Contracts/Undue influence

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Contracts Treatise
Table of Contents
Contracts Outline
Introduction and Definitions
Introduction
Definitions
Elements
Contract law in the United States
Contract formation
Parties
Offer
Acceptance
Intention to Bind
Formal requisites
Mailbox rule
Mirror image rule
Invitation to deal
Firm offer
Consideration
Consent
Implication-in-fact
Collateral contract
Modification
Merger
Uniform Commercial Code
Uniform Commercial Code
Course of dealing
Course of performance
UCC-1 financing statement
Uniform Commercial Code adoption
Defenses against formation
Lack of capacity
Duress
Undue influence
Illusory promise
Statute of frauds
Uncertainty
Non est factum
Contract interpretation
Governing law
Construction and Operation
Parol evidence rule
Contract of adhesion
Integration clause
Contra proferentem
Excuses for non-performance
Mistake
Misrepresentation
Frustration of purpose
Impossibility
Impracticability
Illegality
Unclean hands
Unconscionability
Accord and satisfaction
Rights of third parties
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Assignment
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Novation
Third-party beneficiary
Performance or Breach
Necessity of performance
Sufficiency of performance
Anticipatory repudiation
Cover
Exclusion clause
Efficient breach
Deviation
Fundamental breach
Termination
Termination
Rescission
Termination and rescission
Abrogation and rescission
Subsequent contract
Termination
Forfeiture
Remedies
Restitution
Specific performance
Liquidated damages
Punitive damages
Quasi-contractual obligations
Estoppel
Quantum meruit
Actions
Actions in General
Parties to Action
Pleading
Evidence
Questions of Law and Fact
Instructions
Trial and Judgment

In jurisprudence, undue influence is an equitable doctrine that involves one person taking advantage of a position of power over another person. This inequity in power between the parties can vitiate one party's consent as they are unable to freely exercise their independent will.[1]

In contract law[edit | edit source]

Where it is established that a plaintiff was induced to enter into a contract or transaction by the undue influence of the defendant, the contract may be rendered voidable. If undue influence is proved in a contract, the innocent party is entitled to set aside the contract against the defendant, and the remedy is rescission.Paterson Robertson & Duke 2016

As the law of undue influence was applied and developed by the Court of Chancery, it developed into two distinct classes: ‘actual’ undue influence and ‘presumed’ undue influence. [2]

In Australia[edit | edit source]

In Australia, the leading case on undue influence is Johnson v Buttress (1936),[1] in which the approach to 'actual' and 'presumed' undue influence was at issue.

  • Actual undue influence,[3] where it is proven that the defendant exerted influence over the complainant to have them enter into a contract.Paterson Robertson & Duke 2016
  • Presumed undue influence, made up of:
  1. deemed relationship of influence, relationships that raise the premise, as a matter of law, that influence has been utilised;Paterson Robertson & Duke 2016
  2. relationship of influence in fact, where the complainant ensconces that trust and confidence was bestowed in the wrongdoer and therefore a presumption of influence should be recognisedPaterson Robertson & Duke 2016

Presumed undue influence[edit | edit source]

First subgroup[edit | edit source]

In the first subgroup, the relationship falls in a class of relationships that as a matter of law will raise a presumption of undue influence. Such classes include:

In such cases, the burden of proof lies on the first of said parties (e.g. the government, parent, or doctor) to disprove undue influence on the second party. This requires the dominant party to establish that the second party "knew and understood what he or she was doing, and that he or she was acting independently of the influence of the dominant party".[16][17] One influential factor in deciding whether the second party was acting independently is whether he or she was given an independent advice, while such an advice is not indispensable for rebutting the presumption.[18]

Second subgroup[edit | edit source]

The second subgroup covers relationships that do not fall into the first subgroup, but on the facts of case, there was an antecedent relationship between the parties that led to undue influence. The test is one of whether "one party occupies or assumes towards another a position naturally involving an ascendancy or influence over that other, or a dependence or trust on his part".[1][19][20] If the plaintiff satisfies this a presumption of undue influence will arise, to which the onus of proof transfers to the defendant, who thereon, must rebut that "in all the circumstances", the relationship between the parties involved "dealings were at arm's length and that the other’s will was in no way overborne by the relationship of confidence" that existed.[12]

Actual undue influence[edit | edit source]

An innocent party may also seek to have a contract set aside for actual undue influence, where there is no presumption of undue influence, but there is evidence that the power was unbalanced at the time of the signing of the contract.[21][12] Factors such as age, mental capacity and literacy of the donee, among other considerations such as the nature of the transaction (fair or unfair) will help determine actual undue influence.[22] There is no requirement of manifest disadvantage.[23]

