Agreement
Is there a contract?
State the three elements
agreement
intention to create legal relations
Concideration
Objective Smith V Hughes
Commerical agreements - presumtion there is intention Edwards v Skyways
Family Agreements - presumption is no intention Belfour v Belfour
rebuttable Merritt v Merritt
rebuttable with specific wording Rose and Frank Co v Crompton Bros
is there an offer?
is there acceptance?
define: 'expression of willingness to contract on certain terms, made with intention that it shall become binding as soon as accepted by person to whom adressed' (Treitel, Law of Contract, confirmed in Allied Marine Transport v Vale do Rio Doce Navegacao SA (The Leonidas). )
distinguish invitation to treat - no intention to be bound
self-service display in shop Pharmacuitcal Society of GB v Boots Cash Chemists
goods on display Fisher v Bell
tenders Spencer v Harding unless unilaterial contract, then it is an offer Harvela Investments Ltd v Royal Trust Company of Canada
advisertisements
offering reward Williams v Crittenden
unilateral contract - acceptance need not be communicated Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co
autcions
WITH reserve price s57 Sale of Goods Act 1979 - contract formed once autioneer (as agent) completes sale
withOUT reserve Barry v Davies unilateral contract
define: 'uncondiational expression of assent to terms of offer'
Must be communicated
general rule must be commincated by:
offeree Entores v Miles Far East Corp ltd
authourised agent Powell v Lee
Exeptions to general rule
unilateral contract Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co
if the contract states that silence constitutes acceptance, silence cannot constitute acceptance Felthouse v Bindley unless no reason for offeree not to bind themselves Re Selectmove Ltd
Acceptance or counter offer?
counter offer implied rejection Hyde v Wrench
questions about an offer not rejection Stevenson Jaques & Co v McLean
Battle of the forms
following an exchange of incompatiable terms by the parties, performance of the contract (e.g. delivery of product) maight be taken to be acceptance of the 'last shot' Brogden v Metropolitan Railway Co
Butler Machine Tool Co ltd v Ex-Cell-O Corp not true battle of the forms, but an exchange of incompatiable terms. Claimant's offer countained clause that it's terms would prevail, defendant sent acceptance but with amended termcounter-offer, claimant sent a further acceptance providing its terms prevail
Postal Rule Adams v Lindsell