Remedies (Main Deck)* Flashcards
WHAT MUST YOU CONSIDER WHEN APPROACHING A REMEDIES QUESTION?
STEP 1: DETERMINE WHETHER LEGAL REMEDIES ARE AVAILABLE
STEP 2: DETERMINE WHETHER EQUITABLE REMEDIES ARE AVAILABLE
STEP 3: DETERMINE WHETHER EQUITABLE DEFENSES MAY APPLY
PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATION:
WHAT MUST YOU DO BEFORE DISCUSSING REMEDIES IN AN ESSAY QUESTION?
1) Determine what substantive area of law is involved, AND
2) Establish that the Plaintiff has a case.
PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATION:
WHAT ARE THE TWO PRIMARY CATEGORIES OF REMEDIES?
1) Legal Remedies
2) Equitable Remedies
PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATION:
IN WHAT ORDER MUST REMEDIES ALWAYS BE ANALYZED & WHY?
First: Legal Remedies
Second: Equitable Remedies
Reason: Legal remedies must be analyzed first because equitable relief is not available unless the Plaintiff can first demonstrate that no adequate legal remedy exists. A legal remedy is adequate only if it is as complete, practical, and efficient as the equitable remedy.
Note: In some cases, both legal and equitable remedies may be awarded (e.g., damages awarded to compensate the Plaintiff and an injunction entered to prevent future harm).
PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATION:
WHAT TYPE OF REMEDY ARE DAMAGES & FOR WHAT PURPOSE ARE THEY AWARDED?
Damages are a legal (monetary) remedy, the fundamental principle of which is to restore the injured party as nearly as possible to the position she would have been in but for the wrong suffered.
Damages:
1) Compensatory Damages
2) Punitive Damages
3) Liquidated Damages
4) Nominal Damages
5) Statutory Damages
Note: Statutory damages are available when a statute provides for a minimum recovery amount in the case of violation. Generally, a Plaintiff must prove the statute was violated and that the violation caused the Plaintiff actual harm to recover the statutory minimum.
PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATION:
WHAT ARE RESTITUTIONARY REMEDIES & FOR WHAT PURPOSE ARE THEY AWARDED?
Restitutionary remedies are intended to prevent the Defendant’s unjust enrichment and work to disgorge the Defendant of benefits wrongfully obtained. Both law and equity provide for restitutionary remedies.
Legal Restitutionary Remedies:
1) Money (“Restitutionary Damages’)
2) Replevin
3) Ejectment
4) Quasi-Contract
Equitable Restitutionary Remedies:
1) Constructive Trust
2) Equitable Lien
3) Rescission
4) Reformation
PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATION:
WHAT ARE COERCIVE REMEDIES & FOR WHAT PURPOSE ARE THEY AWARDED?
Coercive remedies are equitable remedies that are used to force an individual to engage in or refrain from engaging in a course of conduct. Coercive remedies are enforced by the court’s contempt power.
Coercive Remedies:
1) Injunctions (Torts)
2) Specific Performance (Contracts)
PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATION:
WHEN IS EQUITABLE RELIEF AVAILABLE?
Equitable relief is available only upon the Plaintiffs showing that a legal remedy would be inadequate and that he would suffer irreparable harm in the absence of an equitable remedy. The granting of equitable relief is at the sole discretion of the court.
PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATION:
LIST THE LEGAL REMEDIES AVAILABLE IN TORT
Tort Legal Remedies:
1) Damages
a) Compensatory Damages
b) Consequential Damages
c) Nominal Damages
d) Punitive Damages
2) Restitutionary
a) Money (“Restitutionary Damages’)
b) Replevin
c) Ejectment
Note: Actions for harm caused to property (e.g.. trespass, nuisance, etc.) are actions in tort.
PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATION:
LIST THE EQUITABLE REMEDIES AVAILABLE IN TORT
Tort Equitable Remedies:
1) Equitable Restitutionary Remedies
a) Constructive Trusts
b) Equitable Liens
2) Equitable Coercive Remedies
a) Injunctive Relief
PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATION:
LIST THE LEGAL REMEDIES AVAILABLE IN CONTRACT
Contract Legal Remedies:
1) Damages
a) