Remedies Flashcards
Available Remedies - Contracts
The following remedies are available for K breaches:
Damages (legal), Restitution (legal), Reformation (equitable), Rescission (equitable), and Specific Performance (equitable).
Expectation, Reliance, Restitution, or Specific Performance + Consequential, and Incidental
Contracts - Legal Remedies
Expectation Damages
- The default K remedy is Expectation Damages. Expectation damages are the value of the benefit the P expected to receive from performance of the K.
- To recover, the damages must be: (i) caused by the D (actual cause), (ii) foreseeable (proximate cause), (iii) certain (damages cannot be too speculative) , and (iv) unavoidable (the P must take reasonable steps to mitigate his losses).
Contracts - Legal Remedies
Reliance Damages
- Reliance Damages are whatever a party paid in reasonable reliance of a K; including the money that was paid and pain and suffering, if relevant.
- If Expectation Damages are too speculative, the court may award Reliance Damages instead.
Contracts - Legal Remedies
Restitution Damages
- Restitution is awarded to prevent unjust enrichment. It is available when one party confers a benefit onto another party (even if there is no enforceable K). It is measured by the benefit received by the D.
- A party cannot recover both Expectation Damages and Restitution Damages.
Contracts - Legal Remedies
Incidental Damages
Incidental Damages are the reasonable costs incurred as a result of a breach of K (i.e. costs of storing non-conforming goods, renegotiating other deals).
Contracts - Legal Remedies
Consequential Damages
- Consequential Damages arise indirectly from the breach, and are awarded because of the injured party’s special circumstances known to the D (e.g. lost profits).
- To recover, the damages must be (i) reasonably foreseeable at the time of K formation, and (ii) reasonably certain.
Contracts - Legal Remedies
UCC Buyer’s Remedies & Damages
- Under the UCC, a buyer who (a) never received the goods, or (b) rejected non-conforming goods may:
1. cancel the K;
2. recover any amount paid (a refund);
3. recover either (a) cover damages (the price of substitute goods - the K price), or (b) market damages (the market price - the K price); and
4. recovover Incidental and Consequential Damages. - If the buyer keeps the non-conforming goods, then the buyer is entitled to the difference between the value as promised and the value of the non-conforming goods.
Contracts - Legal Remedies
UCC Seller’s Remedies & Damages
Under the UCC, when a buyer breaches a K, the seller is entitled to the following damages:
* If the seller resold the goods, the didderence between the resale price and the K price.
* If the seller did not resell the goods, the difference between the market price and the K price.
* A lost volume seller (one who has a virtually unlimited supply of goods to sell) may recover lost profits.
* A seller is also entitled to recover Incidental Damages.
Contracts - Legal Remedies
Damages in Contracts for the Sale of Land
- For a breach of K concerning the sale of land, the buyer may recover (i) any amount paid, (ii) the difference between the FMV of the land at the time of the breach and the K price, (iii) expenses, and (iv) possible Consequential Damages.
- The seller normally recovers the “earnest money” deposit as liquidated damages.
Contracts - Legal Remedies
Quasi-Contract
- A quasi-contract is a K implied by law, which acts as a remedy for a dispute between two parties that don’t have a K, and is used to prevent the unjust enrichment of the D.
- Under a quasi-contract, the remedy is typically Restitution.
Contracts - Equitable Remedies
Specific Performance
Specific performance is a court order to make the D perform his duties under the K. It is available when:
1. legal remedies are inadequate (i.e. rare/unique item, Ks involving the sale of land);
2. enforcement is feasible for the court - it is not feasible to enforce personal services Ks or where land/person is outside the court’s jurisdiction.
Contracts - Equitable Remedies
Reformation
Reformaton allows a K to be changed to conform to the parties’ original intent. It is available if a valid K exists, but there was a misrepresentation or mutual mistake.
Contracts - Equitable Remedies
Rescission
Rescission permits a party to undo a bargain. It is available if there was a problem with the formation of the K (i.e. duress, fraud, misrepresentaion).
Available Remedies - Torts
The following remedies are available in tort actions: Damages (legal), Restitution (legal or equitable), and Injunction (equitable).
Torts - Legal Remedies
Compensatory Damages
- Compensatory damages are awarded to compensate the P for injury or loss. They are measured by the monetary value of the P’s harm.
- To recover, the damages must be (i) caused by the D (actual cause), (ii) foreseeable (proximate cause), (iii) certain (damages cannot be too speculative, and (iv) unavoidable (the P must take reasonable steps to mitigate his losses).
- A P can recover for anticipated future losses.