Subject Index

Accord, 13, 14–17, 19, 167. See also Contract modification

Adequacy. See Exchange values relevant

Ames, James B. (1846–1910), 17, 23, 126, 128–29

Assumpsit, 2, 6, 83; past consideration, 74, 78, 84, 98, 111, 168, 181; preexisting duty, 13, 15, 16, 17, 25, 31, 68, 126, 127, 128

Australian law, 143

Bankruptcy. See Waiver exceptions Bargain, 2, 4, 5; past consideration rule, 73, 84, 91, 94, 98, 105, 106, 115, 116, 118, 121, 123, 168, 176, 190; preexisting duty rule, 24, 25,

56. See also Consideration; Past consideration rule; Preexisting duty rule

Bargain consideration, 2, 3, 9, 10, 128, 134, 143; non-bargain circumstances, 1, 5, 8, 121. See also Promissory liability without consideration)

Benefit. See Consideration; Moral obligation principle; Promissory restitution; Restitution

Bentham, Jeremy (1748–1832), 39, 82, 91, 109, 128, 129

Blackburn, Lord (1813–96), 17, 21, 22, 24, 39, 43, 53, 127, 128, 129

Blackstone, Wm. (1723–80), 3, 4, 31, 91, 182, 185

Bracton, Henry de (JKB 1247–57), 31, 138, 169

Buller, Francis (JKB) (1746–1800), 78, 81, 171, 172

Business planners, 3, 5, 8; past consideration rule, 89, 90, 91, 185; preexisting duty rule, 17, 18, 23, 26, 41, 43. See also Long term contracts; Uniformity of rules

Business usage, 3; legitimate commercial reasons, 45, 46, 48, 52, 56, 57, 59, 62, 63, 132, 165 (see U.C.C. abolishes preexisting duty); past consideration rule, 77, 79, 91, 169, 170; preexisting duty rule, 26, 41, 43, 45, 46, 56, 59, 62, 65, 132, 135, 146, 150, 151, 159, 163, 165. See also Contextual needs

California Field Code (1872), 39, 144, 145, 146. See also Codification of common law; Positivism

Canon law, 80, 85, 167, 168, 171, 173, 174, 177, 194

Case reports, 29, 88, 106, 107, 108,

109, 111. See also Johnson’s reporter’s note; Smith’s Leading Cases; Treatise writers; Wennall v. Adney reporters’ note; Williams’ reporter’s note

Causa, 5, 6; past consideration rule, 83, 175; preexisting duty rule, 43, 52, 56, 59, 67, 148, 167. See also Business usage; Canon law; Consideration; Good faith

Changed circumstances. See Unanticipated circumstances

Civil law, 3, 6, 10; past consideration, 76, 81–82, 83, 85, 88, 90, 91, 95, 97, 121, 169, 175 (see Mansfield, Lord); preexisting duty, 15, 23, 31, 52, 65, 67, 68, 156

Civil procedure, 9, 45–46, 74–75, 80, 85, 90, 110, 111, 121, 125, 128, 173, 193; trial by jury, 87, 109, 110, 170, 179–80, 183, 191. See also Forms of action abolished; Fusion of law and equity

Codification of common law, 39–46, 144–50, 175, 193

Coercion, 9, 18, 19, 25, 30, 31, 48, 49– 50, 51, 52, 57, 58, 64, 65, 69, 70, 159, 160. See also Economic duress

Coke, Edward (1552–1634) (CJCP 1606–13; CJKB 1613–16), 14, 16, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31, 47, 52, 126, 127, 129, 136

Commercial practices. See Business usage

Consensual theory, 5; past consideration, 80, 109, 110, 121, 174, 175, 194; preexisting duty, 23, 26, 29, 31, 33, 42, 52, 52–53, 58, 68, 133, 134, 137, 146, 151

