1710 BUSINESS AND THE LAW代写

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  • TABL 1710, BUSINESS AND THE LAW
    SAMPLE LEGAL PROBLEM QUESTION AND SAMPLE ANSWER
    NOTE:
    •  The sample question and answer are based on a previous problem question.
    •  The sample question and answer are purely intended as a GUIDE TO THE
    STYLE OF WRITING answers to legal problem questions.
    •  Do NOT use the content of this answer for your assignment as the facts and
    issues in this problem are different to those in the assignment question.
    •  Do not try to learn the content of the sample answer as a replacement for
    learning and understanding the lecture, tutorial and course reading materials.
    1.  SAMPLE QUESTION
    Annie (‘A’) runs a courier service, A Pty Ltd. She reads in a newspaper that a local
    business, KwikCo, is looking for a courier service which they can use exclusively to
    deliver parcels and documents to their clients. The advertisement calls for expressions
    of interest, stating that "those parties wishing to be considered for the courier contract
    with KwikCo should submit an application in writing to be received in KwikCo's office by
    5pm on Friday, 25 April, 2008."
    On Monday, 21 April 2008, A sends a letter to KwikCo giving information about her
    company and its experience as a courier service. She states that the company would be
    prepared to take on the work for KwikCo for a fee of between $12,000 and $20,000 per
    month. She further states in the letter that, rather than working exclusively for KwikCo,
    the company would prefer to also take on other small jobs on the understanding that
    KwikCo's work would always receive priority. KwikCo receives this letter on Tuesday, 22
    April 2008.
    On Thursday, 24 April 2008 KwikCo sends A a letter stating:
    “Your offer to work as KwikCo's exclusive courier is accepted subject to the
    conclusion of the enclosed contract. To avoid delay, please complete the
    contract and return it to us by express mail." Due to delays at the post office, A
    receives this letter on Monday, 28 April 2008.
    A signs the enclosed contract and faxes it through to KwikCo on the same day.
    However, due to a fault in A’s fax machine, this fax never reaches KwikCo. On Tuesday,
    29 April 2008 A also mails the original document back to KwikCo.
    Included in the terms of the contract are the following provisions:
    "KwikCo agrees it will use only A Pty Ltd for its courier requirements. The agreed
    payment for these services is $11,500 per month excluding expenses.
    A Pty Ltd undertakes to use all due care and consideration in carrying out its
    courier duties. However, it does not accept liability for loss or damage to any
    documents or goods given into its care for the purposes of delivery, regardless of
    how such loss or damage might be caused."1710 BUSINESS AND THE LAW代写
    A Pty Ltd starts working for KwikCo, which is very satisfied with A’s performance. A Pty
    Ltd also does small courier jobs for other clients although it always ensures that
    KwikCo's work receives priority. One afternoon, the manager of KwikCo calls A Pty Ltd
    to ask if it could take him across the city to an important meeting he must attend. One of
    the drivers picks up the manager to take him to the meeting. As the car goes over the
    Anzac Bridge, a gust of wind blows through the open window and blows all the
    manager's important documents out of the car and down into the water. As a result, the
    manager is unable to conclude a lucrative agreement with the other parties attending the
    meeting and KwikCo loses a significant financial advantage which it had been relying
    upon.
    Can KwikCo sue A Pty Ltd under the law of contract? If so, what damages is
    KwikCo likely to claim?
    2.  SAMPLE ANSWER
    NOTE: THIS SAMPLE ANSWER IS PROVIDED AS A GUIDE TO THE STYLE OF
    WRITING ONLY. DO NOT USE ANY CONTENT FROM THIS SAMPLE ANSWER
    FOR YOUR ASSIGNMENT – THE FACTS AND ISSUES ARE DIFFERENT!
    Introduction
    KwikCo ("K) is attempting to sue A Co. Ltd ("A") for financial loss arising out of the
    accident outlined in the Question. K's action will most likely rely on the terms of its
    contract with A.
    In order to advise A it is necessary to examine the key facts, then consider what law
    applies to the facts and apply the law to the facts to determine if a contract exists. The
    next step will be to identify the terms of the contract and examine the terms of the
    contract against the facts of the case. As the question asks what damages can be
    claimed, your answer should also discuss the extent of any damage resulting from any
    breach.
    a)  Is there a contract?
    In order for K to sue A under the contract it must be determined if such a contract is
    legally enforceable. In order for oral or written contracts to be enforceable they must
    contain the following elements: offer, acceptance, consideration and an intention to be
    legally bound. Legal capacity, genuine consent and legality are also requisite elements
    of contract but do not appear to be a relevant issue here.
    While it is possible for offers to be "made to the world” 1 , K's advertisement is an
    "invitation to treat" 2 . It cannot be construed as an offer as it shows no intention on K's
    part to be bound by its terms, in contrast to the wording of the advertisement in Carlill v
    Carbolic Smoke Ba// Co 3 .
