Privity of Contract offers a unique perspective of how the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 works in practice. Issues covered include: the operation of the doctrine of privity prior to its repeal; the scope and impact of the 1999 Act; and the operation of the 1999 Act in the most important commercial contexts to which it is applicable. It also incorporates discussion and the text of the Law Commission reports, whose proposals produced the bill that ultimately passed into law.
Privity is an extensive analysis of the theoretical issues raised by the question of third-party rights in contract. More than just an examination of the practical problems of the Privity rule itself, it questions whether contract is to be seen as a matter of public regulation or private justice.
Palmer's fascinating study analyzes the ingrained tendency to prevent third party beneficiary actions through a historical account of privity of contract. Chapter I discusses the origins and historical questions surrounding the issue of privity. Chapter II covers the triumph of consideration in the formative period, 1500-1680. Chapter III outlines the expansion in the chancery phase, 1680-1800, and Chapter IV deals with the rise of the parties-only principle at law and equity during the 1800s.
This book, based on English law of contract, considers the development and present state of the doctrine of Privity of Contract with clear references to cases in other major common law jurisdictions (Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Singapore). The work opens with a history of development of the privity rule and its place in English up to the enactment of the Contract (Right of third parties) Act 1999. The books considers common law and statutory exceptions in detail as well as major statutory exceptions from other jurisdictions. There is also consideration of the operation of the rule with regard to exemption clauses and attempts to impose liabilities and burden on non-parties. A large section of the book considers the rights of a promise where the loss suffered by reason of a breach of contract has been incurred by a third party. The final chapters consider the position under the Contract (Right of third parties) Act 1999 and look at the international position, considering work undertaken by UNIDROIT. This book fills a gap for a more thorough examination of the law of privity and is written by two well-known and experienced authors on contract law.
Privity of Contract offers a unique perspective of how the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 works in practice. Issues covered include: the operation of the doctrine of privity prior to its repeal; the scope and impact of the 1999 Act; and the operation of the 1999 Act in the most important commercial contexts to which it is applicable. It also incorporates discussion and the text of the Law Commission reports, whose proposals produced the bill that ultimately passed into law.
This edition provides an authoritative and detailed account of contract law. It is essential reading for any student of contract law, and a valuable source of reference for practitioners and academics.
This revised and expanded second edition of Contract Law in Hong Kong is the most comprehensive contemporary textbook on Hong Kong contract law written primarily for law students. The 16 chapters of the book cover all basic contract concepts in a reader-friendly style and make ample use of case illustrations. The book deals with all the core areas of Contract Law. The first two chapters introduce the major themes and explain the multiple sources of law in Hong Kong. The subsequent thirteen chapters cover the formation of a valid contract, its contents, "vitiating" elements, the consequences of illegality, the termination of contracts and remedies for breach of contract. The book concludes with an explanation of the doctrine of privity and proposals for reform of the operation of privity in Hong Kong. Particular attention is given to what makes Hong Kong law different from other common law jurisdictions, and to the continuing significance of English case law in Hong Kong and the theoretical and practical reasons for this. The book is intended primarily as a readable but comprehensive and authoritative text for Hong Kong law students. Practising lawyers and professionals who need to acquire knowledge on the topic, however, will also find this book useful and accessible.
