Hello my Steemit friends, how is your day? Lately, I have been thinking about the FIRST lesson in law school. It is the contract law lesson in which we feel both excited and frustrated towards studying law. I hope to share with you some interesting concepts in contract law and hope this can bring in some new ideas to you :)
親愛的Steemit 好友，最近好嗎? 近來我一直在想我大學第一課學了甚麼，想了一陣子，終於記起是我們又愛又恨的合約法。今天想跟大家聊聊幾個基本的合約法概念，也沒有跟生活息息相關這麼誇張 哈哈，但 希望大家對日常生活中一些小細節會有新的看法 :) 中文版本請一直往下看喔!!! :PP
To make it simpler, I will explain some fundamental glossaries with the following scenarios:
One day, Batman and Joker are chit-chatting in a room.
Joker: Hey, Batman, give me your Batmobile!
Batman: What are you giving me in return?
Joker: Maybe $100
Batman: OK! hahaaa
CONTRACT =
(1) Offer + (2) Acceptance + (3) Consideration + (4) Intention to be legally bound
- Offer
A statement showing that a person want to create a contract with another person. It can be a letter, a statement or just an oral expression. Joker is making an offer to buy the Batmobile with $100. - Acceptance
In respond to the offer, the person agree to enter into a contract. The "OK!" from Batman can be an acceptance to agree to sell the Batmobile to Joker. - Consideration
The value promised between two parties accompanying the offer. It needs not be money; it can be an object or an action. For example, when my parents promise to take me to go travelling, my consideration is mostly to pass my exams.
The question "What are you giving me in return?" directs us to the consideration issue. - Intention to be legally bound
It has to show that both parties intend to create the legal relations before a contract is formed. This is to be judged objectively by looking at the circumstances, i.e. the situation and the environment, and determine if there is “meeting of the minds”.
For instance, if later Batman does not want to sell the Batmobile, he can say that "Oh I have no intention to create the contract. I thought it was just a chit-chat." or "I was just joking and I never have such intention haha". Of course, it still has to be judged objectively and Batman's subjective feeling may not be very crucial.
CONTRACTS are everywhere
| Scenario | Offer and acceptance | Consideration |
|---|
| Employment | Offer and acceptance made between employer and employee when signing the employment contract | Salary in exchange for hard work |
| Taking bus | Offer is made when the passengers offer to pay the bus fare Acceptance is made when the bus company does not reject to accept the fare | Paying bus fare in exchange for the transport service |
| All types of services, e.g. electricity supply, monthly data plan for mobile | Offer and acceptance are made when signing service contracts | Paying all types of fees in exchange for the services |
💡EUREKA TIME! 💡
At the end of my EUREKA! series, I would raise some questions and if you have any thoughts, feel free to comment below!!!
Today's question: What about in the supermarket?
- Is there a contract (with the 4 elements)?
- If yes, who is the one who makes the offer? You or the supermarket?
- When are the offer and acceptance formed?
It is a good question to think about :PPP
Thank you so much for reading! STEEM ON 😎
我會借用蝙蝠俠和小丑說說幾個生字，開始吧!!!
有一天，蝙蝠俠和小丑在閒聊著︰
小丑︰蝙蝠俠，把你的蝙蝠車給我吧
蝙蝠俠︰噢，你用甚麼和我交換??
小丑︰$100 怎麼說
蝙蝠俠︰OK!! 哈哈
合約 =
(1) 要約 + (2) 受約 + (3) 代價 + (4) 受法律約束的意圖
- 要約
好比一個邀請，請別人跟你達成合約，可以是一封正式的合約、信，甚至只是一句話。
這裡小丑作的 要約 就是用 $100 來買蝙蝠俠的蝙蝠車。 - 受約
受約就是接受別人的要約，同意達成合約 蝙蝠俠簡單的一聲 “OK!!”也可以是一個受約。 - 代價
合約的價值，可以是金錢，也可以是以物易物，又或者是要求對方做的一些行為。好像當我爸媽要我幫忙洗碗才肯帶我去旅行， “洗碗”就是我的代價； “帶我去旅行”就是他們的代價，是雙向的。
蝙蝠俠問小丑用甚麼來換他的蝙蝠車，就正正是在問關於代價的問題。 - 受法律約束的意圖
雙方要有意受到法律約束，法庭會客觀地看雙方的意圖，看看有沒有 “一致的意願” (meeting of minds) 。
如果後來蝙蝠俠不想把蝙蝠車給小丑，他可以說︰ “我以為只是閒聊而已”或者 “我開玩笑啦 呵呵” 。當然法官還是會看當時的情況來作客觀決定。
無處不在的合約
| 情境 | 要約和應約 | 代價 |
|---|
| 僱員合約 | 要約和應約就在簽訂合約的一刻 | 僱主提供薪水；僱員為公司工作 |
| 搭公車 | 當乘客支付車費，就是作出要約 如果巴士司機沒有拒載，便是應約了，合約便存在於乘客和巴士公司之間 | 車費換來巴士服務 |
| 各項服務 如︰水電煤、手機數據月費計劃 | 用戶和提供服務的公司簽訂合約 | 費用換來服務 |
💡噢有了! 💡
我會在我的 "噢有了!" 系列準備一個 "噢有了!"環節 :PP 希望可以問問題刺激大家思考 嘿嘿!!!! 有想法的，歡迎在下面留個言!!!!!
- 在超級市場買菜有合約的存在嗎?
- 如果有，誰提出要約呢? 是你還是超級市場?
- 要約和應約發生在哪個時刻呢?
謝謝大家閱讀! STEEM ON 😎
Reference:
https://www.allaboutlaw.co.uk/stage/study-help/contract-law-offer-acceptance http://www.cityupress.edu.hk/Template/Shared/previewSample/9789629372415_preview.pdf