Final Answer:
An agent who tells claimants that their rights may be impaired if they fail to complete a release form within a given period of time could be guilty of Coercion or Duress.
Step-by-step explanation:
An agent who tells claimants that their rights may be impaired if they fail to complete a release form within a given period of time could be guilty of coercion or duress.
Coercion involves the use of force or threats to compel someone to act against their will. In this context, the agent is leveraging the fear of impairing the claimants' rights to pressure them into signing the release form within a specific timeframe.
Such behavior is legally problematic as it undermines the voluntary nature of the agreement. Coercion vitiates the consent required for a contract to be valid.
By suggesting that the claimants' rights may be impaired unless they act quickly, the agent creates a situation where the claimants may feel compelled to sign the release form, even if they would not have done so under normal circumstances.
This conduct raises ethical and legal concerns, as contracts entered into under duress or coercion are typically voidable. Claimants may have grounds to challenge the validity of the release form, arguing that their consent was not freely given.
Authorities may view such actions as an abuse of power and a violation of the principles of fairness and justice that underpin contractual relationships.