Consent, 4, 5, 6; past consideration, 73, 77, 85, 111, 122, 167; preexisting duty, 13, 32, 43, 46, 48, 49, 53, 56, 57, 64, 65, 68, 69, 146

Consideration, doctrine of, 1, 3, 6, 9, 13, 15, 25, 26, 61, 63, 83, 89, 90, 94, 115, 122, 123, 128, 144, 168; benefit in past consideration, 74, 82, 172; benefit in preexisting duty, 17, 24,

27, 28–29, 153, 158, 161, 165, 166; criticisms of, 1, 10, 24, 29, 74, 170; detriment, 24, 27, 142, 143, 153, 158, 166; origins, 2. 6, 25; past consideration, 74, 77, 100; preexisting duty, 17, 18, 19, 22, 31, 45, 48, 49– 50, 51, 52, 68. See also Assumpsit; Bargain; Bargain consideration; Defendant’s previous request; Exchange values relevant; Moral obligation principle; Past consideration rule; Preexisting duty rule; Promissory liability without consideration; Promissory restitution

Contextual needs, 39, 67–68, 69, 122, 134, 150. See also Business usage Contract discharge. See Contract modi-

fication

Contract formation contrasted with discharge, 15, 17, 25, 37–38, 40, 42, 45, 68, 128, 134, 148, 153; contrasted with negotiation, 45, 150, 167. See also Preexisting duty rule, criticism of

Contract modification, 13, 19, 23, 25, 132, 147–48; consideration found, 28–29, 35, 49–50, 51, 52, 55, 66–67, 153, 154, 155, 156, 161; money contracts, 19, 130; services contracts, 19, 30, 33, 49–50, 52, 63, 64, 130, 131, 139, 140. See also Preexisting duty rule; U.C.C. abolishes preexisting duty rule

Cooley, Thomas (1824–98), 32, 55 Corbin, Arthur (1874–1967), 7, 8, 24

Damages, 8, 18, 51, 53, 134, 138, 156 Debt action, 2, 3; past consideration, 74, 167, 181; preexisting duty, 14–

15, 17, 126, 128

Defendant’s previous request, 74, 81, 82, 89, 98, 99–100, 103, 106, 110, 112, 116, 168, 174, 177; implied fiction, 82, 105, 106–9, 110. See also Bargain; Consideration; Implied previous request; Past consideration rule

Denman, Lord (1779–1854), 29, 50,

81, 83, 84, 88, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 97, 100, 102, 112–13, 123, 174, 175, 181. See also Mansfield, Lord, reaction against; Stare decisis

Denning, Alfred (M.R. 1962–83), 37, 142, 143, 153

Duress. See Coercion; Economic duress

Economic duress, 9, 19, 30–35, 43, 44, 46, 48, 130–31, 134, 137, 138–39, 140, 148, 149, 150, 153; lessens need for preexisting duty rule, 31, 33, 34, 42, 70, 140, 159

Economic efficiency, 4, 46, 49, 50, 52, 65–66, 69, 161. See also Business usage

Economic underdog, 7, 8, 19, 35, 41, 42, 59, 65–66, 140, 147, 148, 150, 151, 152, 159, 163, 164, 165–66

Ellenborough, Lord (Edward Law) (CJKB 1802–18), 30, 81, 82, 84, 86, 93, 100, 132, 175

Enlightenment, 91, 169, 175, 182. See also Civil law; Mansfield, Lord

Equity, 7; past consideration, 77, 78, 79, 80, 83, 84, 85, 101, 110, 113, 120, 122, 167, 168, 171, 172, 173, 174, 177, 178, 194, 198 (see Moral obligation principle); preexisting duty, 26, 31, 34, 43, 44, 51, 133, 138, 140, 148, 162. See also Fusion of law and equity

Exchange values relevant, 6, 22, 31, 69, 120, 134, 138, 139, 140, 152, 154, 166, 198

