McInnes/Kerr/VanDuzer: Managing the Law: The Legal Aspects of Doing Business, Fourth Edition
Chapter 20: Agency and Other Methods of Carrying on Business
40) For many years, Street Sounds Inc, a music retailer, purchased its supply of CDs from
Smithee Entertainment Ltd, a major music producer. And for all of those years, Smithee
Entertainment entered into those supply contracts by using Alan as its agent. Alan would
meet with the manager of Street Sounds, that manager would request a selection of CDs,
immediately pay for the order, and Alan would arrange for Smithee Entertainment to
deliver the goods to Street Sounds within one week. In March 2010, as he had done
countless times before, Street Sounds’ manager met with Alan, selected a number of CDs,
paid for the order by giving $15 000 to Alan, and was told that a shipment from Smithee
Entertainment would arrive within a week. What Street Sounds did not know,
unfortunately, was that Smithee Entertainment had fired Alan several days earlier. Because
it has not yet received any money from Alan, Smithee Entertainment refuses to deliver any
CDs to Street Sounds. Which of the following statements is most likely to be TRUE?
a. Because it had already fired Alan, Smithee Entertainment cannot possibly be held liable
for the contract in question unless it ratifies that agreement.
b. While it may enjoy other options, Street Sounds is certainly entitled to enforce the
contract against Alan.
c. Smithee Entertainment may avoid all liability to Street Sounds by simply refusing to
ratify the contract in question.
d. Smithee Entertainment may be held liable for breach of warranty of authority.
e. Street Sounds may be able to enforce the contract against Smithee on the basis that Alan
had apparent authority to contract even though his authority was terminated because no
such notice was given to Street Sounds of the termination of authority.
41) Gordon has created a new app that allows people to track their dog’s location via GPS
on their smartphone. Gordon wants to allow people to use the app for free. Fred, his brother
and a lawyer, is talking to one of his clients about the app and the client offers a sizeable
amount to purchase the license and for ongoing technical support. Fred agrees on behalf of
Gordon. When he tells his brother the news, Gordon says he’s okay with selling them the
license, but that they would have to find someone else to give support. Which of the
following statements is true?
a. The contract has been ratified by Gordon and is therefore binding.
b. Gordon has only ratified part of the contract and has therefore accepted none of it.
c. The contract cannot be binding because Fred had no authority to contract.
d. Gordon will not be able to offer the app for free if he accepted the contract.