The courts will typically not permit past consideration for a current transaction and will void an agreement if it was based on past consideration. In a twoperson contract for example, both parties involved must promise something, whether it is a specific act or an agreement to pay a. Consideration is a concept of english common law and is a necessity for simple contracts but not for special contracts contracts by deed. Can move from the promisee or another person unlike. We explain this statement thoroughly throughout the video, elaborating upon why actions done in. Past consideration is generally not good consideration. Past consideration therefore cannot be used as a basis when claiming. Exceptions to consideration no consideration and no contract. In roscorla v thomas, a promise that a horse was of sound health was held unenforceable since it had been given after the original contract had been concluded. For example, if a promises to pay b for something that b has already performed before the promise was made, the performance of bs act is past consideration and is not good consideration. Consideration can comprise of a promise in return for an act executed consideration, as in unilateral contracts or involve a promise for a promise executory consideration, in bilateral contracts. Therefore, the failure to have proper consideration will result in an unenforceable, invalid. Past if the consideration by a party to an agreement was given in the past, i. After a month b promises to compensate a for the services rendered to him.
There was an understanding there would be the conferment of some kind of reward, payment or benefit for the act. Consideration is defined as either a bargained for gain or advantage to the promisee or a bargained for legal detriment or disadvantage to the promisor. Such consideration is not enough to make a commercial contract or promise enforceable because of the lack of a valid valuable and legal consideration. Why a past consideration is not a good consideration answers. Actually speaking, consideration is there even in an agency in the sense that the principal has agreed to be bound by the acts of the agent. Mar 19, 2018 what is consideration in contract law. B for something that b has already performed before the promise was made, the performance of bs act is past consideration and is not good consideration. The court in currie v misa declared consideration to be a right, interest. This is different than english law as its general rule doesnt recognize past consideration. Consideration founded on natural affection, generosity, love, or moral duty. Consideration under indian contract act legal bites. Under the law, past consideration cannot constitute consideration for the new contract because it was not given for that new promise. Consideration must be at the desire of the promisor. Consideration need not be adequate, but should be real.
However, there is an exception under common law which is past consideration would be good consideration if the act is done at the request of the promisor. For a contract to be valid, consideration must be included at the time the contract was. The rule of past consideration is not good consideration has an exception. There is, however, a statutory exception to this general rule. Therefore as in malaysia past consideration is good. Comparing executed consideration and past consideration 789 words 4 pages. Definitions of past consideration common law systems consideration is anything given or promised by one party in exchange for the promise or action of another. It refers to a time before the making of a promise. This promise is enforceable despite the absence of new consideration so long as the new promise is not subject to the same defense that made the original obligation voidable. Stands as authority for the principle that past consideration is not good consideration.
For example, if a promises to pay b for something that b has already performed before the promise was made, the performance of b. Whether you are a business owner or an individual dealing with a relative, knowing when a contract can be enforced and at what point is very important to prevent either of the parties from getting burned in the process. A past consideration is, in effect, no consideration at all. Forbearance to act amounts to consideration only if one is thereby surrendering a legal right. Whether performance of, or promise to perform a pre existing duty is good consideration a duty imposed by general law b duty imposed by 3rd party c duty under a contract with the promisor i. Generally, past consideration is not a valid consideration and has no legal. Past consideration law and legal definition uslegal, inc. Consideration must be something of value in the eyes of the law thomas v thomas 1842 2 qb 851. A case which provides a good example of this is the post chaser 1982 1 all er. Restriction of nongratuitous promises, so that you cannot accept offers, that i give so that you may give, that there are no formal restrictions, to restrict contract law. In malaysia law, passed consideration is recognized as a good consideration. The past consideration is promise is made after the promise has done the performance.
Differentiate between executed consideration and past consideration consideration is one of the three main building blocks of a contract in english contract law and it is the exchange of benefit and detriment e. Past consideration is consideration that has already flowed from the promisee to the promisor. Past consideration is not good consideration where there is no promise there is no consideration past consideration is valid where the act was done on request of the promisee past consideration is always good consideration past consideration is part of a contractual term. The rule that past consideration is not good consideration is subject to the exception discussed by the privy council in pau on v lau yiu long. Consideration australian contract law julie clarke. The second exception to the rule that a promise based on moral or past consideration is unenforceable is a promise to perform a voidable obligation. The courts affirmed in this case that adequate consideration is not necessary, simply.
Past consideration is not good consideration because it is not contingent on the responding consideration. Past consideration is not good consideration the consideration must come into existence either at the same time or after the promise. A promise is said to be given for moral or past consideration when the promisors motivation for making the promise is a past benefit he received that gave rise to a moral, but not legal, obligation to make compensation. The authors would like to thank an anonymous referee for very helpful comments and suggestions. Moral or past consideration lawshelf educational media. The argument is circular, and cannot therefore explain why promises are accepted as good consideration. This rule is followed the idea of consider must be moved from promise. That is, the promisees act or forbearance predates the promisors promise.
