Chapter 25 Self-test questions

Third parties

Quiz Content

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. The doctrine of privity of contract concerns the two interests that a third party may have in a contract, namely, the acquisition of rights under the contract and the imposition of liabilities under the contract. Under the traditional doctrine, it was neither possible for the third party to acquire rights, nor was it possible for the third party to be subject to liabilities. Which of these aspects of the doctrine remains unchanged after the implementation of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999?

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. Imagine a case in which A has contracted with B to complete some repairs on a house, and B sub-contracts some of the work to C. A knows that C is to be involved in the repairs. Prior to the enactment of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999, how can A take steps to ensure that it has an effective remedy in the event that C's work does not conform with the requirements of the contract?

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. Which of the following rules of consideration does the doctrine of privity seem to be closely related to?

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. The judgment of Lush LJ in Lloyd's v. Harper (1880) 16 Ch D 290 is cited by certain judges in Beswick v. Beswick [1968] AC 58 and in Jackson v. Horizon Holidays Ltd [1975] 1 WLR 1468. To what avail?

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. Prior to the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999, in which of the following cases was it most likely that substantial damages would have been available to the promisee suing on a breach of contract?

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. Which of the many exceptions to the common law doctrine of privity early on looked set to be a suitable vehicle to outflank the doctrine of privity altogether?

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. Lord Goff suggests in The Makhutai that there may well come a time when the courts develop "a fully-fledged exception to the doctrine of privity of contract, thus escaping from all the technicalities with which courts are now faced in English law". He goes on to refer to the Canadian case of London Drugs Ltd v. Kuehne & Nagel International Ltd (1992) 97 DLR (4th) 261. If this case were imported into English law, what principle would become officially accepted with regard to third parties taking the benefit of exclusion or limitation clauses in a contract?

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. The main effect of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 is that a third party will be able to enforce a contractual provision purporting to confer a benefit on him provided certain conditions are satisfied. The conferment of such a right of action on the third party is an important statutory exception to which common law rule?

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. Unless they have provided otherwise, under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999, the contracting parties will lose the right to vary or cancel a third party right arising under the 1999 Act in which of the following cases? Select all that apply.

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. The Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 abolishes the common law doctrine of privity. True or false?

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. Anthea and Barry enter into a contract under which Anthea promises to pay £10,000 to Cyril. The requirements of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act are satisfied so that Cyril acquires the right to enforce the term of the contract. It is hoped that these funds will help launch Cyril's freelance career as a violinist. He has plans to fund a large concert tour with the money. In reliance on the promise, he also goes out and buys a new bow at a cost of £2,900. Barry takes extended leave to go travelling in India and Anthea reneges on her promise. What remedies are available to Cyril under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999?

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. There are a number of exceptions to the rule that a contract may not impose an obligation on a third party without the latter's consent. One of these concerns the purchaser of land or goods, who may in fact be affected by a contract concerning the land or goods and entered into prior to sale by the seller. What makes this rule particularly unconvincing in the case of goods rather than land? Select all that apply.

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