Questions tagged [contract-law]
For questions about laws related to contracts, an agreement between two or more parties.
2,222
questions
231
votes
7
answers
54k
views
If a company agrees to pay travel cost for a job interview, is the promise binding and enforceable?
There is a question on workplace.SE about a company which offered to pay travel costs for a job interview, but canceled the return ticket after ending the interview - Potential Employer Cancels Return ...
57
votes
3
answers
14k
views
Can I sign legal documents with a smiley face?
The signature on my driver's license is a unique and identifiable smiley face :-)
I use this signature to sign all legally binding documents. A lot of the time, people reject it, and request an &...
50
votes
9
answers
12k
views
Why do lawyers write contracts with language that is more difficult to understand than other works?
The recent Ig Nobel Prize Winning work "Poor writing, not specialized concepts, drives processing difficulty in legal language" by Martínez, Mollica, and Gibson demonstrates that contracts ...
43
votes
5
answers
13k
views
After buying from a brick & mortar shop they've contacted me to say buying things from them is consent to arbitration. Is this legal?
A few days ago I bought over-the-counter goods from a shop. There was no signature involved in this purchase. I walked up to the counter with off-the-shelf items, was asked for a phone number, paid in ...
43
votes
3
answers
11k
views
Is it breach of contract if dismissed before starting work?
I've been dismissed by a company I was due to start a job with, just a few days before the job was meant to start. They have no intention of providing me with any compensation despite the fact I ...
42
votes
4
answers
10k
views
What's the problem with red ink?
I have repeatedly encountered lawyers who refuse to sign documents using red ink or accept documents that are signed in red ink.
No one has been able to articulate exactly why in my conversations, but ...
35
votes
5
answers
14k
views
Do Legal Documents Require Signing In Standard Pen Colors?
I have a question as to whether or not legal documents signed in non standard pen colors (Anything other than blue or black) are valid.
I carry a purple pen around that use for everyday writing tasks,...
33
votes
3
answers
5k
views
What law governs shopping carts?
The title may sound a bit funny but it is something I spent a few hours thinking about during a recent car trip :)
In my country in order to get a shopping cart, you have to insert a coin. When ...
32
votes
1
answer
6k
views
What's the difference between a share and a stock?
In my company constitution I found the following:
At any time, the directors may allot and issue unissued shares subject to clause 8, or grant options over
unissued shares, on any condition and ...
31
votes
4
answers
139k
views
How to prove I live in a specific address?
https://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/address.html
I need to provide proof of address for the DMV, but the process can be difficult because:
I live with someone else; I do not pay rent/utilities; and they will ...
31
votes
4
answers
12k
views
Is it legal to lie about an illegal requirement?
As an example, its not legal to discriminate against a person of a certain race while renting out your house. So lets say an Asian person sees a house rented out with a "no Asians" condition....
30
votes
4
answers
25k
views
Does ripping up the only signed contract form invalidate it?
Suppose I sign a contract in front of witnesses, but then immediately tear it up.
Is the contract still binding?
30
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Can a significant change in incentives void an employment contract?
Recently over at The Workplace there was a question regarding an employee withholding valuable information that they developed in their spare time. According to their employment contract all ...
28
votes
3
answers
9k
views
What are some possible law suits or civil actions the Las Vegas shooting victims could take?
I assume that many, if not all of the businesses, corporations and individuals who were operating and supplying services at the time of the Las Vegas Strip shootings (Wikipedia) - such as hotels, ...
27
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Strange Clause in Employment Contract Concerning Leaving Job
My teenager has applied for a tutoring job at a local after-school tutoring center and there is the following clause in her employment contract:
If you decide to discontinue after your term is over, ...
26
votes
5
answers
12k
views
Can a car seller refuse to sell the car after the contract has been signed and the deposit has been paid?
My friend (buyer) tried to purchase a car from a private individual (seller). They agreed on a price, drew up a contract, and signed it. The buyer paid the seller the deposit they agreed on.
The ...
24
votes
4
answers
9k
views
Would a contract to pay a trillion dollars in damages be valid?
Let's say you write a contract with someone, and you want to make sure they don't breach it. You could just have them covenant certain things, but then they'd only be liable for whatever damages you ...
24
votes
6
answers
19k
views
If a contract sometimes uses the wrong name, is it still valid?
I was given a contract, which at the top states my name and says "herein referred to as contractor" but in several sections of the body, it appears that there is a mistake where they use the word "...
23
votes
4
answers
9k
views
Is it legal to refuse an offer for real estate which is above the asking price, when there are no other offers by the published due date
A house in California is for sale with asking price of X .
A buyer engages with an agent and finds out in writing that offers will be accepted until a certain date.
A buyer submits a formal written ...
23
votes
5
answers
6k
views
What might be illegal about a company using deceptive phone calls to establish a contract and seeking payments under it?
I have recently been encountering an organisation whose mode of operation is to dupe members of venue staff into "agreeing" to have their venue advertised "online". Subsequently a bill arrives for ...
23
votes
7
answers
8k
views
Is there a law against signing a contract to do something illegal?
Inspired by this question over on workplace.SE - Severance contract requires a lie. Is this enforceable?
If you sign a contract wherein you agree to do something illegal, but have no intention of ...
23
votes
3
answers
10k
views
How to mitigate the risk of getting sued by clients (web dev contracting)
I'm a web dev and I'm thinking about becoming a contractor.
I feel a little uneasy about the possibility of someone potentially trying to sue me. If, for example, a client wants an e-commerce website ...
22
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Enforce contract on burglars
Lets say I post a sign outside my house reading "if you break into this house, you agree to paying the owner a one million dollars access fee". This would be similar to how parking lots post ...
22
votes
5
answers
7k
views
What is the legal basis for terminating contracts with Russian residents?
This question is not about politics, it's purely about law.
Recently, a number of companies announced that they will be terminating contracts with anyone who has Russian registration.
One example is ...
22
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Is customer entitled to the same car tested in the test drive or in the ad?
I know someone who went to purchase a brand new car from a dealer in the US. The customer came in with an internet ad and asked to test drive the car listed. After the test drive, she paid for it. But ...
21
votes
4
answers
5k
views
UK - Working without a contract. I resign and guy wants to sue me
I am a foreigner from overseas I just arrived in UK 3 months ago.
I have been working for a small startup in UK as CTO, my employer didn't want to give me an employment contract of any type, or ...
20
votes
2
answers
8k
views
Is a thumbs-up emoji considered as legally binding agreement in the United States?
I read that a thumbs-up emoji considered as legally binding agreement in Canada. Is a thumbs-up emoji considered as legally binding agreement in the United States?
If state-specific, I am mostly ...
20
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Is it common to cross out part of a contract in USA?
My wife is doing a master in New York and we have 2 weeks here, and we found an apartment but we are confused with the way they handle the contracts.
First they told us via email that pets are allowed ...
20
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Why is this contract worded like a client is talking to himself?
I'm looking at a sample contract for a graphic designer who is planning on doing freelance work. I don't understand why it says that the Client should obtain all copyright permissions for materials ...
19
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Is there a contract, or was this offer not accepted?
Mr E orders a cake for his wife's birthday at a bakery on his street. On the bakery's window, a sign is up that says, 'Today's special offer! Any customised cake for £50!' Mr E orders a customised ...