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Contract law (UK)

Contract law (UK)

Identify and analyse the legal issues raised by the following problem, using appropriate case law and relevant legislation to support your arguments.

Widgets plc enters into a 3-year contract with Crankit plc under which Crankit agrees to service Widgets? production line machinery. Widgets signs a document headed ?Service Agreement? consisting of 150 terms, including the following:
10 It shall be a condition of the contract that Crankit will attend in response to any call-out request by Widgets within 24 hours.
36 Crankit will not be responsible to Widgets for any defect in quality of any spare parts supplied by Crankit when servicing customers? machinery.
142 Widgets agree to indemnify Crankit against any claims by Widgets or any other 3rd party who may suffer damage to a person or property arising from any failure properly to perform this service agreement.
Advise the parties how these terms will affect the outcome of a claim in the following circumstances:
a) When carrying out the first annual service, Crankit fits a new fuel pump. This malfunctions 24 hours later, causing an explosion. Injuries result to Jeremy, who lives next door to the factory and the explosion also causes business interruption for 3 weeks.
b) Twenty months into the contract, Crankit is called upon by Widgets, which reports that a major mechanical failure has brought its production line to a halt. Crankit replies that due to a lack of staff it will be unable to attend for 3 days. Next day, Widgets tells Crankit that it is opting out of the contract as immediate servicing is obtainable from Best & Sons Ltd.