Answer to Question 1
Apparent authority
The Supreme Court of North Dakota reversed the decision of the trial court (which had directed a verdict for RRC, holding, among other things, that Kelby failed to give notice of his inability to perform because Frith was an independent sales representative and not an agent . . . insofar as production, acts of God, waivers, and the like are concerned). The state supreme court explained that how a principal and agent describe their relationship between themselves does not determine what their relationship is to others. The court pointed out that agency is apparent when the conduct of the supposed agent is consistent with an agency, and where, in a particular transaction, someone is justified in dealing with the supposed agent. An apparent agency must rest upon conduct or communications of the principal which, reasonably interpreted, causes a third person to believe that the agent has authority to act for and on behalf of the principal. Noting evidence that Frith knew of Kelby's production problems, the court stated that notice to an agent is ordinarily notice to the principal. The court remanded the case for further proceedings consistent with its opinion, telling the trial court to reconsider Kelby's notice to Frith with a correct understanding of the law of agency.
Answer to Question 2
TRUE