Contents
When the agent acts for a principal who cannot be sued : An agent incurs personal liability when he contracts on behalf of a principal who, though disclosed, cannot be sued. Thus, an agent who contacts for an ambassador or foreign sovereign, becomes personally liable.
An agent is not personally liable for the contracts entered into by him on behalf of his principal unless there is a contract to the contrary. … However, the agent can exclude his personal liability by expressly providing in the contract not to incur personal liability.
We have already seen that basic principle of agency is that agent acts on behalf his principal and therefore cannot personally enforce the contract. Similarly he is also not personally bound for any act.
When the agent exceeds his authority : When an agent exceeds his authority or represents to have a kind of authority which he in fact does not have, he commits breach of warranty of authority and is personally liable to third party for any loss caused to him by reason of acting under the false representation.
If the agent is acting on behalf of a principal, but fails to disclose her agency status, it may subject her to liability to the third party. In some cases, it may also serve to bind the principal once the agency relationship is determined.
Thus an agent may sue or be sued solely in its own name and without joining the principal when the following elements concur: (1) the agent acted in his own name during the transaction; (2) the agent acted for the benefit of an undisclosed principal; and (3) the transaction did not involve the property of the principal …
Both principals and agents are liable in tort where the agent is acting within their actual or apparent authority. … An agent who falsely claims they have authority to act and so acts outside both their actual and apparent authority can be sued by a third party.
-AGENT MAY SUE WHEN PRINCIPAL HAS CLOTHED HIm WITH TITLE OR AUTHORITY FOR THAT PURPOSE. , the agent is the real party in interest and can collect the judgment.
An agent is not liable for any contracts he or she makes with authority on behalf of a fully disclosed principal. Therefore, if a third party knows the existence and identity of the principal, then all legal liability lies with the principal. The only exception to this is when an agent exceeds his or her authority.
They must fall within his or her actual or apparent authority. Therefore, in most instances, a principal is liable for the agent’s actions. However, that is not always the case. An agent may be solely liable to a third party for tortious conduct in certain circumstances.
Under what circumstances may the buyer be held vicariously liable for the acts of his agent? When the buyer broker is acting under the directions of the buyer.
The agent can be sued by the third party under a contract where the existence of the principal is undisclosed at the time the contract is made by the agent in the agent’s own name but in fact on the principal’s behalf.
However, when the agency relationship is not contractual or the contract is for personal services, an agent does not have the right to seek specific performance. The authority of an agent that arises when the principal explicitly instruct the agent to do something.
When an agent fails to perform his or her duties, liability for breach of contract may result. A gratuitous agent cannot be liable for breach of contract, because there is no contract; he or she is subject only to tort liability.
Right to be Indemnified
As per sections 222 and 223, an agent has a right to be indemnified by his principal for all charges, expenses, and liabilities that he incurs during the course of the agency.
Recognize that the principal owes the agent duties: contract, tort, and workers’ compensation.
An agent is not generally liable for contracts made; the principal is liable. But the agent will be liable if he is undisclosed or partially disclosed, if the agent lacks authority or exceeds it, or, of course, if the agent entered into the contract in a personal capacity.
In a tort action, this is based on the principle of respondent superior or let the master answer for the actions of the agent. A principle will be liable for the negligence of the agent when the agent is acting within the scope of authority and there is no frolic and detour by the agent.
The principal is liable on an agent’s contract only if the agent was authorized by the principal to make the contract. Such authority is express, implied, or apparent.
The law relating to agency governs the relationship between agents and principals as well as their rights and obligations in relation to third parties. This is set out in the Contracts Act 1950 in Part X under the heading of Agency.
There are certain duties of agents such as execution of instructions, exercise of skill and care, act in good faith etc. Likewise principal also has certain duties such as payment of agent, indemnification of agent. … Agents owes fiduciary duties to the principal such as loyalty, confidentiality.
A business agent is an individual who manages another person’s, company’s, or group’s business affairs. … Business agents spend much of their time negotiating contracts for their clients. Some may also help manage their finances and arrange their public appearance schedules.
An agent is not generally liable for contracts made; the principal is liable. But the agent will be liable if he is undisclosed or partially disclosed, if the agent lacks authority or exceeds it, or, of course, if the agent entered into the contract in a personal capacity.
Duties of Principals
If a principal breaches a duty owed to the agent, the agent has two available remedies: The agent may recover damages the breach has caused; and. The agent may terminate the agency relationship.
When you work for another business (the principal) and you act on behalf of that business as an (agent), if you make a mistake, cause an injury to a third party or damage the property of another person or business, that principal may be held liable for your actions because you were acting on their behalf.
Generally, a principal owes the following duties to the agent: Duty to Compensate, Duty to Reimburse, and. Duty to Indemnify the Agent.
The principal is the party who authorizes the other to act in their place, and the agent is the person who has the authority to act on behalf of the principal.
The Act features provisions which prohibit false or misleading representations concerning the price given by estate agents whether in writing, orally or through advertising material.
Under Indian law, agent and principal are both jointly and severally liable. However, where the third party elects to sue either the principal or agent only, he cannot them make a fresh election to sue both. … But once he elects to sue the agent, he cannot subsequently sue the principal.
The agent would be liable for any loss suffered by the principal because of his/her negligent actions or breach of contract. However, the agent is not obliged to perform an act that is contrary to statute or illegal at common law.
Liability of agent
If an agent is negligent in carrying out their duties, they may be liable to either the principal or third party directly. If the agent is deceptive or acts fraudulently, agents may be held liable in civil and criminal law.
I. Whatever a person may do himself, he may do through an agent except acts that involve personal skill and qualifications. Also, where the contract to be performed is of a personal nature, no agent can be employed. Example : Marriage is a contract between two parties but is a contract of a personal nature.