Transcript for:
Understanding Agency Law Basics

Title: BUSINESS LAW URL Source: blob://pdf/40f4fa91-c879-43a1-b756-ca5ad69c015e Markdown Content: BUSINESS LAW TOPIC 9: LAW OF AGENCY (PART 1) PREPARED BY: ABIGAIL C. CHONG 1 BLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 01/08/2017 Copyright of Almacrest International College. All rights reserved. LEARNING OUTCOMES (LO) After studying this chapter, students should be able to : 1. Explain entities that involve in agency relationship . 2. Discuss situations where an agency relationship could be created 2 Copyright of Almacrest International College. All > rights reserved. > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 ## Introduction > 3 Agent and principal Section 135 of CA 1950 An agent is a person employed to do any act for another or to represent another in dealings with third persons . The person for whom such act is done, or who is so represented, is called the principal . Agency: Relationship which exists between the principal and the agent . Agent: person who has been authorized to act for him OR represent him in dealings with others . > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 ## Introduction Agency is a triangular relationship . Constructs the creation of a legal relationship between a person (the principal) and a 3rd party via agent . Agent is a person who represents and is required to act in the best interests of the principal . > 4 Principal Agent 3rd Party > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 ## Example Ali appoints Abu to buy house from Jean on his behalf . 5 ## Introduction ## Principal = ? ## Agent = ? ## 3rd party =? Copyright of Almacrest International College. All rights reserved. CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 01/08/2017 Introduction > 6 In agency, 2 types of contract are in effect: Principal + Agent Principal + 3rd Party The agent derives his authority to act for and on behalf of the principal. Through the work of the agent. > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 01/08/2017 1 - By Express Appointment It involves the actual consent of the principal and the agent . May be in writing . Example : Power of Attorney . > 7 Creation of Agency Garnac Grain Co Inc v HMF Faure & Fairclough Ltd. [1968] AC 1130 Lord Pearson said: The relationship of principal and agent can only be established by the consent of the principal and agent . They will be held to have consented if they have agreed to what amounts in law to such a relationship even if they do not recognise it themselves and even if they have professed to disclaim it . . The consent however must be given by each of them either expressly or by words and conduct . > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 2 - By Implied Appointment Appointment derived from the words and conduct of the parties in the way they have acted in connection with one another . The law can infer the creation of agency by implication when a person by his words/conduct holds out another person as having authority to act for him . > 8 ## Creation of Agency > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 2 - By Implied Appointment > 9 Definitions of express and implied authority Section 140 of CA 1950 An authority is said to be express when it is given by words spoken or written . An authority is said to be implied when it is to be inferred from the circumstances of the case ; and things spoken or written, or the ordinary course of dealing, may be accounted circumstances of the case . Express Authority : when it is given by words spoken OR written . Implied authority : it is inferred from the circumstances of the case . > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. ## Creation of Agency > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 10 Illustration A owns a shop in Kajang , living himself in Kuala Lumpur, and visiting the shop occasionally . The shop is managed by B, and he is in the habit of ordering goods from C in the name of A for the purpose of the shop, and of paying for them out of As funds with As knowledge . B has an implied authority from A to order goods from C in the name of A for the purposes of the shop . 2 - By Implied Appointment > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. ## Creation of Agency > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 11 Chan Yin Tee v William Jacks & Co (Malaya) Ltd. [1964] MLJ 290 Facts of case: 15 Nov 1961 : Appellant registered himself and one Yong, a minor as trading in partnership as general merchants under the name of Chan & Yong Trading . 2 - By Implied Appointment Chan & Yong Trading # + > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. ## Creation of Agency > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 12 Chan Yin Tee v William Jacks & Co (Malaya) Ltd. [1964] MLJ 290 Facts of case: At the same time, appellant and Yong wrote to Bangkok Bank in KL applying to open a current account in their name . It states that they were partners of a firm and cheques of the account would be signed by both of them . 2 - By Implied Appointment Bangkok Bank # + > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. ## Creation of Agency > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 13 Chan Yin Tee v William Jacks & Co (Malaya) Ltd. [1964] MLJ 290 Facts of case: Before doing any business with the Rs company, the appellant and Yong met a representative of the R in a coffee shop . The appellant held himself as a partner of Yong . On this representation, business between them commenced . 2 - By Implied Appointment Rs representative # + > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. ## Creation of Agency > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 14 Chan Yin Tee v William Jacks & Co (Malaya) Ltd. [1964] MLJ 290 Facts of case: Between 20 Dec 1961 3 June 1962 : Goods were supplied to Yong . R sued for the price and won the case . The appellant appealed . 2 - By Implied Appointment Respondent # + > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. ## Creation of Agency > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 15 Chan Yin Tee v William Jacks & Co (Malaya) Ltd. [1964] MLJ 290 Held of case: Appealed dismiss . Irrespective of whether Yong was the appellants partner, the appellant had held out Yong as his agent with authority to do things on his behalf and for whose acts the appellant was liable . Any person, irrespective of his competency to contract, may become an agent for whose acts the principal may be liable to 3rd parties . 2 - By Implied Appointment > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. ## Creation of Agency > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 16 Created by the agent occupying a position which would normally carry with it authority to do an act of the kind in question . 