Breach of Contract

• Author: Kevin R. Culhane
• Pages: 295-362

26-1

Chapter 26

Breach of Contract

§2600 INTRODUCTION

§2601 ELEMENTS OF PLAINTIFF’S CAUSE OF ACTION

§2602 DEFENSES IN BREACH OF CONTRACT CASES

§2610 BASIC INFORMATION

§2611 Information Regarding Defendant

§2611.1 Identification of Defendant

§2611.2 Personal Data Regarding the Defendant

§2611.3 Agency Relationships

§2611.4 Similar Claims and Legal Proceedings

§2612 Information Regarding Plaintiff

§2612.1 Personal Data Regarding the Plaintiff

§2612.2 Prior Actions for Breach of Contract

§2620 CONTRACT FORMATION ISSUES

§2621 Offer – Plaintiff to Defendant

§2621.1 Objective Manifestation of Present Contractual Intent

§2621.1.1 Statements Not Contemplating Legal Enforceability

§2621.1.2 Invitation to Make Offer

§2621.2 Certainty of Terms

§2621.2.1 Parties to the Contract

§2621.2.2 Subject Matter

§2621.2.3 Time for Performance

§2621.2.4 Price

§2621.3 Termination of Offer

§2621.3.1 Lapse of Time Specified for Acceptance

§2621.3.2 Lapse of Reasonable Time

§2621.3.3 Revocation by Offeror

§2621.3.4 Rejection by Offeree

§2621.3.5 Counter-Offer

§2622 Offer – Defendant to Plaintiff

§2622.1 Objective Manifestation of Present Contractual Intent

§2622.1.1 Statements Not Contemplating Legal Enforceability

§2622.1.2 Invitation to Make Offer

§2622.2 Certainty of Terms

§2622.2.1 Parties to the Contract

§2622.2.2 Subject Matter

§2622.2.3 Time for Performance

§2622.2.4 Price

§2622.3 Termination of Offer

§2622.3.1 Lapse of Time Specified for Acceptance

§2622.3.2 Lapse of Reasonable Time

§2622.3.3 Revocation by Offeror

§2622.3.4 Rejection by Offeree

§2622.3.5 Counter-Offer

§2623 Acceptance – Plaintiff to Defendant

§2623.1 Fact of Acceptance

§2623.2 Qualified Acceptance

§2623.3 Communication of Acceptance

§2623.3.1 “Mailbox” Rule

§2623.4 Acceptance by Performance

§2624 Acceptance – Defendant to Plaintiff

DISCOVERY COLLECTION 26-2

§2624.1 Fact of Acceptance

§2624.2 Qualified Acceptance

§2624.3 Communication of Acceptance

§2624.3.1 “Mailbox” Rule

§2624.4 Acceptance by Performance

§2625 Consideration – Plaintiff to Defendant

§2625.1 Bargained-for Exchange

§2625.2 Benefit Conferred Upon Promisor

§2625.3 Preexisting Legal Duty

§2625.4 Mutual Promises as Consideration

§2625.5 Promisory Estoppel

§2625.5.1 Promise Reasonably Expected to Induce Action or Forbearance

§2625.5.2 Actual Action or Forbearance

§2625.5.3 Reasonableness of Promisee’s Reliance

§2626 Consideration – Defendant to Plaintiff

§2626.1 Bargained-for Exchange

§2626.2 Benefit Conferred Upon Promisor

§2626.3 Preexisting Legal Duty

§2626.4 Mutual Promises as Consideration

§2626.5 Promisory Estoppel

§2626.5.1 Promise Reasonably Expected to Induce Action or Forbearance

§2626.5.2 Actual Action or Forbearance

§2626.5.3 Reasonableness of Promisee’s Reliance

§2630 RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THIRD PARTIES TO CONTRACT

§2631 Third Party Beneficiaries – Plaintiff to Defendant

§2631.1 Intended Beneficiaries – Discharge of Obligation Running to the Beneficiary

§2631.2 Intended Beneficiaries – Benefit of Promised Performance

§2631.3 Incidental Beneficiaries

§2631.4 Rights Against Promisor

§2632 Third Party Beneficiaries – Defendant to Plaintiff

§2632.1 Intended Beneficiaries – Discharge of Obligation Running to the Beneficiary

