Tag Archives: integration

Contracts

Understanding Common Contractual Clauses

While every contract is unique, a typical business contract contains some basic or “boilerplate” provisions. These clauses usually follow a standard format and they are carefully worded to ensure they will hold-up in court. Because so many contracts contain similar boilerplate provisions, many people do not read them or do not understand what they are agreeing to.

Below are a few examples of legal terms and conditions that you should fully read and understand before signing the contract. The consequences of ignoring these clauses could lead to an unintentional breach of the contract and/or litigation.

Merger and Integration Clause

This clause is often referred to as the “entire agreement clause” because it provides that the entire agreement between the two parties is what is laid out in the written contract. This is a very important provision to understand because it makes it extremely difficult for the parties to enforce any promises that are not documented in the contract, even if they were sent in writing or via email prior to contract signing. The court will look only within the four corners of the contract to resolve a dispute. Thus, it is imperative that all prior agreements are fully recorded in the written contract, leaving no ambiguity.

Indemnification Clause

The indemnification clause is a tool designed to protect one party from certain actions or negligence of the other party. In other words, this provision can protect you from misconduct or wrongdoing that you are not involved with. This type of protection is extremely important when there are contractors and subcontractors involved with performing the work. To learn more about indemnification, please read our blog titled “Resolving the issue of Limitation of Liabilities between Buyer and Seller.”

Time is of the Essence Clause

If your contract deals with a time-sensitive matter, you must include a clause the dictates failure to meet a specific deadline is considered a breach of the contract. The clause can outline the consequences or damages available to the non-breaching party for failure to meet the deadline.

Severability Clause

A severability clause provides that if a portion of the contract is held to be void or unenforceable, the remainder of the agreement can still be valid. Without this provision, the entire contract could be unenforceable if any part of it is void.

Liquidated Damages Clause

A liquidated damages clause provides that if a party breaches certain terms of the agreement (often delivery or performance requirements), they will be required to pay the other party a certain amount of money as compensation for the damages. Liquidated damages can be helpful when it is hard to calculate the actual damage that will be incurred by the non-breaching party.

Acceleration Clause

The inclusion of an acceleration clause allows a party to demand performance in full if the other party breaches the contract. For example, if one party misses a payment, the other party can demand payment in full.

The Takeaway

The above are just a few examples of the boilerplate language that can be included in a contract. Failing to read these clauses and to fully understand what you are signing can put your business at significant risk and make it vulnerable to a lawsuit. Remember, every clause in a contract is negotiable, so don’t think you are “stuck” with the boilerplate clauses. If you don’t understand any part of an agreement, it is imperative that you have a competent business attorney review it.

To learn more about boilerplate language in a contract or how we can assist you with other business-related matters, contact Leslie S. Marell today.

Contracts

Should Your Contract be Fully Integrated?

When you have a written contract and a dispute arises, often one party will claim that the contract meaning is different than what it says. In an effort to prove their claim, the party typically attempts to submit external evidence to alter or add to the agreement. However, Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), which is applicable to all contracts for the sale of goods, prevents the use of external evidence where the parties executed a fully integrated contract.

A fully integrated contract is one that provides that it is the “final written expression” of the parties’ agreement and no prior discussion or agreement can be invoked to add or change the agreement A fully integrated contract will contain a clause entitled “Entire Agreement” or “Integration” and usually appears at the end of the document.

The Seventh Circuit recently tackled this issue in the case of Druckzentrum Harry Jung GmbH & Co. KG v. Motorola Mobility, LLC, 774 F.3d 410 (December 18, 2014). The Druckzentrum contract contained a provision that stated the contract was the full understanding of the parties and it superseded everything else. However, Druckzentrum wanted to present extrinsic (outside) evidence as proof that the parties intended there would be exclusivity, even though the contract contained no such mention of exclusivity.

In applying § 2-202 of the UCC, the Seventh Circuit determined that the use of extrinsic evidence to explain or enhance the contract was prohibited. Druckzentrum argued that its extrinsic evidence fell within the exception in § 2-202(b), which permits evidence of consistent additional terms. The Court ruled that the exception does not apply if the contract is states that it is wholly integrated.

Druckzentrum made an additional attempt to fit within the § 2-202(b) exception by arguing that the contract was not fully integrated since it included other documents by reference. However, the Seventh Circuit held that because the contract specifically incorporated certain documents, any documents not specifically incorporated where necessarily excluded. As a result, the court ruled against Druckzentrum on summary judgment.

IMPORTANT TAKEAWAY:

Most business contracts contain entire agreement clauses. When negotiating and signing your contract, it’s important to ensure that all deal points discussed be included into the final contract and that the language accurately reflects the deal. Otherwise, you will have a difficult time introducing evidence of other terms or conflicting terms if a dispute arises.

To learn more about fully integrated contracts or how we can assist you with other business-related matters, contact Leslie S. Marell today.