law of Agency 代理法

TheLawofAgencyChapterOutlineIntroduction1WhatisAgency2FormationofAgency3DDutiesofagentandprincipal4TerminationofAgency5InternalRelationship6ExternalRelationship7Introduction张某在国内有一辆汽车，后张某出国定居，于是就委托王某为其销售汽车。西安的甲想把在天津继承的一处私房卖掉，但他既不知天津房屋买卖的行情，又没有时间去天津处理卖房子的各种事宜。于是，甲把此事委托给天津的乙，乙以代理人的身份，用被代理人甲的名义，在找到了买主丙，乙便在甲的授权范围内负责与丙谈判、签订房屋买卖合同，合同的权利、义务则由谁向丙承担。WhatisAgencyDefinitionPartiesinagencyInternalandexternalrelationshipsDefinitionAgencyisdefinedasafiduciaryrelationshipbetweentwopersonsinwhichone(theagent)actsonbehalfof,andissubjecttothecontrolof,theother(theprincipal).PartiesinagencyAgent:personauthorizedbyanothertoactfororinplaceofhimorher.代理人Principal:personwho,byagreementorotherwise,authorizesanagenttoactonhisorherbehalfinsuchawaythattheactsoftheagentbecomebindingontheprincipal.本人Thirdparty:anypersondoingbusinesswithagent.第三人InternalandexternalrelationshipsInternalrelationship:principal-agent(stipulatedbycontractofauthorization,contractofemployment,partnershipcontract)Externalrelationship:independentfrominternalrelationship被代理人/本人principal代理人agent第三人athirdpersonagency代理NondelegabledutiesTheactrequiredbylawtobeperformedpersonallybytheprincipalcannotbedelegatedtoanagent.E.g.VotingTakinganautomobiledrivingtestMarriageregistration/divorceregistrationTheactrequiredoftheprincipalispersonalincommon,hecannotdelegatetoanagent.Case:某画店诉马某（画家）案1999年6月，吉林省某市一画店请画家马某为其作画。双方约定，由马某在本年内为画店作国画四幅，其中包括：两幅山水画，两幅仕女画。纸张、笔墨由画店提供。每幅国画，画店先行付给马某人民币2000元。第二天，画店将预付款8000元及纸张、笔墨送交马某。但是由于马某忙于自己画展的准备，一直无暇为画店作画。同年12月初，马某又应某国之邀出访。临行前，马某将印章、纸墨等留给其学生李某、孙某，要其二人代为作画四幅，于年内送至画店。李、孙二人按照马某吩咐赶作国画四幅，于12月末送至该画店。该画店经过鉴定，发现这四幅国画无论从哪一方面，都与马某的作品有很大差距，认定不是马某所作。2000年1月，马某出访归来，画店经理到马某处，与其商量，要求重画，马某执意不肯。于是该画店起诉至某市人民法院。InternalRelationshipsDutiesofagenttoprincipalFiduciarydutyofLoyaltyDutyofobedienceDutyofcareDutyofaccountingDutyofcommunicationDutiesofPrincipaltoAgentDutytopaycommissionDutytoreimburseandindemnifyDutytokeepaccountsFiduciarydutyofLoyaltyTheagentowesafiduciarydutyofgoodfaith(诚信)andutmostloyalty(忠实)totheprincipal.•Conflictsofinterest•Double-agentprohibitionSelf-dealingprohibition•CompetitionprohibitionConfidentialityDouble-agentProhibitionCase:AugustretainedBordentoactasabrokerinthesaleofhishouse.Bordenobtainedacorporationtobuythehouse.WhenAugustfoundthatBordenwasanofficerofthatcorporation,didhehavetherighttoavoidthecontractofsale?Yes.Personscannotactasagentsforpartieswithadverseinterests.Self-dealingprohibitionTheagent’sownpersonalfinancialinterestscannotdirectlyconflictwiththeprincipal’sfinancialinterestTheagentcan’tbethebuyer/selleriftheprincipalistheseller/buyerTheagentcan’tcompetewiththeprincipal(non-competitionagreementforexample)Facts:companyAauthorizedcompanyBtopurchaseamachinein2000.CompanyBorderedmachinefromitselfandsoldtoA.Case:王立生代理行为无效案王立生是某单位后勤处的负责人。1995年9月，其亲戚家的一头牛得了一种传染病，且使其它15头牛全部被传染，王立生利便用职权之便以该单位食堂的名义买下其亲戚家中16头病牛，随后又找人将该16头病牛全部杀掉，并把牛皮送其亲戚，牛肉运回本单位食堂，其亲戚送给他1000元作为酬谢。由于牛肉感染病毒，本单位职工食用后发生9人中毒，食堂只好将剩余的牛肉倒掉，造成经济损失20000余元。有人将此事向单位反映后，单位责令王立生追回牛肉款。王立生表示，牛肉是其亲戚的，他是代理单位购买牛肉，发生损失应当由单位负责，与其个人没有关系。其所在单位遂起诉至区人民法院，要求王立生及其亲戚归还牛肉款。confidentialityConfidentialityisnecessarybecauseprincipalsoftenprovideconfidentialinformationtotheiragentstofurtherthebusiness,suchastradesecrets,businessplans,financialplans,customerlists,salestactics,Manufacturingtechnologies,NewproductinformationDutyofobedienceAgentsmustgenerallyobeyanyreasonabledirectionstheprincipalprovidesthatwillimpacttheprincipal’sbusiness,andisliableforanylossifhedeviates.Exception?Instructionsareillegal,immoraloragainstpublicpolicyIntheeventofasuddenemergencyCase:obedienceFacts:Roarkwasinstructedbyhisprincipaltoshipcertainmerchandiseatadefinitetime,byadesignated(指定的)carrier.Roarkshippedbyanothercarrierbecausehethoughthemightsavemoney.Themerchandisewaslost.DutyofcareAgentmustusereasonableskillandcareinconductingtheprincipal’sbusiness.Doesthelawrequiretheagentguaranteessuccess?NoIsthefactofnottobepaidaffecthisdutyofcare?NoDutyofaccountingAllpropertyandfundsbelongingtotheprincipalarerequiredtobeaccountedforadequately.Theagent’sindividualpropertymustbekeptseparatefromtheprincipal’sproperty.DutyofcommunicationAgentsmustcommunicatetotheprincipalallrelevantinformationandnoticestheyreceiveinthecourseofperformingtheprincipal’sbusiness.Case:agent’sdutiestoprincipalFacts:MarryauthorizedPeter,arealestatebrokertofindabuyerforherfarmland.Petergotinformationthatthelandpricewillincreasesharplysohedecidedtobuyithimselfatthepriceof$800peracreandsignedcontractwithMarry.However,afterthatMarryfoundanotherbuyerandsoldthelandatthesameprice.Peterlaterfoundabuyeratthepriceof$1250.Petersuedfordamages.Issue:canPetergetthiscompensation?Whichdutieshavebeenbroken?Case:agent’sdutiestoprincipalDecision:Asanagent,PeterbrokehisdutiessoMarryhastherighttoavoidthecontract.DutyofloyaltySelf-dealingprohibitioncommunicationDutyofprincipal:PayCommissiontheamountandtimetopayisdecidedby:Agreement,forexample:PeterauthorizesMarrytobuycomputer.ItstatesthatMarrycanget$20foritintheiragreement.Noagreement,custom,f