Excuse. See Impossibility; Unanticipated circumstances, exception Executory contracts, 16; preexisting

duty, 16, 30, 57, 127, 137, 147, 157, 160, 166

Fair dealing. See Business usage; Fairness; Good faith

Fairness, 7; past consideration, 73, 92, 110, 113, 115, 121, 122, 123; preexisting duty, 56, 58, 59, 60, 143, 151, 162, 163

Fictions, 4; past consideration, 74, 75,

82, 108, 110, 111 (see Implied previous request); preexisting duty, 27, 30, 51 (see Rescission and substitution)

Formalism, 6, 9, 18, 21, 23, 26, 92, 93, 100, 112–13, 114, 115, 121, 139. See also Monistic doctrinal test; Stare decisis; Treatise writers; Wennall v. Adney reporters’ note

Forms of action abolished, 5, 7; past consideration rule, 82, 88, 109–10, 111, 121, 181, 193; preexisting duty rule, 17, 23, 68, 128

Freedom of contract, 17, 23, 31, 32, 46, 65, 68, 121, 130

French code, 145, 156, 165 Frustration. See Impossibility Fusion of law and equity, 5, 7; past

consideration, 73, 109, 110, 113, 121, 183, 193, 198; preexisting duty, 18, 23, 26, 33, 37, 43, 44, 51, 68, 69, 128, 148

Gaynor, Wm. (1849–1913), 112–13, 195

General principles. See Uniformity of rules

German civil code, 68, 165, 175 Gift, 36, 55, 85, 117, 118, 168

Good faith, 23, 33, 43–46, 58, 59, 148, 149, 150, 160, 162, 167; origins, 43– 44; U.C.C, 43, 45–46. See also U.C.C. abolishes preexisting duty rule

Gratuitous promises, 7; past consideration, 79, 82, 85, 117, 118, 173, 175; preexisting duty, 27, 35, 40, 47, 135, 145, 166

Hardwicke, Lord (Phillip York) (LC 1737–56), 78, 80, 140, 172

Holmes, Oliver W., Jr. (1841–1935), 3, 10, 43, 128, 138

Holt, John (CJKB 1689–1709), 75, 77, 79, 80, 83, 84, 89, 93, 105, 106, 132, 163, 169. See also Ratification exceptions; Waiver exceptions

Implied previous request, 82, 105, 106– 9, 110, 112, 191, 192, 194; consideration without implied request, 109, 110–14; subsequent promise equivalent of request, 110–11, 112, 195. See also Defendant’s previous request; Fictions; Moral obligation principle; Williams’ reporter’s note

Impossibility, 8, 44, 53, 58, 157. See also Unanticipated circumstances

Impracticability. See Impossibility Indian Contract Act of 1872, 39, 144 Individualism, 6, 8, 31, 32, 46, 91, 95 Industrial economy, 4, 26, 46, 52, 58,

65, 67, 68, 69, 91, 156, 179; preindustrial, 4, 26, 69

Infants’ contracts. See Ratification exceptions

Japanese code, 68

Jeffersonian natural law, 122, 175, 180. See also Natural law

Johnson’s reporter’s note, 108, 111, 113. See also Wennall v. Adney reporters’ note

Kent, James (NY Ch. 1814–23), 3, 107,

109, 191, 193

Langdell, Christopher (1826–1906), 94, 101, 187

Law merchant, 146, 163, 169. See also Business usage

Legal realism, 4, 8, 41, 56, 93, 95, 115 Llewellyn, Karl (1893–1962), 34, 41,

43, 141, 146. See also Uniform Commercial Code

Long term contracts, 4, 26, 38, 49, 52, 68, 69, 134, 148, 150. See also Business planners; Industrial economy; Relational contracts

Love and affection, 74, 79, 80, 108, 118, 187

Mansfield, Lord (Wm. Murray) (CJKB 1756–88), 6, 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 27, 110, 169, 172, 177; American reception of ideas, 9, 88, 93–94, 102–3,