3 - By Usual Authority Watteau v Fenwick [1893] 1 QB 346 Facts: The P sued the Ds for the price of cigars supplied to the Victoria Hotel . The building was kept by a person named Humble . The P gave credit to Humble and had never heard of the D. However, the business was really the Ds and they had put Humble into it to manage it for them, and had forbidden him to buy cigars on credit . Held: The cigars were such as would usually be supplied to and dealt in at such an establishment . The Ds were liable . > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 ## Creation of Agency 17 Ratification occurs where an agent does an act without authority of the principal . Effects of ratification : It converts an unauthorized act into an act clothed with authority . 4 - By Ratification Hatman v Hornsby 142 Mo 368 the approval by act, word or conduct of that which was attempted, but was improperly or authorizedly performed in the first instance > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 ## Creation of Agency 18 If any of the above situation occurred, the principal may either choose to reject or accept the contract so made . 4 - By Ratification Agency by ratification only occurred in the following situations : 1. An agent who was duly appointed has exceeded his authority . 2. A person who has no authority to act for the principal has acted as if he has the authority . > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 ## Creation of Agency 19 4 - By Ratification Section 149 of Contracts Act 1950 Where acts are done by one person on behalf of another but without his knowledge or authority, he may elect to ratify or to disowned the acts . If he ratifies them, the same effects will follow as if they had been performed by his authority . > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 ## Creation of Agency 20 Examples: 2 Jan 2009 Ahmad appointed Bobby as his agent to buy a car not exceeding RM 40 ,000 . 5 Jan 2009 Bobby went to ABC Motors Sdn . Bhd . and ordered a car costing RM 50 ,000 , telling the ABC Motors Sdn . Bhds salesman that he was buying the car on Ahmads behalf . 12 Jan 2009 ABC Motors Sdn Bhd delivered that car to Ahmad . If Ahmad confirms the contract on 12 Jan 2009 , then Bobby is said to be his agent through ratification . Ahmad may also reject the contract on 12 Jan 2009 since Bobby has exceeded his authority . > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. ## Creation of Agency > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 21 5 - By Necessity An agency of necessity may be created if the following conditions are met: It is impossible for the agent to get the principals instruction . The agents action is necessary in the circumstances, to prevent loss to the principal . E.g.: when agent sells perishable goods belonging to his principal to prevent them from rotting The agent of necessity must have acted in good faith . > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. ## Creation of Agency > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 22 5 - By Necessity Section 142 of Contracts Act 1950 An agent has authority, in an emergency, to do all such acts for the purpose of protecting his principal from loss as would be done by a person of ordinary prudence, in his own case, under similar circumstances . > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. ## Creation of Agency > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 23 6 - By Estoppel A person cannot be bound by contract made on his behalf without his authority . However, if he allows 3rd party to believe that a particular person is his agent even when he is not and the 3rd part relies on it, he will be estopped from denying the existence of that persons authority to act on his behalf . > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. ## Creation of Agency > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 24 6 - By Estoppel Example: Mahmud tells Sally in front of George that Mahmud is Georges agent and George does not deny this statement . George cannot later deny that Mahmud is his agent if Sally sells goods to Mahmud . Because Sally believes Mahmud is the agent of George . > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. ## Creation of Agency > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 25 6 - By Estoppel Form of agency which is created constructively, that is by imposition of law . Purpose : provide protection against the detriment which would arise from partys change of position . > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. ## Creation of Agency > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 26 6 - By Estoppel 3 elements necessary to constitute estoppel: A representation made by/on behalf of the principal to the 3rd party concerning the authority of the agent Reliance of 3rd party on the representation made by the agent to the 3rd party 3rd party must rely on the principals representation and alter his legal position . > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. ## Creation of Agency > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 27 6 - By Estoppel Cheng Kheng Hong v Government of the Federation of Malaya [1966] 2 MLJ 33 Raja Azlan Shah J section 190 of Contracts Act 1950 , which enacts that where a principal induces a belief that the unauthorized acts of an agent are authorized, he is bound by the consequences there must be an allegation or proof that the principal either by his words or conduct has induced a third person to believe that the acts done or obligations are within the scope of the agents authority > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. ## Creation of Agency > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 28 Section 190 of Contracts Act 1950 Liability of principal inducing belief that agents unauthorized acts were authorized When an agent has, without authority, done acts or incurred obligations to third persons on behalf of his principal, the principal is bound by those acts or obligations if he has by his words or conduct induced such third persons to believe that those acts and obligations were within the scope of the agents authority . > Copyright of Almacrest International > College. All rights reserved. ## Creation of Agency > CLAW / LAW2013 REV 00 > 01/08/2017 REFERENCES > 1. Lee Mei Pheng , Ivan Jeron Detta (2022), Business Law, 3rd Edition, Oxford University Press. > 2. Dr Loganathan Krishnan, Parimaladevi Rajoo , Anne Chrishanthani Vergis (2022), Principles of Business and Corporate Law, Malaysia, 4th Edition, CCH Malaysia. > 3. Contracts Act 1950 (Act 136) > 4. Federal Constitution > 5. Civil Law Act 1965 (Act 67) > 6. Subordinate Courts Act 1948 (Act 92), Subordinate Courts (Amendment) Act 2010 > 7. Courts of Judicature Act 1964 (Act 91) 29 Copyright of Almacrest International College. All