Exam 16: Contract law and capacity: Illegality, incapacity, and enforcement

Consider the following two statements. I.A contract concluded with a minor can only be tainted by incapacity if the adult had knowledge of the minority. II.A contract may only be avoided for mental incapacity by someone (who is not regarded as incapacitated under the Mental Capacity Act 2005) if the other party knows of his incapacity. Which of these statements is true?

Only Parliament can declare certain types of contracts to be illegal.

Courts may refuse to assist 'guilty' parties in enforcing illegal contracts or to help parties recover money or property transferred under an illegal contract where public policy requires this. The law of unjust enrichment governs the circumstances when a party can recover benefits conferred pursuant to a contract. In which of the following circumstances will restitution not be available to a party to the illegal contract? Correct

Which of the following contracts can a minor repudiate before or within a reasonable time of attaining majority?

Which of the following contracts are enforceable?

If a contract is tainted by illegality, it is in all cases absolutely unenforceable. A court may not sever the illegal part of the transaction and allow the remainder to continue to bind the parties.

Gloria, 15, is interested in art and frequently visits the antiques market on the Portobello Road. On a stall owned by Anthony, 56, she sees a sketch which she is sure was drawn by Constable. The sketch costs £300. She buys the sketch and subsequently tries to get it authenticated. A week later, Anthony reads in a local paper that the sketch he sold to Gloria is worth £25,000 and that several London museums have been interested in buying it. Can Anthony recover the painting by pleading Gloria's incapacity as a minor?