BLAW 3201 Chapter : SQCH15
Document Summary
In early english law parties to a contract could not testify, so they hired witnesses on their behalf. As you could imagine the testimony from hired witnesses was slanted so it was difficult for the courts to ascertain what the agreement or contract in question was. Then in 1677, the english parliament enacted a law requiring certain contracts to be put in writing, to stop this charade of paid witnesses testifying about contracts: explain the one-year rule. A contract that cannot be performed within one year from the date it was formed must be in writing to be enforceable. A secondary promise that is subsidiary to the principle agreement. Like the agreement to be responsible for someone else"s debts if they fail to pay. The main purpose rule is an exception to the requirements that an agreement be in writing for someone to promise to answer the debts of another.
