Offer and Acceptance
These notes start by introducing Contract Law. It then goes on to cover the legal doctrines of Offer and Acceptance. These notes provides a detailed breakdown of the general principles and the cases that unpin them. Each case is presented as succinct summary giving the student the citation, the facts that are important. Followed by the ratio of the case and the reason why the case interplays with the general principle. There is also commentary on how the case should be applied when giving advice.
Cases
Opening Negotiations or Statements About Price
Harvey v Facey [1893] AC 552
Grainger v Gough [1896] AC 325, HL
Gibson v Manchester City Council [1979] 1WLR 294
Bigg v Boyd Gibbins [1971] 2 All ER 183
Invitation to treat
Pharm Society of G.B. v Boots Cash Chemist [1953] 1 QB 401
Fisher v Bell [1961] 1 QB 394
Partridge v Crittenden [1968] 2 All ER 421
Bilateral Agreements v Unilateral Offers
Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co. [1892] 1 QB 256
Auctions
Sale of Goods Act 1979
Barry v Davies (2000) Times 31/8/00, CA
Harris v Nickerson (1873) LR 8 QB 286
Tenders
Harvela Investments v Royal Trust Co of Canada [1986] AC 207
Blackpool and Flyde Aeroclub Ltd v Blackpool Borough Council [1990] 1WLR 1195
Counter-offers
Hyde v Wrench (1840) 3 Beav 334
Request for Information
Stevenson Jacques v McLean (1879 – 80) LR 5 QBD 346
Silence is not acceptance
Felthouse v Bindley (1863) 142 ER 1037, Exch Ch
The offeror can ask for a specific method of acceptance
Tinn v Hoffman (1873) 29 LT 271, Exch.Ch.
Manchester Diocesan Council v Commercial General Investments [1969] 3 All ER 1593
Acceptance can be by conduct
Brogden v Metropolitan Railway Co. (1877) 2 App Cas 666
The Battle of the Forms
Butler Machine Tool Co. Ltd v Ex Cell O Corporation ltd [1979] WLR 401
The Postal Rule
Adams v Lindsell (1818) 1 B & Ald 681
Household Fire Insurance v Grant (1879) 4 ExD 216
Communication of Acceptance
Holwell Securities v Hughes [1974] 1 WLR 155
When is acceptance communicated?
Entores v Miles Far East Company [1955] 2 QB 327
Revocation of offer
Routledge v Grant (1828) 130 ER 920, Best CJ
Byrne v Van Tienhoven (1880) 5CPD 344
Dickinson v Dodds (1876) 2ChD 463
The Brimnes [1975] QB 929
Shuey v US 92 US 73 (1875) (persuasive judgement only, not binding)
Errington v Errington and Woods [1952] 1 All ER 149
Revocation of a Unilateral Offer
Daulia v Four Millbank Nominees [1978] 2 All ER 557, CA
Luxor v Cooper [1941] 1 All ER 33, HL
Lapse of time
Ramsgate Victoria Hotel v Montefiore (1866) LR 1 Exch 109
Death of the offeree
Reynolds v Atherton (1921) 125 LT 690
Death of the offeror
Bradbury v Morgan (1862) 1 H & C 249
