第四章合同的内容与履行z一、口头证据规则与合同内容的确定z二、合同的解释z三、合同的补缺z四、合同的变更z五、履行义务因障碍或因情况变化而免除第一节口头证据规则与合同内容的确定z一、口头证据规则的含义z二、不可分割的书面协议与可分割的书面协议z三、平行协议规则z四、证明不存在有强制力的书面协议的证据z五、口头证据规则与合同的修改第一节口头证据规则与合同内容的确定z一、口头证据规则的含义z(一)定义z(二)《第二次合同法重述》规定一、口头证据规则的含义z(一)定义z口头证据规则(ParolEvidenceRule),是指合同当事人订立了一个书面合同,把他们之间的最终协议用书面形式表达出来后,有关他们事先理解和协商合同内容的证据,无论是口头还是其他形式的,都不能出于更改或对抗这一书面文件的目的而被援用。一、口头证据规则的含义z(二)《第二次合同法重述》规定z§213.EffectOfIntegratedAgreementOnPriorAgreements(ParolEvidenceRule)z(1)Abindingintegratedagreementdischargesprioragreementstotheextentthatitisinconsistentwiththem.z(2)Abindingcompletelyintegratedagreementdischargesprioragreementstotheextentthattheyarewithinitsscope.z(3)Anintegratedagreementthatisnotbindingorthatisvoidableandavoideddoesnotdischargeaprioragreement.Butanintegratedagreement,eventhoughnotbinding,maybeeffectivetorenderinoperativeatermwhichwouldhavebeenpartoftheagreementifithadnotbeenintegrated.Illustrations:z1.DCorporationregularlyborrowsmoneyfromCBank.S,theprincipalstockholderinD,offerstoguaranteepaymentifCwillincreasetheamountslent.Thereisabankcustomtomakesuchloansonlyonadequatecollateralsuppliedbytheborrower,andCpromisesStofollowthecustom.SthenexecutesawrittenagreementwithCguaranteeingpaymentoffutureloanstoDwithorwithoutsecurity.Ifthewrittenagreementisabindingintegratedagreement,C'spriorpromiseisdischarged.Illustrations:z2.InMayAandBexchangepropertiesandagreeorallythatAwillmakecertainrepairsonthepropertytobeconveyedbyAtoB,therepairstobefinishedbyOctober1.AandBthendrawupandsignamemorandumoftherepairagreement,specifyingallthetermsexceptthatthememorandumissilentastotimeofperformance.Ifthememorandumisabindingcompletelyintegratedagreement,theagreementtofinishbyOctober1isdischarged,andtherepairsaretobefinishedwithinareasonabletime.TheoralagreementastoOctober1mayberelevantevidenceastowhatisareasonabletime.Illustrations:z3.AandBenterintoacontractthatBwillbuildahouseonA'slandforaprice.LatertheyenterintoanoralcontractbywhichBpromisestoaddaporchandApromisestopayanextra$2,000.StilllatertheyenterintoanintegratedagreementinwhichBpromisestobuildaccordingtotheoriginalplansandApromisestopaytheextra$2,000.Theintegratedagreementisnotbindingforlackofconsideration,andtheoralintermediateagreementisnotdischarged.第一节口头证据规则与合同内容的确定二、不可分割的书面协议与可分割的书面协议z当事人双方订立的书面协议是一个不可分割的协议,还是一个可分割的协议,决定口头证据规则是否适用于某一个特定的案件。二、不可分割的书面协议与可分割的书面协议z《第二次合同法重述》的规定z§209.IntegratedAgreementsz(1)Anintegratedagreementisawritingorwritingsconstitutingafinalexpressionofoneormoretermsofanagreement.z(2)Whetherthereisanintegratedagreementistobedeterminedbythecourtasaquestionpreliminarytodeterminationofaquestionofinterpretationortoapplicationoftheparolevidencerule.z(3)Wherethepartiesreduceanagreementtoawritingwhichinviewofitscompletenessandspecificityreasonablyappearstobeacompleteagreement,itistakentobeanintegratedagreementunlessitisestablishedbyotherevidencethatthewritingdidnotconstituteafinalexpression.Illustrations:z1.AandBenterintoanoralcontract,andprepareandsignawritingtoincorporateitsterms.Thoughthewritingcontainssubstantiallyalltheorallyagreedterms,theyarenotfullysatisfiedwithit,andtheyagreetohaveitredrafted.Thereisnointegratedagreement.Illustrations:z2.AorallyagreestoemployBoncertainterms.BimmediatelywritesandAreceivesaletterbeginning,Confirmingouroralarrangementthismorning,andfullystatingthecontractasheunderstandsit.AmakesnoreplybutwithknowledgeofB'sunderstandingacceptsservicesfromBunderthecontract.Theletterisacompletelyintegratedagreement.Eventhoughtheletterisnotinallrespectsaccurate,itoperatesasanofferofsubstitutedterms,andA'sacquiescencemanifestsassenttothoseterms.Illustrations:z3.AsellsanddeliversahoteltoB.LaterAtakespossessionofthehotelfurniture,andBsuestorecoverit.Bclaimsthefurnitureunderanoralagreement;Aprovesanapparentlycompletewrittenagreementforthesaleoftherealproperty,andobjectstoconsiderationoftheoralagreement.Intheabsenceofcontraryevidence,thewritingistakentobeanintegration;whetheritisacompleteintegrationisdecidedonthebasisofallrelevantevidence.Iftheoralagreementcontradictsthewriting,orifthewritingisacompleteintegration,evidenceoftheoralagreementisexcluded;otherwisethetrieroffactistodecidewhethertheoralagreementwasmade.第一节口头证据规则与合同内容的确定z三、平行协议规则z(一)含义z(二)《第二次合同法重述》的规定三、平行协议规则z(一)含义z一项书面协议是完全地不可分割的这一事实并不排斥当事人证明,在这一协议之外还存在着一个完全独立的由同样的当事人签订的协议。根据这个规则,在一个完全地不可分割的协议之外,还可以存在一个与前一协议平行的不相抵触的附属性的协议。三、平行协议规则z(二)《第二次合同法重述》规定z§216.ConsistentAdditionalTermsz(1)Evidenceofaconsistentadditionaltermisadmissibletosupplementanintegratedagreementunlessthecourtfindsthattheagreementwascompletelyintegrated.z(2)Anagreementisnotcompletelyintegratedifthewritingomitsaconsistentadditionalagreedtermwhichisz(a)agreedtoforseparateconsideration,orz(b)suchatermasinthecircumstancesmightnaturallybeomittedfromthewriting.Illustrations:z1.AowesBtwodebts,andsendsacheckforanamountlessthantheamountofeither.Intheabsenceofanycontrarymanifestationofintentionbyeitherparty,theruleoflawwouldbethatthecheckisappliedtothedebtwhichfirstmatured.Anagreementthattheotherdebtistobepaidisnotinconsistentwiththec