Can you contract out of misleading and deceptive conduct?

Asked by: Shyanne Stark  |  Last update: February 12, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (24 votes)

No, generally, you cannot contract out of liability for misleading or deceptive conduct under consumer protection laws like the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), as courts find it contrary to public policy, meaning "no reliance" or exclusion clauses won't prevent claims if misleading conduct occurred. While you can't exclude liability for future conduct, parties can settle existing or potential disputes, but courts scrutinize these settlement clauses carefully.

Can you contract out of misleading or deceptive conduct?

Exclusion clauses are ineffective: Parties to a contract cannot contract out of liability for misleading or deceptive conduct under the ACL. It would be contrary to public policy to allow a party to evade liability for misleading or deceptive conduct, and to deprive the wronged party of remedies under the ACL.

Can you contract out of misrepresentation?

The remedies for fraudulent misrepresentation include rescission and damages, and the courts have historically been reluctant to allow parties to contract out of liability for fraud.

Can you contract out of a negligence claim?

This means you cannot exclude liability for negligence. So if a person using your services is injured, or dies, and it was because of your negligence, they may be able to hold you liable for not complying with the ACL's consumer guarantees.

Can a contract be void for misrepresentation?

There are three types of misrepresentations: innocent, negligent, and fraudulent, each with distinct remedies. A misrepresentation can lead to the contract being voided and potentially allow for claims of damages. Misrepresentation applies to factual statements but not to opinions or predictions.

Misleading & Deceptive Conduct

42 related questions found

What are three things that can cause a contract to be void?

Three major reasons a contract becomes void are illegal purpose (involving unlawful acts like drug deals), lack of legal capacity (one party is a minor or mentally incapacitated), and impossibility of performance (an unforeseen event makes it impossible to fulfill). Other common causes include mutual mistakes or fraud, rendering the agreement unenforceable from the start.
 

When can a misrepresentation void a policy?

If the insurer finds that a material misrepresentation was made in the application that would have affected the insurer's decision to issue the policy, the carrier may void the policy. The company would have the responsibility only to refund premiums paid.

What are the 4 proofs of negligence?

Most civil lawsuits for injuries allege the wrongdoer was negligent. To win in a negligence lawsuit, the victim must establish 4 elements: (1) the wrongdoer owed a duty to the victim, (2) the wrongdoer breached the duty, (3) the breach caused the injury (4) the victim suffered damages.

What are the 4 types of contract breaches?

The four main types of contract breaches are Minor (or Partial), Material, Anticipatory (or Repudiation), and Fundamental, each differing in severity, from trivial violations to complete failure to perform, affecting the non-breaching party's obligations and available remedies like damages or contract termination.
 

What is Section 73 of the contract Act?

73. Compensation for loss or damage caused by breach of contract. Compensation for failure to discharge obligation resembling those created by contract.

What are four types of mistakes that can invalidate a contract?

Four types of mistakes that can invalidate a contract, making it void or voidable, include Mutual Mistake (both parties share the same fundamental error), Unilateral Mistake (one party is mistaken, and the other knows or should know), Common Mistake (a shared error about the existence or quality of the subject matter, often rendering the contract void), and mistakes involving Misrepresentation or Fraud, where one party is misled by false statements about essential facts, though technically not just a "mistake" but a vitiating factor often grouped with them. 

What are the four types of misrepresentation?

The document outlines four types of misrepresentation: fraudulent, negligent under common law, negligent under statute, and innocent.

Can silence be considered misrepresentation?

Silence or Failure to Volunteer Information

Silence or omission can, however, lead to a finding of fraud or willful misrepresentation if it is clear from the evidence that the alien consciously concealed information.

How to prove misleading or deceptive conduct?

Your Conduct Was Likely to Mislead or Deceive

The other party does not have to prove that your conduct led to their error. Instead, they need to show that your conduct was objectively misleading. A court would decide this by considering whether someone in the same situation would likely be misled.

Can you terminate a contract for misrepresentation?

In some circumstances a party's silence will amount to a misrepresentation, for example, where it gives only half the truth which has the effect of misleading the other party. If this is the case the contract can be rescinded for misrepresentation as above.

What is the limitation period for misleading and deceptive conduct?

The client or commercial concern can complain about misleading & deceptive conduct within six years of its occurrence.

What are the 4 C's of contracts?

The document discusses the four key attributes of solid contracts: clarity, certainty, consensus, and consciousness. Clarity means clearly defining the details of the agreement. Certainty means using precise language like 'will' and 'shall'.

What do you need to prove for a breach of contract?

Proving a breach of contract typically involves demonstrating three key elements: the existence of a contract, that the contract was breached, and that a loss was suffered as a direct consequence of the breach. Proving that a legally binding contract existed is the first step in any breach of contract claim.

What are the four major ways that a contract can be terminated?

  • Termination of contract for breach.
  • Termination of contract by performance.
  • Termination of contract by agreement.
  • Termination of contract by frustration or force majeure.

How hard is it to prove negligence?

Proving negligence may require detailed evidence and expert testimony, especially in cases involving multiple factors contributing to the plaintiff's injuries. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney will know how to prepare a strong case on your behalf.

What are the 4 D's for a malpractice suit to be successful?

In medical malpractice law, proving negligence isn't as simple as showing that you were hurt. There's a specific legal framework, known as the Four Ds of Medical Negligence, that must be satisfied for a case to move forward: Duty, Dereliction, Direct Causation, and Damage.

What is the highest form of negligence?

Gross negligence is a heightened degree of negligence representing an extreme departure from the ordinary standard of care. Falling between intent to do wrongful harm and ordinary negligence, gross negligence is defined as willful, wanton, and reckless conduct affecting the life or property or another.

Can a contract be voided for misrepresentation?

This type of fraud can be perpetrated by the other party to the contract or by a third party. If the other party to the transaction makes a fraudulent or material misrepresentation, upon which the recipient is justified on relying, and that induces the recipient to enter the contract, the contract is voidable.

What is Section 47 of the insurance Act?

(1) Where in respect of any policy of life insurance maturing for payment an insurer is of opinion that by reason of conflicting claims to or insufficiency of proof of title to the amount secured thereby or for any other adequate reason it is impossible otherwise for the insurer to obtain a satisfactory discharge for ...

What happens if insurance finds out you lied?

If you lie to your insurance company, the consequences can be severe, potentially leading to claim denial, policy cancellation, increased premiums, and even criminal charges for insurance fraud, depending on the extent of the lie and your location.