Template:Good faith capsule: Difference between revisions

no edit summary
No edit summary
No edit summary
 
(2 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
===“[[Good faith]] and [[commercially reasonable manner]]” as a general standard===
===“[[Good faith]] and [[commercially reasonable manner]]” as a general standard===
Whether a merchant should commit himself to dealing in [[good faith]], or in a [[commercially reasonable manner]], or [[In good faith and a commercially reasonable manner|both]], is one that vexes many of our learned friends. Especially those in [[US Attorney|America]]. The only discomfort it should occasion is to a solicitor’s<ref>Being an officer of the court, American friends, and not someone who goes door-to-door selling encyclopaedias.</ref> livelihood, for this magic expression, while doing no more than articulating the [[commercial imperative]] and the basic commercial outlook of a [[good egg]], puts many a tedious [[negotiation]] to the sword.  
Whether a merchant should commit himself to dealing in [[good faith]], or in a [[commercially reasonable manner]], or [[In good faith and a commercially reasonable manner|both]], is one that vexes many of our learned friends. Especially those in [[US Attorney|America]]. The only discomfort it should occasion is to a solicitor’s<ref>Being an officer of the court, American friends, and not someone who goes door-to-door selling encyclopaedias.</ref> livelihood, for this magic expression, while doing no more than articulating the [[commercial imperative]] and the basic commercial outlook of a [[good egg]], puts many a tedious [[negotiation]] to the sword.  


Line 10: Line 10:
“What if,” he will say, “your traders mendaciously use this clause to bring about my firm’s misfortune in a way I – er – cannot now anticipate?” (This fellow’s imagination tend to be fantastical in the abstract, but rather prosaic  in the particular).  
“What if,” he will say, “your traders mendaciously use this clause to bring about my firm’s misfortune in a way I – er – cannot now anticipate?” (This fellow’s imagination tend to be fantastical in the abstract, but rather prosaic  in the particular).  


Such a chap is often placated by the magical expression “acting in good faith and a commercially reasonable manner”.  It may help persuade hime across that wobbly bridge to [[Consensus ad idem|consensus]]. Many a time it has helped the [[JC]] get home in time for supper.  
Such a chap is often placated by the magical expression “acting in good faith and a commercially reasonable manner”.  It may help persuade him across that wobbly bridge to [[Consensus ad idem|consensus]]. Many a time it has helped the [[JC]] get home in time for supper.  


'''Litigation risk''': The one argument against the general principle is that it is inherently vague and therefore a source of potential dispute ''in itself'', ''even if'' we always exercise our rights reasonably and in good faith. But come now — it only presents [[litigation]] risk to clients who don’t trust you — and here you have bigger problems, frankly — or for those whom ''you'' don’t trust — also not without issues. Here, your problem is not the good faith obligation; it’s that you have a lousy client relationship. It hardly affects litigation risk in any case: An unhappy client will take action either way, and will argue a lack of good faith in any case.
'''Litigation risk''': The one argument against the general principle is that it is inherently vague and therefore a source of potential dispute ''in itself'', ''even if'' we always exercise our rights reasonably and in good faith. But come now — it only presents [[litigation]] risk to clients who don’t trust you — and here you have bigger problems, frankly — or for those whom ''you'' don’t trust — also not without issues. Here, your problem is not the good faith obligation; it’s that you have a lousy client relationship. It hardly affects litigation risk in any case: An unhappy client will take action either way, and will argue a lack of good faith in any case.