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Business Law I Essentials

7.3 Breach of Contract and Remedies

Business Law I Essentials7.3 Breach of Contract and Remedies
Table of contents
  1. Preface
  2. 1 American Law, Legal Reasoning, and the Legal System
    1. Introduction
    2. 1.1 Basic American Legal Principles
    3. 1.2 Sources and Types of Law
    4. 1.3 Important Business Laws and Regulations
    5. Assessment Questions
    6. Endnotes
  3. 2 Disputes and Dispute Settlement
    1. Introduction
    2. 2.1 Negotiation
    3. 2.2 Mediation
    4. 2.3 Arbitration
    5. Assessment Questions
    6. Endnotes
  4. 3 Business Ethics and Social Responsibility
    1. Introduction
    2. 3.1 Business Ethics
    3. 3.2 Social Responsibility
    4. Assessment Questions
    5. Endnotes
  5. 4 Business and the United States Constitution
    1. Introduction
    2. 4.1 Commerce Clause
    3. 4.2 Constitutional Protections
    4. Assessment Questions
    5. Endnotes
  6. 5 Criminal Liability
    1. Introduction
    2. 5.1 Common Business Crimes
    3. 5.2 Civil vs. Criminal Liability
    4. Assessment Questions
    5. Endnotes
  7. 6 The Tort System
    1. Introduction
    2. 6.1 Intentional Torts and Negligence
    3. 6.2 Product and Strict Liability
    4. Assessment Questions
    5. Endnotes
  8. 7 Contract Law
    1. Introduction
    2. 7.1 Agreement, Consideration, and Promissory Estoppel
    3. 7.2 Capacity and Legality
    4. 7.3 Breach of Contract and Remedies
    5. Assessment Questions
    6. Endnotes
  9. 8 Sales Contracts
    1. Introduction
    2. 8.1 The Nature and Origins of Sales Contracts
    3. 8.2 Warranties and Sales Contracts
    4. Assessment Questions
    5. Endnotes
  10. 9 Employment and Labor Law
    1. Introduction
    2. 9.1 Employment, Worker Protection, and Immigration Law
    3. 9.2 Labor Law
    4. 9.3 Equal Opportunity in Employment
    5. Assessment Questions
    6. Endnotes
  11. 10 Government Regulation
    1. Introduction
    2. 10.1 Administrative Law
    3. 10.2 Regulatory Agencies
    4. Assessment Questions
    5. Endnotes
  12. 11 Antitrust Law
    1. Introduction
    2. 11.1 History of Antitrust Law
    3. 11.2 Antitrust Laws
    4. Assessment Questions
    5. Endnotes
  13. 12 Unfair Trade Practices and the Federal Trade Commission
    1. Introduction
    2. 12.1 Unfair Trade Practices
    3. 12.2 The Federal Trade Commission
    4. Assessment Questions
    5. Endnotes
  14. 13 International Law
    1. Introduction
    2. 13.1 Introduction to International Law
    3. 13.2 Sources and Practice of International Law
    4. Assessment Questions
    5. Endnotes
  15. 14 Securities Regulation
    1. Introduction
    2. 14.1 Liability Under the Securities Act
    3. 14.2 The Framework of Securities Regulation
    4. Assessment Questions
    5. Endnotes
  16. Answer Key
    1. Chapter 1
    2. Chapter 2
    3. Chapter 3
    4. Chapter 4
    5. Chapter 5
    6. Chapter 6
    7. Chapter 7
    8. Chapter 8
    9. Chapter 9
    10. Chapter 10
    11. Chapter 11
    12. Chapter 12
    13. Chapter 13
    14. Chapter 14
  17. Index

Once a contract is legally formed, both parties are generally expected to perform according to the terms of the contract. A breach of contract claim arises when either (or both) parties claim that there was a failure, without legal excuse, to perform on any, or all, parts and promises of the contract.

Several inquiries are triggered when a breach of contract claims is initiated. The first step is to determine whether a contract existed in the first place. If it did, the following questions may be asked: What did the terms of the contract require of the parties? Were the contractual terms modified at any point? Did the breach actually occur? Was the claimed breach material to the contract? Does any legal excuse or defense to enforcement of the contract exist? What damages were caused by the breach?

Material vs. Minor Breach

The parties’ obligations and remedies for a breach of contract depend on whether the breach is considered material or minor.

When something substantially different from what was expected under the terms of the contract is delivered, the breach will be considered material. For example, the breach will be considered material if the contract promises the delivery of Christmas ornaments, but the buyer receives a box of candies. In the case of a material breach, the non-breaching party has the right to all remedies for breach of the entire contract and is no longer expected to perform their obligations. In considering whether a breach is material, courts will determine whether the non-breaching party still received a benefit, and if so, how much was received, adequate compensation for the damages, the extent of the performance (if any) by the breaching party, any hardship to the breaching party, the negligence or intent behind the behavior of the breaching party, and finally, the possibility that the breaching party will perform the remainder of the contract.

There are times, however, that despite the breaching party’s failure to perform some of the contract, the other party still receives a majority of the goods or services specified in the contract. In this case, the breach will be considered minor. For example, the breaching party may be late on delivering goods or services promised under a contract that does not specify a firm delivery date and that doesn’t state that time is of the essence. In this case, a reasonably short delay would likely only be considered a minor breach of the contract. Consequently, the non-breaching party would still be required to perform as pursuant to the contract. However, damages may be available to them if they suffered some harm as a result of the delay.

Remedies

Typically, the remedies that will be available if a breach of contract is found are money damages, restitution, rescission, reformation, and specific performance.

A court gavel with a dollar sign on the sound block.
Figure 7.3 When there is a breach of contract, the courts might get involved to help determine the remedy. (Credit: succo/ pixabay/ License: CC0)

Money damages include compensation for financial losses caused by the breach.

Restitution restores the injured party to status quo or the position they had prior to the formation of the contract, by returning to the plaintiff any money or property given pursuant to the contract. This type of relief is typically sought when a contract is voided by courts due to a finding that the defendant is incompetent or lacks capacity.

Rescission or reformation may be available to parties who enter into contracts by mistake, fraud, undue influence, or duress. Rescission terminates the duties of both parties under the contract, while reformation allows courts to equitably change the contract’s substance.

Specific performance compels one party to perform the promises stated in the contract as nearly as practicable. Specific performance is only mandated when money damages do not adequately compensate for the breach. Personal service, however, may not be used to compel specific performance, since doing so would constitute forced labor, i.e. slavery, which is in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

Inevitably, when valid contracts are created, the potential for breach exists. An understanding of what happens when a contract’s terms are breached is fundamental to an understanding of contract law.

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