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