105–7, 112–13, 119, 120, 121–23, 184; moral obligation principle, 47, 73, 74, 76–80, 83, 84, 85, 93, 94, 119– 21, 123, 132, 171, 174, 195 (controversial position, 78–79, 80, 86, 88– 92, 120, 121, 146, 174, 180); reaction against moral obligation, 86–95, 106, 107, 120–21, 184, 185–86, 187; support for ideas, 81–86, 97–103, 111, 188. See also Moral obligation principle

Market ideas. See Bargain; Business planners; Business usage; Consensual theory; Industrial economy; Predictability

Married women’s contracts, 83, 84, 89, 93, 94, 99, 100, 101–3, 119, 169, 171, 174, 175, 181, 189–90. See also Ratification exceptions

Metcalf, Theron, 109, 193 Modification. See Contract modifica-

tion

Money contracts modifications. See Contract modification

Monistic doctrinal test, 3, 100, 108, 121, 129, 130

Moral obligation principle, 8, 9, 76–86, 90, 94, 95, 101, 105, 111, 112–13, 114, 115–23, 160, 175, 176, 186, 190; benefit received by promissor, 86, 88, 94, 101, 108, 113, 114, 115, 116, 118, 122, 123, 178, 179, 180, 192, 197, 198; consideration unnecessary, 105, 113, 115–20, 121–22; constitutes consideration, 78, 79, 82, 86, 101, 105–14, 115, 116, 121, 196, 198 (see Implied previous request); early narrow scope, 88, 89, 90, 91, 114, 117, 119, 121, 122 (see Holt, John; Ratification exceptions; Waiver exceptions); no prior legal obligation, 82, 83, 86, 89, 97–100, 109, 113, 114, 117, 119 (see Defendant’s previous request; Wennall v. Adney reporters’ note); origins, 75–80, 82, 97–103; prior to Mansfield, 79, 88, 90, 94, 97– 103, 107; promise required, 7, 86, 87, 98, 99, 113, 115, 119, 120, 123,

192. See also Mansfield, Lord; Past consideration rule

Morality, 8; past consideration, 73, 88, 89, 90, 91 93, 98, 101, 102, 112, 116, 119, 120, 172, 178, 180, 197, 198; preexisting duty rule, 21, 23, 30, 51, 133, 138, 140, 148. See also Civil law; Mansfield, Lord; Moral obligation principle

Natural law, 9, 85, 88, 92, 133, 171, 180

Negotiable instruments, 22, 129, 131, 132, 134, 136, 163, 169, 183

Negotiorum gestio, 86, 179

Officiousness, 78, 83, 84, 98, 100, 107, 117, 121, 122, 168, 178. See also Moral obligation principle

Parke, James (BEx 1834–55), 22, 82, 92, 93, 95, 156, 185, 187

Parol evidence rule, 18, 66, 134, 144, 165, 170, 172

Parsons, Theophilus (1797–1882), 94, 95, 114, 185

Past consideration rule, 1, 2, 6, 82, 90, 100, 109, 112, 114, 115; compared with preexisting duty, 2, 29, 50, 159, 171; defendant’s previous request, 74, 75, 82, 97, 98, 168 (see Defendant’s previous request; Wennall v. Adney reporters’ note); origins, 74– 75; reform, 4, 5, 9, 10, 90, 110, 111, 115, 120–23, 185, 186 (see Implied previous request; Moral obligation principle; Promissory Restitution; Ratification exceptions; Waiver exceptions). See also Assumpsit; Bargain; Civil law; Consideration; Debt action

Policing mechanisms, 9, 18, 25, 26, 34, 35, 43–44, 46, 56, 62, 65, 67, 69, 137, 148. See also Economic duress; Good faith; Unconscionability

