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.
If you are an agent or the representative for someone, you can be held personally liable. The law generally holds that an agent is responsible under a contract if the principal is not disclosed.
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.
Liabilities of the agent
Generally, an agent acts on behalf of the principal in his dealings with a third person, a contractual relationship between the principal and the third person is created and the agent is not personally liable.
One of the general principle is that an agent is not personally liable to third parties. But under certain circumstances, an agent can also be made liable. When he becomes liable he can sue and be sued. This general principle is expressed in Section 230 of the Indian Contract Act.
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 …
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
-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.
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.
All that is required to create an agency relationship is the manifestation of assent by both sides. This manifestation can be oral or in writing. Examples of written agency agreements include attorney retainer agreements.
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.
Vicarious liability is a form of secondary or indirect liability that is imposed when parties have a particular relationship, usually an agency relationship. When it is applicable to a particular situation, a principal is required to answer for an agent’s negligent or otherwise wrongful actions.
An agent, in legal terminology, is a person who has been legally empowered to act on behalf of another person or an entity. An agent may be employed to represent a client in negotiations and other dealings with third parties. The agent may be given decision-making authority.
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 under a duty to exercise reasonable care and skill which will be examined in the light of all the particular circumstances of the case. From a professional liability point of view, this duty is one of the most important to consider.
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.
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.
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.
The Doctrine of Accord and Satisfaction (“Doctrine”) means discharge of one’s contractual obligations by way of performing substituted obligations. It is a mode of one’s discharge from its contractual obligations wherein parties to a contract perform a new set of obligations in substitution of older contractual terms.
Agent in the sense “A person or company that provides a particular service” chiefly denotes a person; it denotes a company only by extension. By contrast, agency in the sense “A business or organization providing a particular service on behalf of another business, person, or group” never denotes an individual.
Principles of Adequacy of Consideration
Once the parties agree upon a consideration, it may be considered binding even if the price may not be totally equivalent to the promise. … The amount or performance given in a consideration must be of a value recognizable by the court.