1. Contracts: Capacity, Legality, Assent and Form
MAN-3
Erlan Bakiev, Ph. D.

2. Contractual Capacity
The minimum mental capacity required by law for a party who enters into a contractual agreement to be bound by it.
Common law recognizes three classes of persons who are generally not considered to have sufficient capacity to be bound by their contracts.

3. Contractual Capacity Minors under the age of eighteen (18)
contract is voidable at option of minor (must disaffirm)
minor is required to return consideration (what’s left of it)
cosignor or guarantor is liable on contract

4. Contracts With Minors Parents’ Liability
As a general rule, parents are not liable for the contracts made by their minor children.
Unless parent co-signed the obligation

5. Contracts With Minors
Minor may disaffirm and avoid obligation under the contract:
Anytime up until a reasonable time after reaching majority
Minor may ratify contract upon reaching majority

6. Contractual Capacity Mentally Impaired or Incompetent Persons
Voidable if contract is made while party is mentally incompetent.
Obligation to return consideration upon avoidance/disaffirmation.
May be ratified after becoming competent

7. Contractual Capacity Intoxicated Persons
Voidable if contract is made while party is intoxicated.
No difference if voluntary or involuntary.
May be ratified after becoming sober.

8. Legality-Illegal Contracts
Contracts Contrary to Statute
Statutes sometimes proscribe certain types of contracts, contract terms, and/or contractual provisions.

9. Illegal Contracts Usury Statutes
Virtually every state has a statute that sets the maximum rate of interest that can legally be charged for different types of transactions, including ordinary loans.

10. Illegal Contracts Gambling - three elements: Consideration Chance
Prize

11. Illegal Contracts Blue Laws
Some states and localities prohibit engaging in certain business activities on Sundays.

12. Illegal Contracts Licensing Statutes
All states require that members of certain professions -- attorneys, doctors, and architects, etc. -- be licensed by the state.
Contract with unlicensed person may be unenforceable.

13. Illegal Contracts Licensing Statutes
Some statutes are regulatory in nature
Contract with unlicensed person may be unenforceable.
Some statutes just produce revenue
Contract with unlicensed person not affected.

14. Illegal Contracts Contracts in Restraint of Trade
Restrictive covenants are generally permitted when they are ancillary to an otherwise enforceable contract for the sale of a business or for employment.

15. Illegal Contracts Unconscionable Contracts
Contracts that require one party, as a consequence of disproportionate bargaining power, to accept terms that are unfairly burdensome to that party and unfairly beneficial to the party with greater bargaining power.

16. Illegal Contracts
Procedural Unconscionabiltiy – Lack of voluntariness due to disparity in bargaining power.
(Contracts of Adhesion)
Substantive Unconscionability- focus on contracts or provisions that are overly harsh.

17. Effect of Illegality
Generally the contract is void (not voidable), due to the “in pari delicto rule.”
Exceptions:
-One party is relatively innocent, then that party may recover benefits (example 9.8 p.244).
-Withdrawal prior to the illegal act (example 9.10).
-Severable or divisible contracts (example 9.11).

18. Genuineness of Assent
A party who demonstrates that he or she did not genuinely assent to the terms of a contract may avoid the contract.
Genuine assent may be lacking due to mistake, fraudulent misrepresentation, undue influence, or duress.

19. Mistake Unilateral Mistake
A mistake made by one of the contracting parties.
Generally, a unilateral mistake will not excuse performance of the contract unless other party knew of the mistake OR substantial mathematical error.

20. Mistake Mutual Mistake
A mistake on the part of both contracting parties.
In this case, either party may rescind.

21. Fraud
When an innocent party consents to a contract with fraudulent terms, he or she may usually avoid the contract, because he or she did not genuinely assent to the fraudulent terms.

22. Fraud Elements: misrepresentation of material fact
made with the intent to deceive (scienter)
justifiable reliance
damages

23. Undue Influence and Duress
Undue Influence -- arises from relationships in which one party can influence another party to the point of overcoming the influenced party’s free will.
Duress -- forcing a party to enter into a contract because of the fear created by threats.

24. The Statute of Frauds
A statute which requires certain types of contracts to be in writing in order to be enforceable.
Some contracts considered important enough that their terms must be memorialized in writing to ensure reliable evidence of their existence and their terms

25. The Statute of Frauds
Agreements in consideration of marriage-Prenuptial agreements
Not performable within one year
Involving an interest in land
For sale of goods over $500 ($5,000 under UCC)
Collateral agreements

26. The Statute of Frauds: Exceptions
Partial Performance
Custom Orders of Goods
Acceptance of Delivery

27. The Statute of Frauds: Sufficiency of the Writing
A writing signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought.
A confirmation, invoice, sales slip, check, or fax, or any combination thereof.
Several documents which, in combination, provide the terms for an agreement.

28. Contracts: Capacity, Legality, Assent and Form
End of Chapter 9