§2632.2 Intended Beneficiaries – Benefit of Promised Performance

§2632.3 Incidental Beneficiaries

§2632.4 Rights Against Promisor

§2633 Assignment – Plaintiff to Defendant

§2633.1 Facts Pertaining to Assignment

§2633.2 Contract Provision Against Assignment

§2633.3 Contract Calling for Personal Performance

§2633.4 Defenses Against the Obligor

§2634 Assignment – Defendant to Plaintiff

§2634.1 Facts Pertaining to Assignment

§2634.2 Contract Provision Against Assignment

§2634.3 Contract Calling for Personal Performance

§2634.4 Defenses Against the Obligor

§2640 CONTRACTUAL CONDITIONS – PLAINTIFF TO DEFENDANT

§2641 Express Condition

§2642 Implied Condition

§2643 Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing

§2650 CONTRACTUAL CONDITIONS – DEFENDANT TO PLAINTIFF

§2651 Express Condition

§2652 Implied Condition

§2653 Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing

§2660 BREACH OF CONTRACT – PLAINTIFF TO DEFENDANT

§2661 Facts Constituting Breach

§2662 Materiality

§2663 Waiver of Breach

§2664 Anticipatory Breach

§2664.1 Express Repudiation of Agreement

§2664.2 Implied Repudiation

§2670 BREACH OF CONTRACT – DEFENDANT TO PLAINTIFF

§2671 Facts Constituting Breach

§2672 Materiality

§2673 Waiver of Breach

26-3 BREACH OF CONTRACT

§2674 Anticipatory Breach

§2674.1 Express Repudiation of Agreement

§2674.2 Implied Repudiation

§2680 DAMAGES – PLAINTIFF TO DEFENDANT

§2681 Damages Within the Contemplation of the Parties

§2682 Loss of Profits or Benefits

§2682.1 New Business Doctrine

§2683 Expenditures to Perform Contract

§2684 Emotional Distress

§2685 Interest

§2686 Mitigation of Damages

§2690 DAMAGES – DEFENDANT TO PLAINTIFF

§2691 Damages Within the Contemplation of the Parties

§2692 Loss of Profits or Benefits

§2692.1 New Business Doctrine

§2693 Expenditures to Perform Contract

§2694 Emotional Distress

§2695 Interest

§2696 Mitigation of Damages

§26100 DEFENSES IN CONTRACT CASES – PLAINTIFF TO DEFENDANT

§26101 Mistake

§26101.1 Unilateral Mistake Precipitated by Opposing Party

§26101.2 Mutual Mistake – Neither or Both Parties at Fault

§26101.3 Mistake Not Going to an Essential Element of the Contract

§26101.4 Unilateral Mistake of Fact

§26101.5 Mutual Mistake of Law

§26101.6 Unilateral Mistake of Law

§26102 Fraud

§26102.1 Misrepresentation of Fact

§26102.2 Knowledge of Falsity

§26102.3 Intent to Induce Reliance

§26102.4 Reliance

§26102.4.1 Actual Reliance

§26102.4.2 Justifiable Reliance

§26102.5 Negligent Misrepresentation

§26102.6 Concealment

§26102.7 Constructive Fraud

§26103 Duress

§26103.1 Physical Duress

§26103.2 Duress of Property

§26103.3 Menace

§26104 Undue Influence

§26104.1 Unfair Persuasion

§26104.2 Unfairness of Resulting Bargain

§26104.3 Availability of Independent Advice

§26105 Unconscionability

§26105.1 Adhesion Contract

§26105.2 Unconscionable Agreement

§26106 Statute of Frauds

§26106.1 Application of Statute of Frauds

§26106.1.1 Contract Not to Be Performed Within One Year

§26106.1.2 Promise to Answer for the Debt or Default of Another

§26106.1.3 Sale of Real Property or an Interest Therein

§26106.2 Existence of Memorandum

§26106.3 Estoppel to Plead the Statute of Frauds

§26107 Illegality

§26107.1 Contract Contrary to Express Statute

§26107.2 Contract Contrary to the Policy of an Express Statute

§26107.3 Contract Contrary to Good Morals

§26108 Impossibility of Performance

§26108.1 Operation of Law

§26108.2 Destruction of Subject Matter

§26108.3 Death of Promisor Where Contract Calls for Personal Services

§26108.4 Unreasonable Difficulty or Expense