    1 See Carhill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co (1893) 1 QB 256
    2 Boots Cash Chemist (1953) 1 QB 401
    3 See above n.11710 BUSINESS AND THE LAW代写
    Therefore, A's letter to K dated 21 April is the first possibility of an offer. However the
    terms of this letter are too vague to be construed as an offer. This is because an offer
    must contain all the terms necessary for the contract to come into existence 4 . Offering to
    work for a fee "between $12000-$20000" is not certain enough to constitute an offer and
    the letter is more appropriately seen as a supply of information only 5 .
    K's letter to A on 24 April appears to be contrary to K's belief, merely an offer, not an
    acceptance. The nature of K's letter implies a clear intention to be bound by the terms of
    the enclosed contract and the letter sets out the method by which the signed contract is
    to be returned. As this is an offer, not acceptance, A is considered to have received the
    offer on 28 April.
    This raises a question as to whether:
    (a)  the offer is the letter itself, with the "contract" document to be signed
    constituting an event that does nothing more than put the already agreed
    terms in writing; or
    (b)  the enclosed contract is itself the offer made by K.
    These issues are similar to those dealt with by the High Court in Masters v Cameron 6 .
    However that case dealt with the issue of what constituted acceptance and so is not a
    direct precedent for the issue in this case.
    In any event K directs A to sign and return the contract "by express mail". A attempts to
    first fax the contract and then mails it. We must determine if such actions constitute an
    effective acceptance.
    In order for acceptance to be effective it must be unqualified 7 and communicated 8 .
    Unless there is evidence to the contrary communication will be determined objectively by
    4 G. Scammell & Nephew Ltd v H.C and J.G Ouston [1941] AC 251: but cf. Hillas & Co. Arcos Ltd [1932] All ER 494
    5 Harvey v Facey (1893) AC 552
    6 (1954) 91 CLR 353
    7 Ibid
    8 Felthouse v Bindley (1862) 11 CB (NS) 869
    the courts 9 . There is no issue of conditional acceptance in this case as A merely signs
    the contract and attempts to return it.
    However A's first attempt to communicate acceptance is by fax. The courts have held
    that whether such acceptance has been communicated is to be decided by determining
    the time at which the fax is received by the offerer 10 . In this case, no fax is in fact
    received by K due to A’s faulty fax machine. Thus there has been no acceptance
    communicated by this action.
    It is well established that an offeror can stipulate the means of acceptance by the
    offeree 11 . In this case the letter, though it mentions the avoidance of delay does not set a
    time period in which acceptance must take place. It does however stipulate "express
    mail". The facts are unclear whether A uses normal or express mail. In the event that
    she has not her acceptance may not be effective.
    In the event that A uses express mail, or the courts find that using normal mail is a
    means of acceptance that is not more disadvantageous than the stipulated means 12 the
    postal acceptance rule will result in the acceptance having been effectively
    communicated on 28 April, the date of posting 13 .1710 BUSINESS AND THE LAW代写
    On the other hand, following Brogden v Metropolitan Ry Co 14 and Empirnall Holdings v
    Machon Paull 15 , an unsigned contract may still create contractual obligations if the
    parties act consistently with its terms. In this case this argument is even stronger
    because not only have both parties acted consistently with the terms of the document
    but K has drafted it and A (and possibly K) have signed it.
    Therefore, the facts indicate both an effective offer and acceptance. The requirement for
    consideration also appears to be satisfied as A is providing its services in return for an
    agreed monthly fee of $11,500 to be paid by K. Thus consideration passes from both
    parties 16 and is of a precise nature 17 . The fact that this conduct occurs in a business
    9 R v Clarke (1927) 40 CLR 227
    10 Entores Ltd v Far Eastern Corp (19550 All ER 493 & 495
    11 Manchester Diocesian Council for Education v Commercial and General Investments Ltd [1969] 3 All ER 1593
    12 Eliason v Henshaw 4 Wheaton 225 (1819)
    13 Adams v Linsell (1818) 2 B & Ald 681
    14 (1887) 2 AC 666
    15 (1988) 14 NSWLR 523
    16 Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co v Selfridge & Co Ltd [1915] AC 847
    17 White v Bluett (1853) 23 LJ Ex 36
    setting between two parties acting at arms length also creates a presumption that there
    is a common intention to create legal relations, a presumption that is not rebutted by any
    contrary facts 18 .
    b)  The Terms of the Contract
    In order to determine the terms of the contract it is important to have regard to the terms
    of the offer only. The only terms that could arise out of the previous negotiations are
    those referred to in the offer itself or that the courts would imply as necessary to give the
    contract “business efficacy” 19 . This is particularly the case if the signed contract is seen
    as the basis of the agreement, which is likely. In this case the parol evidence rule will
    generally preclude any evidence of intention inconsistent with the signed document 20 .
    There is nothing in the offer letter or contract sent by K to A which imports any of the
    previous negotiations. Thus once the offer is accepted the contractual term is that the
    monthly fee is $11,500 per month, irrespective of A's earlier letter.