Pollock, Frederick (1845–1937), 5, 138 Positivism, 3, 89, 91, 92. See also Ben-

tham; Formalism; Statutory reforms

Pothier, Robert (1699–1772), 157, 194. See also Civil law

Predictability factor, 2, 3, 4, 5; past consideration, 73, 87, 89, 90, 91, 95, 122, 123, 185; preexisting duty, 18, 21, 23, 26, 46, 157. See also Uniformity of rules

Preexisting duty rule, 1, 2, 6, 13, 17, 25, 47, 50, 61, 63, 64, 65, 66, 69, 70, 125, 129, 130, 137, 139, 164; criticism of, 13, 15, 17, 21–25, 29, 43, 46, 49, 126, 127, 129, 130, 132, 133, 165; justification for, 18–19, 21–22, 30, 33, 48, 49, 69, 148; origins, 14– 16, 126, 127; reform, 9, 10, 17, 18, 25–46, 49–50, 51, 55, 64, 128, 136, 153–55, 164, 166 (see Economic duress; Reliance; U.C.C. abolishes preexisting duty rule; Unanticipated circumstances); traditional exceptions, 26–28, 44, 54, 126, 127, 129, 135, 136. See also Assumpsit; Bargain; Civil law; Debt action; Contract modification

Promissory estoppel, 35, 36–38, 47, 63, 66, 90, 116, 122, 134, 142, 143, 153, 166, 183. See also Reliance

Promissory liability without consideration, 1, 5, 6, 122; past consideration, 109, 114, 115–20, 121 (see Moral obligation principle; Promissory restitution); preexisting duty rule, 28–29, 37, 41, 43, 54, 56, 66–67 (see U.C.C. abolishes preexisting duty rule). See also Bargain; Promissory estoppel

Promissory restitution, 73, 85, 95, 105– 23; benefit received, 74, 112, 118, 120; consideration not required, 115– 20; no prior legal obligation, 82, 109, 114, 115–20; promise required, 84. See also Moral obligation principle

Proprietary interests, 2, 3, 4, 14, 15, 18, 126, 168

Quasi-contract. See Restitution

Ratification exceptions, 75–76, 77–78, 81, 83, 88, 93, 101, 102, 113, 117,

119, 169. See also Holt, John; Moral obligation principle; Past consideration rule; Void contracts

Reasonable expectations, 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 39, 65, 68, 69, 86, 118, 130, 138 Reforms. See Moral obligation princi-

ple; Statutory reforms; U.C.C. abolishes preexisting duty rule

Relational contracts, 6, 50, 54. See also Long term contracts

Release. See Contract modification Reliance, 7; overcomes preexisting

duty rule, 26, 27, 35–38, 47, 51, 56– 57, 64, 141–42, 143, 144, 149, 160; past consideration rule, 174. See also Promissory estoppel

Rescission and substitution, 4, 19, 27, 47–48, 51, 54, 55, 131, 136, 147, 148, 159, 160, 161; criticism of, 47, 51, 135, 137, 158, 159, 164–65. See also Preexisting duty rule

Restatement of Contracts (1932), 8, 116, 144, 149; past consideration rule, 114, 115; preexisting duty rule, 38, 47, 58, 151, 155. See also Promissory estoppel

Restatement Second of Contracts (1981), 1, 6, 35, 63; past consideration rule, 115–16, 122–22 (see Moral obligation principle); retains preexisting duty rule, 36, 47–50, 64, 143, 151, 164, 166 (criticism of, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52, 59, 62, 64, 66); reform needed, 65–68, 69, 166. See also Preexisting duty rule; Promissory estoppel; Reliance; U.C.C. abolishes preexisting duty rule; Unanticipated circumstances

Restitution, 7, 8, 9, 84, 85, 94, 100, 120, 122, 123; past consideration rule, 84, 119, 120, 172–73, 180, 183 (see Promissory restitution); preexisting duty rule, 31, 34, 57, 138, 140

