Contractual term

Not to be confused with term (time).

A contractual term is "Any provision forming part of a contract".[1] Each term gives rise to a contractual obligation, breach of which can give rise to litigation. Not all terms are stated expressly and some terms carry less legal gravity as they are peripheral to the objectives of the contract.

Classification of term

Condition or Warranty

Conditions are terms that go to the very root of a contract. Breach of a condition will entitle the innocent party to terminate the contract.[2] A warranty[3] is less imperative than a condition, so the contract will survive a breach. Breach of either a condition or a warranty will give rise to damages.

It is an objective matter of fact whether a term goes to the root of a contract. By way of illustration, an actress's obligation to perform the opening night of a theatrical production is a condition,[4] whereas a singer's obligation to perform during the first three days of rehearsal is a warranty.[5]

Statute may also declare a term or nature of term to be a condition or warranty. For example, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (UK) s15A[6] provides that terms as to title, description, quality, and sample (as described in the Act) are conditions save in certain defined circumstances.

Innominate term

Lord Diplock, in Hong Kong Fir Shipping Co Ltd v Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd,[7] created the concept of an innominate term, breach of which may or may not go to the root of the contract depending upon the nature of the breach. Breach of these terms, as with all terms, will give rise to damages. Whether or not it repudiates the contract depends upon whether legal benefit of the contract has been removed from the innocent party. Megaw LJ, in 1970, preferred the use of the classic categorizing into condition or warranty due to legal certainty.[8] This was interpreted by the House of Lords as merely restricting its application in Reardon Smith Line Ltd. v Hansen-Tangen.[9]

Enforceability

In general, parties can only sue for enforcement of valid contractual terms as opposed to representations or mere puffs.

Statements

Only certain statements create contractual obligations. Statements can be split into the following types:

Determination of nature of a statement

There are various factors that a court may take into account in determining the nature of a statement. These include:

The parol evidence rule limits what things can be taken into account when trying to interpret a contract. This rule has practically ceased operation under UK law, but remains functional in Australian Law.[13]

Implied terms

A term may either be expressed or implied. An express term is stated by the parties during negotiation or written in a contractual document. Implied terms are not stated but nevertheless form a provision of the contract.

Terms implied in fact

The Privy Council established a five-stage test in BP Refinery (Westernport) Pty Ltd v Shire of Hastings.[14] However, the English Court of Appeal sounded a note of caution with regard to the BP case in Philips Electronique Grand Public SA v British Sky Broadcasting Ltd in which the Master of the Rolls described the test as "almost misleading" in its simplicity.[15]

  1. Reasonableness and equitableness: The implied term must be reasonable and equitable. In Biotechnology Australia Pty Ltd v Pace,[16] it was held a term that imposes a significant detriment or burden on the other party is unlikely to be equitable.
  2. Business efficacy: The implied term must be necessary for the business efficacy of the contract. For instance, if the term simply causes the contract to operate better, that does not fit this criterion. This is the principle laid out in The Moorcock.[17] The presiding judge created a quaint concept of an officious bystander; if the officious bystander were to propose a term and both the parties would be likely to reply with a testy "oh, of course", the term is implied.
  3. Obviousness: The term is so obvious that it goes without saying. Furthermore, there must be one and only one thing that would be implied by the parties. For example, in Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority of NSW,[18] a term regarding the inability of construction company to work three shifts a day could not be implied because it was unclear what form it would have taken. In English law, this principle was established in the case of Spring v NASDS,[19] in the context of a trade union membership contract.
  4. Clear expression: The term must be capable of clear expression. No specific technical knowledge should be required.
  5. Consistency: The implied term may not contradict an express term.

The High Court of Australia has ruled that the test in BP applies only to formal contracts. In the case of an informal contract, where the parties have not attempted to stipulate the full terms, the courts should imply a term upon referring to the imputed intention of the parties, provided that the particular term is necessary for the effective operation of the contract.[20][21] In implying terms in an informal contract, the High Court has suggested that a flexible approach is required.[20][21] In a case where it is apparent that the parties have not attempted to spell out the full terms of their contract, the court should imply a term by reference to the imputed intentions of the parties if, but only if, it can be seen that the implication of the particular term is necessary for the reasonable or effective operation of a contract of that nature in the circumstances of the case.[20] Obviousness also remains an important element in implying a term in an informal contract.[22]

Terms implied in law

These are terms that have been implied into standardized relationships.

