WJEC A-Level Law 603-1978-1
Law Making in Wales and the UK
Delegated Legislation
Statutory Interpretation
Judicial Precedent
The Civil Courts and Dispute Resolution
The Criminal Process and the Criminal Courts
Legal Personnel and the Judiciary
Access to Justice and Funding
Tort: Rules and Theory
Tort: Negligence
Tort: Occupiers' Liability
Tort: Remedies
Human Rights: Rules and TheoryHuman rights
Human Rights: Key Convention ProvisionsHuman rights
Human Rights: RestrictionsHuman rights
Human Rights: EnforcementHuman rights
Human Rights: Protection and ReformHuman rights
Contract: Rules and TheoryContract
Contract: FormationContract
Contract: TermsContract
Contract: Misrepresentation and DuressContract
Contract: DischargeContract
Contract: RemediesContract
Criminal Law: Rules and TheoryCriminal
Criminal Law: General Elements of LiabilityCriminal
Criminal Law: Offences Against the PersonCriminal
Criminal Law: Property OffencesCriminal
Criminal Law: DefencesCriminal
Criminal Law: Preliminary OffencesCriminal
Contract: Terms
Exclusion clauses and their construction
- 3 things to know
- A2 Units 3 and 4
Overview
Contra proferentem rule and doctrine of fundamental breach and why was it abandoned.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Distinguish an exclusion clause from a limitation clause.
Why does an onerous exclusion clause require more prominent notice than an ordinary term?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Distinguish an exclusion clause from a limitation clause.
Model answer
An exclusion clause seeks to exclude liability for a breach altogether, whereas a limitation clause accepts liability but caps the amount recoverable or restricts the way a claim may be brought.
- 2
State the three stages a court works through when a party relies on an exclusion clause.
Model answer
The court asks first whether the clause was incorporated into the contract, secondly whether on its true construction it covers the loss that occurred, and thirdly whether statute prevents reliance on it.
- 3
How may an exclusion clause be incorporated into a contract?
Model answer
It may be incorporated by signature of a contractual document, by reasonable notice given before or at the time the contract is made, or by a consistent and regular course of dealing between the parties.
- 4
Why does an onerous exclusion clause require more prominent notice than an ordinary term?
Model answer
The party relying on it must take reasonable steps to bring it to the other side's attention, and the more unusual or burdensome the clause the more is required, because a reasonable person would not expect to find such a term in that document.
- 5
State the contra proferentem rule.
Model answer
Any ambiguity in an exclusion clause is construed against the party seeking to rely on it, since that party drafted the wording and could have made it clear.
- 6
What guidance did Canada Steamship Lines v The King (1952) give on excluding liability for negligence?
Model answer
A clause expressly mentioning negligence will exclude it, and where it does not the court asks whether the words are wide enough to cover negligence and whether the clause could instead operate on some other head of liability, in which case negligence is not covered.
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