What is the test for a contract where the contract states that a ship called the “Peerless” will not be delivered?

British Columbia, Canada


The following excerpt is from British Columbia (Minister of Transportation and Highways) v. Reon Management Services Inc., 2001 BCCA 679 (CanLII):

Sigurdson J. went on to observe as follows at para. 76 of his Reasons: Where parties are at cross-purposes and the apparent agreement is capable of either interpretation, there is no agreement. In Raffles v. Wichelhaus (1864), 159 E.R. 375, the defendant purchased cotton from the plaintiff “to arrive ex “Peerless” from Bombay”; the defendant pleaded that he meant a ship called the “Peerless” which sailed from Bombay in October, whereas the plaintiff was not ready to deliver any cotton which arrived by that ship, but only cotton which arrived by another ship called the “Peerless” which sailed from Bombay in December. Although the question being determined was procedural in nature, the court held: There is nothing on the face of the contract to show that any particular ship called the “Peerless” was meant; but the moment it appears that two ships called the “Peerless” were about to sail from Bombay there is a latent ambiguity and parol evidence may be given for the purpose of shewing that the defendant mean one “Peerless,” and the plaintiff another. That being so, there was no consensus ad idem, and therefore no binding contract. (emphasis added)

Other Questions


What is the test for the construction of a contract where a clause in the contract states that a condition fundamental to the agreement must be met before the contract can be signed? (British Columbia, Canada)
What is the current state of the law in Canada when a contract states that a particular law governs the contract? (British Columbia, Canada)
What is the test for determining whether a contract is enforceable in circumstances where the contract states that a particular law will govern the contract? (British Columbia, Canada)
Is a contract enforceable if the contract contains no representations, warranties, guarantees or promises other than those set out in this contract? (British Columbia, Canada)
What is the range of damages for damages for breach of a contract where the contract price of a parcel of land was significantly lower than the value of the land at the time the contract was signed? (British Columbia, Canada)
Is an employment contract valid when the substratum of the employment contract has been eroded so that the contract does not need to be substantially eroded? (British Columbia, Canada)
What is the test for repaying a contract where a party has been found to have committed a breach of the contract? (British Columbia, Canada)
What is the current state of the law regarding the right to call a medical witness? (British Columbia, Canada)
When a contract is signed and signed, can a party who signed it before and at the time of the contract be found to have misrepresented the agreement? (British Columbia, Canada)
In what circumstances will the doctrine of non est factum be applied in real estate contracts where the contract is not binding? (British Columbia, Canada)
X



Alexi white


"The most advanced legal research software ever built."

Trusted by top litigators from across North America.