Contracts I

Unconscionability


Unconscionability must be assessed at the time the contract is made.

Must have procedural unconscionability and substantive unconscionability. (At least for Rice.)

Majority rule is that the two elements need not have equal effect but work together, creating a "sliding scale" of unconscionability.

Procedural Unconscionability

Procedural unconscionability is unfairness in the formation of the contract because of unequal bargaining power.

Substantive Unconscionability

Substantive unconscionability is indicated by excessively disproportionate terms that "shock the conscience."

Restatement Second of Contracts § 208
Restatement Second of Contracts § 208

Restitution Where Party Withdraws or Situation Is Contrary to Public Interest

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If a contract or term thereof is unconscionable at the time the contract is made a court may refuse to enforce the contract, or may enforce the remainder of the contract without the unconscionable term, or may so limit the application of any unconscionable term as to avoid any unconscionable result.

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UCC § 2-302

Unconscionable Contract or Clause.

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  1. If the court as a matter of law finds the contract or any clause of the contract to have been unconscionable at the time it was made the court may refuse to enforce the contract, or it may enforce the remainder of the contract without the unconscionable clause, or it may so limit the application of any unconscionable clause as to avoid any unconscionable result.
  2. When it is claimed or appears to the court that the contract or any clause thereof may be unconscionable the parties shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to present evidence as to its commercial setting, purpose and effect to aid the court in making the determination.
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Copyright, The American Law Institute
Restatement Second of Contracts § 211(3)
Restatement Second of Contracts § 211(3)

Standardized Agreements

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  1. Where the other party has reason to believe that the party manifesting such assent would not do so if he knew that the writing contained a particular term, the term is not part of the agreement.
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UCC § 2-316

Exclusion or Modification of Warranties.

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  1. Words or conduct relevant to the creation of an express warranty and words or conduct tending to negate or limit warranty shall be construed wherever reasonable as consistent with each other; but subject to the provisions of this Article on parol or extrinsic evidence ( [UCC § 2-202]) negation or limitation is inoperative to the extent that such construction is unreasonable.
  2. Subject to subsection (3), to exclude or modify the implied warranty of merchantability or any part of it the language must mention merchantability and in case of a writing must be conspicuous, and to exclude or modify any implied warranty of fitness the exclusion must be by a writing and conspicuous. Language to exclude all implied warranties of fitness is sufficient if it states, for example, that "There are no warranties which extend beyond the description on the face hereof."
  3. Notwithstanding subsection (2)
    1. unless the circumstances indicate otherwise, all implied warranties are excluded by expressions like "as is", "with all faults" or other language which in common understanding calls the buyer's attention to the exclusion of warranties and makes plain that there is no implied warranty; and
    2. when the buyer before entering into the contract has examined the goods or the sample or model as fully as he desired or has refused to examine the goods there is no implied warranty with regard to defects which an examination ought in the circumstances to have revealed to him; and
    3. an implied warranty can also be excluded or modified by course of dealing or course of performance or usage of trade.
  4. Remedies for breach of warranty can be limited in accordance with the provisions of this Article on liquidation or limitation of damages and on contractual modification of remedy ( [UCC § 2-718] and [UCC § 2-719]).
Copyright, The American Law Institute
Copyright, The American Law Institute