Contract: Remedies (Paper 3-Section B Topic 8) Flashcards
(48 cards)
What are damages?
An award of money made to compensate a C who suffered a loss.
The courts aim to do what?
Put the C back in the position they would have been in, had the contract been completed as agreed.
Damages cannot be awarded if what?
The loss is ‘too remote’
Damages are awarded for what?
Expectation loss (loss of bargain)
Reliance loss (wasted expenditure)
What is an Expectation loss?
Put C back in the position they would have been in if the contract was properly performed
What is a reliance loss?
Allowing the C to claim for expenses they’ve paid in advance of the contract being formed
Name the types of damages
Nominal
Speculative
Liquidated
Compensatory
Give the held of: Staiforth v Lyall
Nominal damages are awarded if no loss has been suffered
Nominal damages are awarded for what?
A breech rather than the loss suffered
Give the held of: Wrotham Park v Parkside Homes
The Wrotham park award states that damages should be calculated based on what would have the ‘reasonably been negotiated between the parties’
Give the held of: Morris-Garner v One Stop
Wrotham Park damages should be awarded when:
- c would have very real problems in establishing financial loss
- when it is a ‘just’ response to a breech of contract
- should not be restricted to exceptional circumstances
What are speculative damages?
Damages that haven’t happened/difficult to quantify
Give the held of: Addis v The Gramophone
Courts were unable to quantify loss of humiliation so no damages were awarded but C was able to claim for loss of earnings
Damages can be awarded of a ‘speculative nature’ for mental distress if what?
If the entire point of the contract is for pleasure
Give the held of: Jackson v Horizon Holiday
C was able to claim for his family
Define loss of amenity
Reduction of your ability to do something
Give the held of: Ruxley Electronics and Construction v Forsyth
She successfully claimed for her loss of amenity
What are liquidated damages?
When the amount of damages to be paid is a term of the contract (only accepted if amount represents accurate assessment of loss)
Are penalties liquidated damages?
No
Give the held of: ParkingEye v Beavis
The fine was enforceable as it was not seen by the court as a penalty
What are the principles the court must follow from the ParingEye v Beavis case?
- Can be applied to consumer and commercial contracts
- Penalty does not have to genuine pre estimate of loss
- The party claiming does not have to suffer a loss to claim
- Penalty does not have to be financial
- Penalty can only be applied to primary obligation
- Clause can be a deterrent to prevent breech
What does quantum meruit mean?
They’ll be paid for the work done
How are damages awarded on a Quantum Meruit basis?
- If no amount is specified in agreement, courts will award a reasonable amount (URDC v Powel)
- If circumstances imply new agreement
- Innocent party is able to claim if other party breeches contract or when the innocent party is prevented from performing side of agreement
Give the held of: Steven v Bromley
Steven was able to claim for the additional items he had to carry