Mutuality - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition mutuality

Definition :

Mutuality, reciprocation; the state of things in which one person being bound to perform some duty or service or act for another, that other on his side is bound to do something for the former.

A memorandum under the 4th s. of the (English) Sale of Goods Act, 1893 (Statute of Frauds, s. 17), or the (English) Law of Property Act,1925, s. 40 (Statute of Frauds, s. 4), does not require mutual signatures to bind the party signing, but if it can be shown that the signature of one party was dependent on the other party signing, the claim on the contract would fail, in the absence of both signatures, because the condition has not been fulfilled, Halsburry L.E., Hailsham Ed., vol. 7, p. 124. As to the want of mutuality as a defence to an action for specific performance, see Fry on Specific Performance.