Valid vs. Unenforceable vs. Voidable vs. Void
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Types of Contracts (cont’d)
Express and Implied Contracts
Express: the two parties explicitly state all
important terms of their agreement.
Implied: the words and conduct indicate
that the parties intended an agreement.
Executory and Executed Contracts
Executory: when one or more parties has
not fulfilled its obligations.
Executed: when all parties have fulfilled
their obligations.
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Types of Contracts (cont’d)
Valid, Unenforceable, Voidable, and
Void Agreements
Valid: satisfies the law’s requirements.
Unenforceable: when the parties intend to
form a valid bargain but some rule of law
prevents enforcement.
Voidable: when the law permits one party
to terminate the agreement.
Void: one that neither party can enforce,
usually because the purpose is illegal or
one of the parties had no legal authority.
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Sources of Contract Law
Common Law
Uniform Commercial Code
UCC Article 2 governs the sale of
goods. “Goods” means anything
moveable, except for money,
securities, and certain legal rights.
In a mixed contract, Article 2 governs
only if the primary purpose was the
sale of goods.
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Elements of a Contract Agreement
offer, and
acceptance
Consideration There has to be bargaining that leads to
an exchange between the parties.
Legality The contract must be for a lawful purpose.
Capacity The parties must be adults of sound mind.
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Meeting of the Minds
The parties can form a contract only if they had a
meeting of the minds.
They must understand each other and intend to
reach an agreement.
A judge will make an objective assessment of
any disagreements about whether a contract
was made -- whether or not a reasonable
person would conclude that there was an
agreement, based on the parties’ conduct.
Objective Theory of Contract: Lucy v. Zehmer
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Negotiation Terms
JOE BOB
Offer Accept or
Reject or
Accept or Counteroffer
Reject or
Counteroffer
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Offer
Problems with Intent Invitation to bargain is not an offer. Price quote is generally not an offer. An advertisement is generally not an offer. Placing an item up for auction is not an offer, it
is merely a request for an offer.
Problems with Definiteness
The term of the offer must be definite.
An offer is an act or statement that proposes definite terms and permits the other party to create a contract by accepting those terms.
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Definiteness/Invitations to Bargain
I’ll give a blueberry muffin and a cup of coffee to the first person who shows up next class in class in a full clown suit and makeup.
Would you consider showing up in a full clown suit and makeup if I gave you a blueberry muffin and a cup of coffee?
I couldn’t take less than $400 for that 1974 Dodge Dart.
General common law rule: all important/essential terms (price, quantity, etc.) must be specified. EXCEPTIONS: UCC situations, and where industry practice suggests how the missing terms will be filled in. E.g., seafood restaurant example.
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Termination of Offers Termination by Revocation
Effective when the offeree receives it.
Firm Offers and Revocability
Common Law Rule
Revocation of a firm offer is effective if the
offeree receives it before he accepts.
Option Contract
The offeror may not revoke an offer during the
option period.
Sale of Goods
A writing signed by a merchant, offering to hold
an offer open, may not be revoked.
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Termination of Offers (cont’d) Termination by Rejection
If an offeree rejects an offer, the rejection immediately terminates the offer. A counteroffer operates as a rejection.
Termination by Expiration
When an offer specifies a time limit for acceptance, that period if binding.
If the offer specified no time limit, the offeree has a reasonable period in which to accept.
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Acceptance The offeree must say or do something
to accept.
In a bilateral contract, the offeree generally must accept by making a promise.
In a unilateral contract, the offeree must accept by performing.
Mirror Image Rule (Common Law)
Requires that acceptance be on precisely the same terms as the offer.
Normile v. Miller
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Mirror Image Rule
1. Stan offers Eric $6 for Eric’s Carl Yastremski rookie
baseball card.
2. Eric answers, “ Throw in a bag of cheesie poofs and
you’ve got a deal.”
3. Stan responds, “I’ll do you one better. Let’s meet back
here in 20 minutes.”
4. In 20 minutes Stan returns with $6 and Eric’s favorite
meal – a chicken nugget happy meal.
5. Eric refuses to give Stan the card, saying he’s having
second thoughts.
DID STAN AND ERIC HAVE A DEAL?
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UCC and the Battle of Forms Where the UCC applies, an offeree may include
in the acceptance terms that are additional to or different from those in the offer.
Additional terms are those that bring up new issues. If both parties are merchants, the additional terms will
generally become part of the contract.
Different terms are those that contradict terms in the offer. The majority of states hold that different (contradictory)
terms cancel each other out/UCC fills gaps.
Why have this rule? What terms must be agreed upon? What about material alterations? What sorts of terms are “material”?
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Communication of Acceptance
Wucherpfennig v. Dooley
and Manner of Acceptance
If an offer demands acceptance in a particular
medium or manner, the offeree must follow
those requirements.
If the offer does not specify a type of
acceptance, the offeree may accept in any
reasonable manner and medium.
Time of Acceptance: The Mailbox Rule
An accceptance is generally effective upon
dispatch, meaning the moment it is out of the
offeree’s control.
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Consideration
Bargaining that leads to an exchange
of value between the parties.
Consideration can be anything that
someone might want to bargain for. It
is the inducement to make the deal, or
the thing that is bargained-for.
McInerny v. Charter Golf
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What is the consideration
supporting each promise?
1. Stan agrees to pay Eric $6 for Stan’s baseball
card; exchange to take place next Tuesday.
2. Professor promises to give a cup of coffee and a
blueberry muffin to the first person to come into
class in a full clown suit and makeup.
3. I agree to pay you $500 for your lovely painting,
“Dogs Playing Poker (on Velvet)”.
4. I promise to pay my son $100 if he does not watch
South Park for one year.
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A Bargain and an Exchange
The thing bargained for can be:
another promise or action.
a benefit to the promisor or a detriment to
the promisee.
a promise to do something or a promise to
refrain from doing something.
“Bargaining is obligating yourself in
order to induce the other side to
agree.”
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Mutuality of Obligations
Illusory Promise
If one party’s promise is conditional, the other party
is not bound to the agreement.
Promise to pay in return for past favors.
Is this consideration?
Was it bargained-for?
Passante v. McWilliam
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Preexisting Duty
A promise to which the promisor is
already obligated is not consideration.
Exceptions:
If the scope of the promisor’s task increases,
that increase is consideration.
When unforeseen circumstances cause a party
to make a promise regarding an unfinished
project, that promise is valid consideration.
Must be something beyond normal risk
assumed by the parties.
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Exceptions to the Requirement of
Consideration: Promissory Estoppel
Promise meant to induce action,
On which the promisee reasonably relies
To his/her detriment
Is enforceable in the absence of consideration
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Supervisor was pleased with employee’s work
In March, Supervisor promised employee that she would get 5% of the company stock as a Christmas bonus
Employee turns down several higher paying job offers between March and December
Supervisor never made good on that promise
Employee sues to enforce the promise.
RESULT?
Promissory Estoppel (cont’d)