Detailed table of contents
Author | John D. McCamus |
Profession | Professor of Law. Osgoode Hall Law School, York University |
Pages | vii-xix |
PREFACE xxi
CHAPTER 1:
INTRODUCTION 1
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Overview 1
1) The Plan of This Work 2
2) A Study of the General Principles of Contract Law 6
3) The Three Meanings of “Common Law” 7
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Common Law and Equity 9
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Contract, Tort and Restitution 13
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Continuity and Change 18
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Contracts as a Work in Progress: Modern Trends 23
Further Readings 28
PART ONE: FORMATION 29
CHAPTER 2:
OFFER AND ACCEPTANCE 31
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Introduction 31
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The Offer 33
1) Preliminary Negotiations and Offers 34
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Retail Sales 37
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Offers to the General Public: Rewards and Other Unilateral Contracts 40
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Tenders 43
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Auctions 47
2) Communication of Offer 48
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The Acceptance 52
1) Counteroffers, Rejections and Failed Acceptances 52
2) The Battle of the Forms 59
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Communication of Acceptance 67
1) Silence as Acceptance 68
2) The Postal Acceptance Rule 73
3) Instantaneous Communications 76
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Revocation of the Offer 82
1) Communication of Revocation 83
2) The “Flagpole Problem” and Its Solutions 85
Further Readings 89
CHAPTER 3:
CERTAINTY OF TERMS 91
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Introduction 91
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Incompleteness 93
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Agreements to Agree 101
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Vagueness 104
Further Readings 110
CHAPTER 4:
INTENTION TO CREATE LEGAL RELATIONS 111
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Introduction 111
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Commercial Arrangements 113
1) Explicit Agreements Not to Be Bound 113
2) Tendering Processes 115
3) Letters of Comfort 118
4) Preliminary Agreements, Letters of Intent and Agreements “Subject to Contract” 125
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Domestic and Social Arrangements 129
Further Readings 135
CHAPTER 5:
BARGAINING IN GOOD FAITH 137
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Introduction 137
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Certainty of Terms 141
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Options to Renew 144
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The Conduct of Tendering Processes 147
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A Duty to Bargain in Good Faith in the Absence of a Contract? 151
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Conclusion 156
Further Readings 158
CHAPTER 6:
AGREEMENTS IN WRITING 160
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Introduction 160
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Agreements Required to Be in Writing: The Statute of Frauds 161
1) Introduction 161
2) Undertakings Subject to Section 4 of the Statute 165
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Promises to Answer for the Debt, Default or Miscarriages of Another Person 165
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Promises Made upon Consideration of Marriage 167
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Promise by an Executor or Administrator to Answer Damages out of His or Her Own Estate 167
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Agreements Not to Be Performed within One Year 168
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Contracts for the Sale of Any Interest in Land 169
3) The Section 4 Formalities and the Effect of Non-compliance 170
4) Relief from the Effects of Non-compliance 174
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The Doctrine of Part Performance 174
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Hiding behind the Statute of Frauds in Order to Perpetrate a Fraud 178
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Restitution 179
5) Other Statutory Writing Requirements 180
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Incorporation of Written Terms 181
1) Introduction 181
2) Unsigned Documents 183
3) Signed Documents 190
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The Parol Evidence Rule 193
1) Introduction 193
2) The Scope and Operation of the Rule 197
3) Exceptions to the Rule 199
4) Canadian Reception of the Modern Approach 203
5) Merger and Entire Agreement Clauses 206
6) Conclusion 207
Further Readings 207
PART TWO: ENFORCEABILITY 209
CHAPTER 7:
CONSIDERATION AND FORM 211
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Introduction 211
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Consideration 214
1) The Bargain Theory 214
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The Definition of Consideration 214
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Certainty 218
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Firm Offers 219
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Illusory Consideration 220
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Implied Consideration 221
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The “Peppercorn Theory” 222
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Nominal Consideration 223
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Forbearance 226
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Charitable Subscriptions 228
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Manufacturers’ Warranties 231
2) Past Consideration 232
3) The Pre-existing Duty Rule 239
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Public Duty 239
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Duty Owed to a Third Party 242
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Duty Owed to the Promisor 244
4) Partial Payment of a Debt 250
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Formality: Promises under Seal 256
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Reform 269
Further Readings 274
CHAPTER 8:
WAIVER AND PROMISSORY ESTOPPEL 275
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Introduction 275
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Waiver, Estoppel by Representation and Foakes v. Beer 277
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The Doctrine of Promissory Estoppel 279
1) Sword vs. Shield? 280
2) Intended to Be Acted Upon 281
3) The Nature of the Undertaking 283
4) Reassertion of Rights upon Notice 285
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Proprietary Estoppel 287
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Waltons Stores (Interstate) Pty. v. Maher: Inching Toward Section 90 289
Further Readings 293
CHAPTER 9:
PRIVITY OF CONTRACT 294
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Introduction 294
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Development and Rationale of the Rule 296
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Limitations on and Exceptions to the Rule 301
1) Agency 301
2) Trusts 303
3) Collateral Contracts 304
4) Tort Law 305
5) Assignment 306
6) Statutory Exceptions 307
7) Additional Exceptions at Common Law 308
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Provisions Limiting the Liability of Employees 308
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Insurance 309
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Waiver of Rights against Third Parties 310
ii) Coverage of Third Parties 312
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The Open-Textured “Principled Exception” 313
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Subsequent Variation or Annulment of the Promise 317
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Conclusion 319
Further Readings 320
PART THREE: VITIATING FACTORS 323
CHAPTER 10:
Misrepresentation 325
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Introduction 325
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The Elements of Misrepresentation 326
1) Sales Talk 327
2) Opinion 327
3) Intention 328
4) Law 329
5) Materiality 330
6) Inducement 331
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Non-disclosure as Misrepresentation 331
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Non-disclosure and Good Faith 334
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Rescission and Restitution 337
1) Restoration of the Status Quo Ante 339
2) Affirmation 342
3) Intervention of Third-Party...
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