In Farmers' Co-Op Executors & Trustees v Perks,[3] a wife transferred her interest as tenant in common on a farming property to her husband; the property was owned jointly by the husband and herself. There was evidential proof that there was a long history of brutal domestic violence inflicted by the husband on the wife, whereby he ended up murdering her. There was a presumption that the wife only transferred her interest to the husband because of undue influence and evidence proved that the transfer resulted from actual undue influence. It was because of the history of violence that resulted in the judge setting aside the transfer.Paterson Robertson & Duke 2016

A contrasting case is Lee v Chai, in which Mr Lee purchased an apartment and a Porsche for Ms Chai, with whom he was having an affair.Paterson Robertson & Duke 2016 Mr Lee argued that the gifts were given as a result of undue influence, and as such should be set aside. It was held that Mr Lee and Ms Chai were not in a relationship of influence that would attract the operation of the equitable doctrine. Mr Lee was a well-educated man with substantial experience in business affairs, while Ms Chai had a 'less forceful personality' and less business experience. This case highlights an approach taken in Australia, which is to focus on the impaired consent of the plaintiff.[24] Deane J in Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd v Amadio said 'Undue influence, like common law duress, looks to the quality of the consent or assent of the weaker party'.[25][26]

A special principle[edit | edit source]

In Garcia v National Australia Bank (1998),[27] the High Court of Australia approved the principle in Yerkey v Jones,[28] by distinguishing between cases of actual undue influence and situations where the transaction is set aside because the guarantor does not understand the nature of the transaction.[27] Although there is no presumption of undue influence, a "lender is to be taken to have understood that, as a wife, the surety may repose trust and confidence in her husband in matters of business and therefore to have understood that the husband may not fully and accurately explain the purport and effect of the transaction to his wife; and yet ... did not itself take steps to explain the transaction to the wife or find out that a stranger had explained it to her."[29]

In England and Wales[edit | edit source]

In probate law[edit | edit source]

"Undue influence" is the most common ground for will contests and are often accompanied by a capacity challenge. That is, someone in possession of full mental capacity is not likely to be swayed by undue influence, manipulation, or coercion. In litigation most jurisdictions place the burden of proving undue influence on the party challenging the will. Undue influence can be very difficult to prove, and the mere appearance of undue influence is inadequate to challenge the validity of a will.[30]

In probate law, undue influence is generally defined as a testator's loss of free agency regarding property disposition through contemporaneous psychological domination by an advisor, resulting in an excessive benefit to the advisor. It is important to note that "undue influence" is an issue only when the advisor is benefiting, not when advisor is getting a benefit for someone else;[31] in that case it would be considered fraud.[32]Template:Failed verification

In Germany, to avoid undue influence it is illegal for a testator who is or has been a resident of a nursing home to bequeath any property to any employee of the nursing home.[33]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

Citations[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Template:Cite AustLII.
  2. Bigwood, R Undue Influence in the House of Lords: Principles and Proof, Modern Law Review (2002) 65 Modern Law Journal 435.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Template:Cite AustLII.
  4. Bainbrigge v Bowne (1881) 18 Ch D 188 at 196.
  5. London and Westminster Loan and Discount Co Ltd v Bilton (1911) 27 TLR 184.
  6. Template:Cite AustLII.
  7. Powell v Powell [1900] 1 Ch 243
  8. Allcard v Skinner (1887) 36 Ch D 145.
  9. Template:Cite AustLII.
  10. Template:Cite AustLII.
  11. Re P's Bill of Costs (1982) 45 ALR 513 at 521-5.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 Template:Cite AustLII.
  13. Template:Cite AustLII.
  14. Dent v Bennett (1839) 4 My & Cr 269; 41 ER 105; Williams v Johnson [1937] 4 All ER 34.
  15. Brooks v Alca (1976) 60 DLR (3d) 577
  16. Template:Cite AustLII.
  17. Template:Cite AustLII.
  18. Template:Cite BAILII.
  19. Template:Cite AustLII
  20. Template:Cite AustLII.
  21. Template:Cite AustLII.
  22. Template:Cite AustLII at [3] per Starke J.
  23. Template:Cite AustLII.
  24. Template:Cite AustLII.
  25. Template:Cite AustLII
  26. Template:Cite AustLII.
  27. 27.0 27.1 Template:Cite AustLII.
  28. Template:Cite AustLII.
  29. Template:Cite AustLII.
  30. Core v. Core's Administrators, 124 S.E. 453 (Va. 1924).
  31. California will contest or trust contest based on undue influence,
  32. Time Limit and Grounds for "Contesting a Will". Going Legal Limited. Accessed May 15, 2015.
  33. Ronald J. Scalise Jr., "Undue Influence and the Law of Wills: A Comparative Analysis", 19 Duke J. Comp. & Int'l L. 41, 99 (2008).

Sources[edit | edit source]

  • ; Robertson, A.; Duke, A.. (2016).Principles of Contract Law. Thomson Reuters (Professional) Australia Limited.