Constructive fraud

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Constructive fraud is a legal fiction describing a situation where a person or entity gained an unfair advantage over another by deceitful or unfair methods. Intent does not need to be shown[1] as in the case of actual fraud. Some unfair methods may include not telling customers about defects in a product.[2]

The elements are:[3]

  • a duty owing by the party to be charged to the complaining party due to their relationship;[4]
  • violation of that duty by the making of deceptive material misrepresentations of past or existing facts or remaining silent when a duty to speak exists;
  • reliance thereon by the complaining party;
  • injury to the complaining party as a proximate result thereof; and
  • the gaining of an advantage by the party to be charged at the expense of the complaining party.

References

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  1. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ Strong v. Jackson, 777 N.E. 2d 1141 (Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).).
  4. ^ A fiduciary duty is one such duty Sees v Bank One, footnote 8, page 3