Re mcardle for example, in mcardle, the plaintiff took it upon herself to do renovations before an agreement was made. Past consideration generally does not count as consideration in a contract. Braithwait the plaintiff sued for money which the defendant had promised to pay him for services rendered previous to the promise, at the defendants request, but without any promise at the time of the request and of the rendition of. Past consideration is no consideration 1509 words 123. The general rule is that consideration performed before a promise past consideration is not sufficient. For more about consideration, see practice note, contracts.
Generally, past consideration is not a valid consideration and has no legal value. Past consideration is generally not good consideration on 1 december 2008 most people will be familiar with a bankruptcy trustees rights to void transfers of property when that property was transferred for less than its value, or the transfer was intended to defeat creditors. It is consideration that is already given or some act that is already performed and therefore cannot be induced by the other partys thing, act, or promise in exchange. Consideration under the indian contract act, 1872 ipleaders. Jul 11, 2016 past consideration is not good consideration. Heavy rain and thunder sounds black screen, dark screen, relaxing, relax, sleep, white noise, study duration.
The agreement reached amounted to part payment of a debt and under the rule in pinnels case this was not good consideration for a promise not to enforce the full amount due. While walking down the street, marsha steps into a hole and breaks her leg. Consideration may move from promise or any other person. It is sometimes said that consideration requires benefit and detriment. Past consideration insufficient to create contract unless. The law does not enforce gifts unless they are made by deed. Past consideration is not good consideration the consideration must come into existence either with or after the promise. The court in currie v misa declared consideration to be a right, interest, profit, benefit, or forbearance, detriment, loss, responsibility. A one sided promise which is not supported by consideration is a gift. Past consideration cannot be included in a contract mostly because it did not benefit the promisor or pose any risk to the promisee.
She then sued to have the promise by the owners that they would pay, once completed. Where the stipulated consideration predates the promise, it will not be considered good consideration eg, a promise by a to transfer ownership of a car to b in exchange for assistance b provided to a the previous month. For example, if x promises to reward y for an act that y had already performed the performance of that act, while good consideration for the promise to be rewarded for it, is past consideration and therefore not good consideration. A promise cannot be based upon the consideration that was provided before the promise was made. As a general rule, common law does not recognize past consideration as good consideration. The often quoted, but not particularly helpful, definition of consideration contained in currie v misa 23 refers to these elements a valuable consideration, in the sense of the law, may consist either in some right, interest, profit or benefit accruing to one party or some forbearance, detriment, loss or responsibility. Consideration is the doing or not doing of something which the promisor desires to be done or not done. If an act is done at the promisors request, although the promisors promise was given only after the act has been carried out, the act is good consideration. Past consiideration introduced doctrine of implied assumpsit past consideration is good consideration if the party only carried out the act on the assumption that the other party would provide consideration for it. The horse was in fact not sound and p sued for breach of contract. Past consideration is not good consideration lampleigh v braithwaite past consiideration introduced doctrine of implied assumpsit past consideration is good consideration if the party only carried out the act on the assumption that the other party would provide consideration for it. This principle was applied in the case of kepong prospecting ltd v schmidt 2. Define what does or does not to amount to a good consideration. Past consideration is insufficient to form a legally binding agreement.
The parties must have understood that the act was to be rewarded in some way, either by payment or by benefit. Past consideration is no consideration logic justification. The promisee performed the original act at the request of the promisor. Past consideration is defined as an act done before a contract is made. The consideration which is past would have operated as valid consideration if the act was done at the promisors request. Misas case that suffering responsibility is a good consideration. Under common law of england the general rule, the view of past consideration is that it is not a good consideration and is not recognized by english law. In that case, their lordships held that past consideration can be good consideration where. For a contract to be valid, it absolutely must include consideration. D then promised the horse was sound and free from vice.
Generally, past consideration is no consideration and cannot support an agreement because the detriment did not induce the promise. In summary, for past consideration to be good the following criteria must be satisfied. We explain this statement thoroughly throughout the video, elaborating upon why actions done in the past cannot be considered as consideration for a. Must move at the desire of the promisor section 2d of the indian contract act, 1872, clearly mentions that the consideration should be at the desire of the promisor if the consideration is made at the will of the third person or is not according to the promisor then it is not a good consideration.
This excludes promises of love and affection, gaming and betting etc. Why past consideration is not good consideration answers. Past consideration will typically not be recognized as valid consideration for a present contract. Consideration didnt move from the party so couldnt claim. In eastwood v kenyon, eastwood had supported his ward through childhood her husband, kenyon, later promised to repay him, but as eastwoods consideration was rendered in the past, kenyons. Where the stipulated consideration predates the promise, it will not be considered good consideration eg, a promise by a to transfer ownership of a car to b in exchange for assistance b provided to a the. The term past consideration refers to an act that was performed, or a promise that was made, before the new promise that is at issue and is being attempted to be enforced.
There was no consideration for the promise that the horse was sound. Thus he undertakes the responsibility of the agent. A promise to pay a debt barred by the statute of limitations is enforceable even if no new consideration is given. Therefore, as in malaysia, past consideration is good consideration. A quiz about the doctrine of consideration in english contract law q1. The concept has been adopted by other common law jurisdictions, including the us. Understanding contract law past consideration is a topic that anyone entering into any form of contract needs to understand.
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