    Even if the contract was formed before A signed the document the terms in the
    contractual document which limit A's liability were clearly brought to the attention of both
    parties before A accepted (either by signing or by her actions) and are thus effective
    terms of the contract 21 .
    There is, however, one area of uncertainty in the terms of the contract. This is the
    reference in Ks letter to "exclusive courier". This could be interpreted as meaning A will
    be the only courier K will use or, as suggested in the original advertisement, that K will
    be A's only customer. In order to determine this issue it would be necessary to examine
    the wording of the contract more closely. In any event nothing in relation to A's alleged
    liability for the accident turns on this point.
    18 Cf Edwards v Skyways (1964) 1 WLR 349
    19 BP Refinery (Westernport) Pty Ltd v Shire of Hastings (1977) 16 ALR 363; The Moorcock (1899) 14 PD 64
    20 L’Estrange v Gracoub Ltd (1934) 2 KB 394
    21 cf Causer v Browne 1952 VLR 1
    c)  Is there a breach of the contract?
    In order to determine whether a breach of the contract has occurred it is necessary to
    closely examine the wording of the terms. The contract states that A undertakes to use
    all due care and consideration in carrying out its "courier duties" but excludes liability for
    documents or goods "given into its care".
    The facts in this case concern the transport of K's manager. One assumes that as the
    manager is in the car himself he keeps the documents in his own care. Thus the
    exclusion clause would not apply to this situation unless A could prove the unlikely event
    that the manager while in the car had given the care of his important documents to A's
    driver.
    As a result it seems that the exclusion clause is ineffective to shield A from liability. But
    this liability can only arise in contract if the transporting of the manager with his
    documents falls within the meaning of "courier duties". Generally, couriers are distinct
    from taxis and therefore A could run a strong case that the loss suffered by K is not due
    to an action by A that is in breach of the contract, but in fact a gratuitous action that
    occurred outside of any contractual obligations.
    d)  Damages
    In the unlikely event that such a breach has occurred the amount of damages K can
    recover will be determined by the use of the foreseeability tests set out in Hadley v
    Baxendale 22 . Under these tests damage will be limited to that damage that a reasonable
    person would foresee as a likely result of the natural consequences of the breach,
    unless that eventuality was specifically in the mind of the parties at the time of
    contracting.
    d)  Summary/Tentative Conclusion
    It is unlikely that K could argue that the requesting of a lift for K's manager is a new
    contract. K does not appear to provide any new consideration for this. In addition, at the
    22 (1894) 9 Exch 341 and see also Victoria Laundry (1942) 2 KB 528
    time of contracting for the courier duties, giving lifts to K's manager in order for him to
    attend crucial business opportunity meetings was never brought to A's attention.
    The only possibility is to argue that the loss suffered by K is a natural consequence of
    the accident. This is unlikely to succeed.
    SUGGESTIONS FOR ANSWERING PROBLEM QUESTIONS
    •  Most written assignments and particularly problems require the writer to critically
    consider contentious issues or propositions and to argue that one view
    represents the correct and/or preferable view of the present state of the law.
    •  It is essential that you clearly and logically identify all the issues and the
    applicable law derived from statutes, cases or other sources to the particular fact
    situation under review. To facilitate this process, headings and subheadings
    may be used. For this course a 'letter of advice' format and the use of bullet
    points should not be used. Instead students should use an essay style form.
    •  Answers must present arguments for both sides, even if you are asked to
    “advise” one of the parties to a dispute. Give all the arguments for and against,
    and reach a conclusion about the likely result of the case.
    •  Introductions should be very brief and not restate the facts of the problem
    question. They should simply state what issues arise out of the problem.
    •  In written assignments, marks are awarded for the reasoning shown by the
    student's answer (i.e. a logically presented discussion supported by
    authority) rather than on the assumption of a 'right' or 'wrong' answer.
    •  Also, appropriate footnotes should appear at the foot of each page using the
    appropriate reference or citation.
    ? Footnotes that include text or information other than case or legislation
    citation will not be read.
    ? The failure to acknowledge a source, where the view is that of another writer,
    may be academic misconduct. This includes plagiarism.
    ? Students should refer to the Australian Guide to Legal Citation:
    http://mulr.law.unimelb.edu.au/go/aglc.
    What is plagiarism?
    Plagiarism may be defined as:
    "submitting, as the writer's view, the work of another with so little acknowledgment of
    the source as to show an intention to deceive."
    This is a most serious offence and can result in the deduction of marks and/or the
    exclusion of a student from the course. Copying another student's work also
    constitutes plagiarism.
    2.  BIBLIOGRAPHY
    All texts, articles and other sources used by a student in the preparation of the work
    should be listed in a bibliography. Statutes and cases do not need to be separately listed
    in a bibliography.
    1710 BUSINESS AND THE LAW代写