How English law protects owners from a factor’s unauthorized acts
In this discussion, the central question is whether a factor who sells or handles goods may pledge them for his own debt. The text traces the rule back to early cases and explains why the principal should bear losses rather than the party who lends credit to the property.
This edition frames the scope and practical stakes of altering the law. It examines the balance between protecting the principal and limiting the risk of dishonest factors, using historic decisions to illustrate how the law constrains a factor’s authority and what happens when that authority is misused.
- Why a factor cannot pledge or barter goods without explicit authority from the principal
- How the law treats possession, title, and the risk to pawnees when ownership is misrepresented
- Arguments for and against changes to the law, including real-world consequences
- Key cases and principles that shape current understanding, from 17th to 19th century authorities
Ideal for readers of legal history, mercantile practice, and anyone exploring how trust and duty frame commercial law.