People, especially business owners, regularly hire or appoint others to perform tasks on their behalf. The Agencies Act governs the operation of this relationship. Agency is a legal art term that refers to the relationship between a client and an agent. [1] Apparent authority (also known as ”alleged authority”) occurs when the principal`s words or conduct would lead a reasonable person in the third party`s position to believe that the representative was authorized to act, even if the principal and alleged representative had never discussed such a relationship. For example, if a person appoints a person to a position that involves powers similar to those of an organization, those who are aware of the appointment have the right to assume that there is a clear authority to do the things normally entrusted to a person in such a position. If a client gives the impression that an enforcement agent is authorized but there is no actual power of attorney, third parties are protected as long as they have acted appropriately. This is sometimes referred to as the ”estoppel agency” or the ”doctrine of perseverance,” which prevents the client from refusing to grant powers if third parties have changed their position to their detriment by relying on the representations made. [5] A representative acting within the limits of the powers conferred by its contracting entity binds the contracting entity to the obligations it creates vis-à-vis third parties. There are essentially three types of authority recognized in the law: real authority (explicit or implicit), apparent authority, and ratified authority (explained here). A mandatary may not, under normal circumstances, delegate the task entrusted to him. The principle is based on the idea that when a client appoints an agent, they do so by placing their trust in the agent and perhaps not having similar confidence in another person`s work. A third party may rely in good faith on the representation of a person who identifies himself as the representative of another person.
It is not always cost-effective to verify whether a person presented as the one who has the power to act for another actually has such authority. If it is later found that the alleged officer acted without the necessary authority, the officer is usually held liable. Implied actual authority, also known as ”habitual authority,” is the authority that an officer has because it is reasonably necessary to exercise his or her explicit authority. As such, it can be derived on the basis of a position held by an agent. For example, partners have the power to bind the other partners in the firm, their liability being jointly and severally liable, and in a corporation, all officers and officers with decision-making power have the power to bind the firm based on their position. Other forms of implied real authority include habitual authority. Here, the customs of a business imply that the agent has certain powers. In the wool buying industry, it is common for traders to buy in their own name. [3] Also an ancillary power, in which an agent must be empowered to perform other tasks necessary and ancillary to the execution of the effective express power of attorney. This must not be more than necessary[4] An agent is a person acting on behalf of another. Many transactions are made by agents who act in this way. All corporate transactions, including those involving government organizations, are carried out in this way because the companies themselves cannot really act; they are legal fictions.
Agencies can be created explicitly, implicitly or apparently. Recurring issues in agency law include whether the ”agent” is really one, the extent of the agent`s authority, and the obligations between the parties. The five types of agents include: general agent, special agent, sub-agent, agency associated with an interest and servant (or employee). The independent contractor is not an employee; Their activities are not specifically controlled by their client, and the client is not liable for social security, social security and other charges. However, it is not uncommon for an employer to claim that employees are independent contractors when in reality they are employees, and cases are often fought on the basis of the facts. A special agent is a person authorized to perform a certain action or to represent his principal in a particular transaction, such as a busy agent. B to sell a computer. As soon as the act is performed by the special agent, his authority ends. If it does something that does not fall within its jurisdiction, the procuring entity is not bound by it and third parties should therefore properly consider the extent of its powers before entering into a contract with it. Most agents don`t work for free, although you can become an agent by agreeing to do something for free. [18] Where the agent is compensated, the terms of the contract determine the amount the agent is paid for his or her services. If the amount of compensation is not determined by the parties, the court of first instance may determine appropriate compensation.
In 1986, the European Communities adopted Directive 86/653/EEC on self-employed commercial agents. In the United Kingdom, this has been transposed into national law in the Commercial Agents Regulations 1993. [12] Thus, agents and principals in a commercial agent relationship are subject to both the common law and the Commercial Agents Regulations. There is also the agency by necessity, in which an agent is appointed to act on behalf of a client who is physically or mentally unable to make a decision. This is not always a case of incapacity for work. For example, business owners can designate agents who handle unexpected issues that occur in their absence. In areas of social distress, the courts have stated that there is an agency if there is no agreement. The agency relationship would then have been implied ”by operation of law”. In most states, children can purchase necessary items – food or medical services – on their parents` behalf. Long-standing social policy considers it desirable for the head of the family to provide for his relatives, and the courts will transfer the costs to the head of the family in order to ensure the well-being of relatives. The courts achieve this result by assuming that the maintenance creditor is the representative of the head of the family, so creditors can sue the head of the family because of the debts.
Let`s analyze this sequence of events from a legal perspective – recognizing, of course, that this example is an analogy and that even today the law would not impose any consequences on Alden for his inability to fulfill Captain Standish`s wishes. Alden was the captain`s agent: he was expressly authorized to speak on his behalf in a manner agreed upon for a specific purpose, and he accepted the mission taking into account the captain`s friendship.