First Principles of Business Law

11.5. Finding the relevant law  

Recall the facts of the case study.  So far, we have identified the issue and formulated it as a question.  The next step is to find the relevant rules of law that will help answer this question.  For this example, four rules of law are set out below.  All of them are relevant to a contract of purchase and sale, so they all potentially apply to this case.  However, one of the rules is most relevant to the particular issue that has arisen.  Identify the most relevant rule. 

(a) A contract for the purchase and sale of goods is legally binding and can be enforced in the courts.

(b) A buyer must take delivery of goods bought and sold at the seller’s place of business unless otherwise agreed.

(c) Delivery of goods bought and sold, and payment for those goods, should take place at the same time unless otherwise agreed.

(d) In contracts for the purchase and  sale of goods, the rules as to the time and place of both delivery and payment can be changed by agreement.