Restitutionary promises. See Promissory restitution

Right to breach, 8, 30, 51, 137, 138, 154, 156. See also Damages

Roman law, 6, 86, 169, 177, 191, 198

Seal, 38, 40, 134, 135, 145, 147, 172, 173, 183

Services contracts modifications. See Contract modification

Singapore law, 144, 153

Sjt. Williams. See Williams’ reporter’s note

Smith’s Leading Cases, 22, 23, 129 Stare decisis, differences in United

States and England, 9, 16, 17, 18, 25, 28, 29, 30, 37, 38, 50, 82, 92, 93, 97, 109, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 122, 127, 128, 129, 136, 137, 154, 183. See also Mansfield, Lord, American reception

Statute of Frauds (1677), 39, 42, 64, 66, 77, 80, 130, 136, 144, 147, 170, 172, 174, 196. See also Written formality

Statute of limitations. See Waiver exceptions

Statutory reforms, 2–3, 8, 10; past consideration rule, 88, 88, 91, 117; preexisting duty rule, 39–46, 50, 64, 70, 129, 144–50. See also Restatement of Contracts; Restatement Second of Contracts; U.C.C. abolishes preexisting duty rule

Tenterden, Lord (Charles Abbott) (CJKB 1818–32), 86, 87, 88, 176, 179, 180

Time factor, 2, 3. See also Bargain Trade usage. See Business usage Treatise writers, 3, 5, 8, 22, 91, 94–95,

109, 129, 156, 181, 182, 185. See also Case reports; Monistic doctrinal test

U.C.C. abolishes preexisting duty rule, 41–46, 63, 66; contrasted with Restatement Second of Contracts, 48, 57, 61–63; good faith required, 43– 46, 48, 61–62, 150, 159, 162 (legitimate commercial reason, 45, 46, 48, 52, 56, 57, 59, 62, 63, 65, 150, 151, 152, 156, 163; see also Business usage: legitimate commercial reason)

UN Convention on sales, 68, 146, 167 Unanticipated circumstances, 4, 6, 8; exception to preexisting duty rule,

26, 27, 33, 36, 44, 47, 48, 50, 51–59, 63, 135, 137, 139, 144, 149, 150, 152, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 161–62, 164; origins of exception, 52–55

Unconscionability, 9, 34–35, 46, 140, 141, 166

Uniform Commercial Code (U.C.C.), 6, 34, 41, 45, 46; good faith, 43, 45– 46. See also U.C.C. abolishes preexisting duty rule

Uniform Written Obligations Act (1925), 40, 42, 145, 146

Uniformity of rules, 3, 100, 108, 121, 129, 130, 143, 185. See also Codification of common law

Unjust enrichment. See Restitution Usurious contracts, 83, 92, 100–101,

119, 182, 189. See also Ratification exception

Void contracts, 100–103, 169, 190. See also Married women’s contracts; Usurious contracts

Waiver exceptions, 75, 76, 77–78, 83, 83, 88, 93, 100–101, 111, 116, 143, 144, 163, 169, 171, 183, 184. See also Holt, John; Moral obligation principle; Past consideration rule

Wennall v. Adney reporters’ note, 88– 92, 93, 94, 95, 97–98, 99, 100, 114, 175, 176, 188; rejection of, 112–14, 116, 117, 118, 119, 121 (see Moral obligation principle). See also Defendant’s previous request; Past consideration rule; Treatise writers

Widow’s ratification. See Married women’s contracts

Williams’ reporter’s note, 106, 107, 109, 111. See also Implied previous request

Williston, Samuel (1861–1963), 3, 40, 47, 95, 114, 115, 129, 130, 185. See also Restatement of Contracts

Written formality, 9; past consideration, 76, 79, 88, 93, 116, 119, 169– 70, 172, 180, 184, 196, 197; preexisting duty, 26, 27, 39, 40, 41, 42, 64, 66, 144, 145, 146, 147, 160, 163, 166. See also Statute of Frauds; Uniform Written Obligations Act