Also known as: special agents
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
An agent authorized to conduct a single transaction or a series of transactions not involving continuity of service.
MetroParts hired Lina on a temporary basis and instructed her only to negotiate and sign a single bulk purchase agreement with Apex Motors for brake assemblies for one production run. Lina completed that agreement on MetroParts's behalf. When a later dispute arose over whether she could bind MetroParts to additional contracts for future models, her limited role meant she lacked authority to do so.
BlueWave Shipping appointed Carla to handle arrangements for one scheduled vessel call at HarborCo's terminal and authorized her only to arrange berthing and stevedoring contracts for that visit. Carla attempted to bind BlueWave to an ongoing services contract for future calls. Because her mandate covered only the single port call without continuity of service, she could not bind BlueWave to the recurring arrangement.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Highland Protection retained Teresa solely to investigate and settle one fire loss claim for Birch Underwriters. Teresa conducted repeated site visits and negotiated multiple business-interruption disputes over five months. Her engagement remained limited to the single discrete loss without ongoing service, so she could not bind Highland to the additional claims.
Field Kitchen directed Suzanne to implement only a one-month summer promotion and obtain ingredients for that event alone. Suzanne executed a twelve-month exclusive supply contract extending beyond the promotion. Because the assignment was confined to the single limited transaction without continuity of service, Field Kitchen was not bound by the longer contract.
A special agent is authorized to conduct a single transaction or a series of transactions not involving continuity of service. A general agent is authorized to conduct a series of transactions involving continuity of service. The distinction determines the scope of authority that can bind the principal without additional grants.
Supporting sources
Written instructions that confine the agent to one defined transaction, a flat fee for that transaction only, and the absence of any authorization for ongoing dealings establish special agency. Repeated acts over time within an ongoing managerial role would instead indicate general agency.
Supporting sources
No. A special agent has no power to bind the principal by contracts the agent is not authorized or apparently authorized to make, absent estoppel or other exceptions. Third parties cannot rely on the agent's status alone to expand the scope beyond the limited assignment.
Supporting sources
…. . . as an independent business for [its] own account.” App. 179a. The agreement “does not make [MBUSA] . . . a general or special agent, partner, joint venturer or employee of DAIMLERCHRYSLER or any DaimlerChrysler Group Company”; MBUSA “ha[s] no authority to make binding obligations for or act on behalf of DAIMLERCHRYSLER…