Common law

Statutory

The rules by which many contracts are governed are provided in specialized statutes that deal with particular subjects. Most countries, for example, have statutes which deal directly with sale of goods, lease transactions, and trade practices. For example, each American state except Louisiana has adopted Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code, which regulates contracts for the sale of goods.[25] The most important legislation implying terms under United Kingdom law are the Sale of Goods Act 1979, the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 and the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 which imply terms into all contracts whereby goods are sold or services provided.

Terms implied by custom or trade

One is generally bound by the custom of the industry that one is in. To imply a term due to custom or trade, one must prove the existence of the custom, which must be notorious, certain, legal and reasonable.[26][27]

Course of dealing

If two parties have regularly conducted business on certain terms, the terms may be assumed to be same for each contract made, if not expressly agreed to the contrary. The parties must have dealt on numerous occasions and been aware of the term purported to be implied. In Hollier v Rambler Motors Ltd[28] four occasions over five years was held to be sufficient. In British Crane Hire Corp Ltd v Ipswich Plant Hire Ltd[29] written terms were held to have been implied into an oral contract in which there was no mention of written terms.

Good faith

Main article: Good faith

It is common for lengthy negotiations to be written into a heads of agreement document that includes a clause to the effect that the rest of the agreement is to be negotiated. Although these cases may appear to fall into the category of agreement to agree, Australian courts will imply an obligation to negotiate in good faith provided that certain conditions are satisfied:[30]

The test of whether one has acted in good faith is a subjective one; the cases suggest honesty, and possibly also reasonableness. There is no such implied term under UK common law: an attempt was made by Lord Denning in a series of case during the 1970s and 1980s but they are no longer considered 'good law'. European legislation imposes this duty, but only in certain circumstances.

The Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999[31] reg 8 renders ineffective any 'unfair' contractual term if made between a seller or supplier and a consumer.[32] Regulation 5 of the statutory instrument further elaborates upon the concept of 'unfair', which is rather novel to English law. 'Unfair' is a term that was not individually negotiated (i.e. standard form) that "causes a significant imbalance in the parties' rights and obligations arising under the contract to the detriment of the consumer".[33] This is not possible if the term is not contrary to 'good faith'; such as in Director General of Fair Trading v First National Bank,[34] wherein the lack of a seemingly unfair interest term would leave the bank open to a very poor deal whereby no interest could be charged.

"Subject to" contracts

Four Categories

If a contract specifies "subject to contract", it may fall into one of three categories as identified in Masters v Cameron:[35]

  1. The parties are immediately bound to the bargain, but they intend to restate the deal in a more formalized contract that will not have a different effect; or
  2. The parties have completely agreed to the terms, but have made the execution of some terms in the contract conditional on the creation of a formal contract; or
  3. It is merely an agreement to agree lacking the requisite intention to create legal relations, and the deal will only be binding unless and until the formalized contract has been drawn up.

Subsequent authorities have been willing to recognize a fourth category in addition to those stated in Masters v Cameron.[36]

  1. The parties intend to immediately bound by the terms agreed upon and expect to create a further contract as a replacement for the initial contract which will contain additional terms (if agreed upon).

Contingent Condition

If a contract specifies "subject to finance", it may impose certain obligations on the purchaser:[37]

If the contract is silent on the level of effort required by the finance seeker (usually purchaser) to obtain finance, the finance seeker may come under an implied duty to cooperate. Furthermore, whether the finance seeker may validly claim non-fulfillment of a contingent condition, despite being genuinely satisfied with finance he or she obtained before the expiration of the contingent condition, was not decided in Meehan v Jones.[37]

"Subject to finance" provisions may be also referred to as contingent conditions, which come under two categories: condition precedent and condition subsequent. Conditions precedent are conditions that have to be complied with before performance of a contract is required by both parties With conditions subsequent, parties do not need to perform the contract if a condition is not yet (such as official certification to practice in a particular course of business). The non-fulfillment of a contingent condition means that the parties are not required to perform their side of the respective bargain.

