Suppose Adam agrees verbally to purchase oranges from a supplier, Ben, for Adam’s business. Adam finds out the very next day that another supplier, Cindy, can provide those oranges at a lower cost. Being a shrewd businessman, Adam no longer wishes to purchase them from Ben. He calls up Ben to inform him of the bad news. Ben threatens to sue. Can Ben now enforce that verbal agreement with Adam? And if Ben had secretly recorded down the conversation, can it be used as evidence of the verbal agreement? These questions will all be addressed in this article. For present purposes however, our present analysis with a basic discussion of contracts.
Debt Management Plans: A Practical Solution for Debt-Laden Individuals
How does one achieve financial freedom? One typical answer may be to spend below our means. Unfortunately, some of us may already be beyond the point of no return, with interest causing a seemingly-unstoppable spiral into bankruptcy.
Consumer Protection for the Consumer
Written by: Emily Tan* I. Introduction It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there. There are unethical businesses which will lie and take advantage of their customers just to make a sale. One example occurred way back in 2014, when an unsettling video of one Pham Van Thoai circulated on the net, which showed him crying and … Continue reading Consumer Protection for the Consumer
Gender Roles Have Changed – The Law on Maintenance Should Too
The Women’s Charter marked a significant swing for gender equality in Singapore. Its founders wanted to foster the principle of equality between women and men through its enactment.[1] Under the Charter, both spouses are regarded as equal beings capable of cooperating with each order to promote the interests of the marriage. Recently, the debate on issues relating to gender equality has received much attention in the public forum. On 20 September 2020, Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam has announced that the Singapore government will review crucial issues on gender equality which will culminate in a White Paper by the first half of next year.
Damages for Defamation: How Are They Assessed?
Written by: Chye Shu Li* Introduction Rome wasn’t built in a day, but it sure burned in one. No wonder then, that defamation is treated seriously – a person’s reputation takes ages to build, yet a single incident, a statement in a newspaper, a remark in a magazine, or even a seemingly innocuous comment online … Continue reading Damages for Defamation: How Are They Assessed?
An Overview of Defamation
Written by: Samantha Ee and Sonia Elizabeth Rajendra* Introduction Of all the weapons man could invent, the most terrible – and the most powerful – was the word.[1] In today’s digital era, statements made on social media can be easily shared, forwarded, and reposted, making social media sites a breeding ground for rumours and falsehoods. … Continue reading An Overview of Defamation
Dealing with workplace bullies
According to a survey by Kantar, Singapore has one of the highest levels of workplace bullying in the world. In just the past year, one in every four Singapore employee has felt bullied, undermined or harassed at the workplace. These acts of bullying can take many forms and come from many different people, including your co-workers, managers and customers.
Dealing with the neighbour from hell
In a perfect world, we would all live in neighbourhoods with perfectly manicured lawns, picture-perfect houses and most importantly, friendly neighbours who ask about your day. Unfortunately, in population-dense Singapore, where housing grows narrower, this perfect world may be out of reach for most of us. And with so many Singaporeans living at close quarters with each other, disputes are bound to come up.
Can a Non-Disclosure Agreement really protect me?
“My employee signed a non-disclosure agreement (“NDA”) with my company, promising not to divulge my company’s confidential information to anyone. I recently found out that he has been sharing my customers’ list and other sensitive information to our competitor. How can I enforce the NDA against him?”
The Basics of Bankruptcy in Singapore
Written by: Winie Ao* Money, money, money, must be funny, in the rich man’s world.[1] I. INTRODUCTION For a potential bankrupt, the notion of “money” is far from funny. Indeed, it is his very lifeblood – the source of both his worry and glee. To bring some assurance and clarity to persons who may have … Continue reading The Basics of Bankruptcy in Singapore
smulexicon.com 