3-02 Principal and Agent Relation - North Dakota Statutes

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CHAPTER 3-02PRINCIPAL AND AGENT RELATION3-02-01. Acts done by or to agent. Every act which legally may be done by or to anyperson may be done by or to the agent of such person for that purpose, unless a contrary
intention clearly appears.3-02-02. Actual or ostensible authority. An agent has such authority as the principalactually or ostensibly confers upon the agent. Actual authority is such as a principal intentionally
confers upon the agent or intentionally or by want of ordinary care allows the agent to believe the
agent possesses. Ostensible authority is such as the principal intentionally or by want of ordinary
care causes or allows a third person to believe the agent possesses.3-02-03. Agent authority. Every agent has actually such authority as is defined by thistitle unless specially deprived thereof by the agent's principal, and has even then such authority
ostensibly, except as to persons who have actual or constructive notice of the restriction upon the
agent's authority.3-02-04. Authority limited to specific terms. When an authority is given partly ingeneral and partly in specific terms, the general authority gives no higher powers than those
specifically mentioned.3-02-05. General authority limited. An authority expressed in general terms, howeverbroad, does not authorize an agent to act in the agent's own name unless doing so is the usual
course of business, to define the scope of the agent's agency, or to do any act that a trustee is
forbidden to do under chapters 59-09, 59-10, 59-11, 59-12, 59-13, 59-14, 59-15, 59-16, 59-17,
59-18, and 59-19.3-02-06. Form of authorization. An oral authorization is sufficient for any purpose,except that an authority to enter into a contract required by law to be in writing, other than an
instrument covered by chapter 41-03 can be given only by an instrument in writing.3-02-07. Fraud limits authority. An agent never can have authority, either actual orostensible, to do an act which is, and is known or suspected by the person with whom the agent
deals to be, a fraud upon the principal.3-02-08. Authority to do necessary acts and make representations. An agent hasauthority:1.To do everything necessary or proper and usual in the ordinary course of business
to effect the purpose of the agent's agency.2.To make a representation respecting any matter of fact, not including the terms of
the agent's authority, but upon which the agent's right to use the agent's authority
depends and the truth of which cannot be determined by the use of reasonable
diligence on the part of the person to whom the representation is made.3-02-09.When agent may disobey instructions.An agent has power to disobeyinstructions in dealing with the subject of the agency in cases when it is clearly for the interest of
the agent's principal that the agent should do so and there is not time to communicate with the
principal.3-02-10. Authority to warrant property sold. Authority to sell and convey real propertyincludes authority to give the usual covenants of warranty. Authority to sell personal property
includes authority to warrant the title of the principal and the quality and quantity of the property.3-02-11. Authority of general and special agent to receive price. A general agent tosell, who is entrusted by the principal with the possession of the thing sold, has authority toPage No. 1receive the price. A special agent to sell has authority to receive the price on delivery of the thing
sold, but not afterwards.3-02-12. Agent must inform principal - Not exceed authority. An agent must useordinary diligence to keep the agent's principal informed of the agent's acts in the course of the
agency. An agent must not exceed the limits of the agent's actual authority as defined by this
title.3-02-13. When agent can delegate powers. An agent, unless specially forbidden bythe agent's principal to do so, can delegate the agent's powers to another person in any of the
following cases, and in no others:1.When the act to be done is purely mechanical.2.When it is such as the agent personally cannot, and the subagent lawfully can,
perform.3.When it is the usage of the place to delegate such power.4.When such delegation is specially authorized by the principal.3-02-14. Lawful subagent principal's agent. A subagent lawfully appointed representsthe principal in like manner with the original agent, and the original agent is not responsible to
third persons for the acts of the subagent.3-02-15. Responsibility of mere agent or unauthorized subagent. A mere agent ofan agent is not responsible as such to the principal of the latter. If an agent employs a subagent
without authority, the former is a principal and the latter is the former's agent and the principal of
the former has no connection with the latter.3-02-16. Duty of agent as collector of negotiable instrument. An agent employed tocollect a negotiable instrument must collect it promptly and take all measures necessary to
charge the parties thereto in case of its dishonor, and, if it is a bill of exchange, must present it for
acceptance with reasonable diligence.3-02-17. Limitation of duties of licensed real estate agents. The duties of real estatebrokers and real estate salespersons, who are licensed under chapter 43-23, and the civil
liabilities arising from the duties, are limited to those duties set forth in chapter 43-23 or under
rules adopted under that chapter.Page No. 2Document Outlinechapter 3-02 principal and agent relation