References

  1. ↑ Martin, E; Law, J, eds. (2006). Oxford Dictionary of Law (6th ed.). London: OUP.
  2. ↑ Luna Park (NSW) Ltd v Tramways Advertising Pty Ltd [1938] HCA 66, (1938) 61 CLR 286; see also Associated Newspapers Ltd v Bancks [1951] HCA 24, (1951) 83 CLR 322
  3. ↑ Not to be confused with a product warranty, which is always referred to as a 'guarantee' in law.
  4. ↑ Poussard v Spiers and Pond (1876) 1 QBD 410.
  5. ↑ Bettini v Gye (1876) 1 QBD 183.
  6. ↑ As added by the Sale of Goods Act 1994 (UK) s4(1).
  7. ↑ Hong Kong Fir Shipping Co Ltd v Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd [1961] EWCA 7, [1962] 1 All ER 474
  8. ↑ Maredelanto Compania Naviera SA v Bergbau-Handel GmbH, The Mihalis Angelos [1970] EWCA 4, [1970] 3 All ER 125.
  9. ↑ Reardon Smith Line Ltd. v Hansen-Tangen [1976] 3 All ER 570
  10. 1 2 Routledge v McKay [1954] EWCA 8, [1954] 1 All ER 855.
  11. ↑ Oscar Chess Ltd v Williams [1956] EWCA 5, [1957] 1 WLR 370.
  12. ↑ Birch v Paramount Estates Ltd (1856) 16 EG 396.
  13. ↑ Equuscorp Pty Ltd v Glengallan Investments Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 55, (2005) 218 CLR 471 at [33].
  14. ↑ BP Refinery (Westernport) Pty Ltd v Shire of Hastings (1977) 180 CLR 266.
  15. ↑ Philips Electronique Grand Public SA v British Sky Broadcasting Ltd [1995] EMLR 472 at 481.
  16. ↑ Biotechnology Australia Pty Ltd v Pace (1988) 15 NSWLR 130.
  17. ↑ The Moorcock (1889) 14 PD 64.
  18. ↑ Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority of NSW [1982] HCA 24, (1982) 149 CLR 337.
  19. ↑ Spring v NASDS [1956] 1 WLR 585.
  20. 1 2 3 Hawkins v Clayton [1988] HCA 15, (1988) 164 CLR 539
  21. 1 2 Byrne v Australian Airlines Ltd [1995] HCA 24, (1995) 185 CLR 410.
  22. ↑ Byrne v Australian Airlines Ltd [1995] HCA 24, (1995) 185 CLR 410 at p. 446 per McHugh & Gummow JJ.
  23. ↑ Liverpool City Council v Irwin [1976] UKHL 1, [1976] 2 WLR 562.
  24. ↑ Wong Mee Wan v Kwan Kin Travel Services Ltd [1995] UKPC 42, [1995] 4 All ER 745
  25. ↑ For links and comparison among states on the adoption of the UCC, see Cornell Law Uniform Laws.
  26. ↑ Con-stan Industries of Australia Pty Ltd v. Norwich Winterthur Insurance (Australia) Ltd [1986] HCA 14, (1986) 160 CLR 226.
  27. ↑ Frigaliment Importing Co., Ltd., v. B.N.S. International Sales Corp., 190 F. Supp. 116 (S.D.N.Y. 1960) (plaintiff failed to prove what he meant by "chicken") and U.C.C. § 1-205.
  28. ↑ Hollier v Rambler Motors Ltd [1971] EWCA 12, [1972] QB 71; see also Balmain New Ferry Co Ltd v Robertson [1906] HCA 83, (1906) 4 CLR 379.
  29. ↑ British Crane Hire Corp Ltd v Ipswich Plant Hire Ltd [1973] EWCA 6, [1975] QB 303.
  30. ↑ Coal Cliff Collieries Pty Ltd v Sijehama Pty Ltd (1991) 24 NSWLR 1.
  31. ↑ Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 (UK) SI 1999/2083
  32. ↑ For definitions, see reg 3(1).
  33. ↑ Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 reg 5(1)
  34. ↑ Director General of Fair Trading v First National Bank plc [2001] UKHL 52, [2001] 3 WLR 1297.
  35. ↑ Masters v Cameron [1954] HCA 72, (1954) 91 CLR 353.
  36. ↑ Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Pty Ltd v GR Securities Pty Ltd 40 NSWLR 622.
  37. 1 2 Meehan v Jones [1982] HCA 52, (1982) 149 CLR 571.
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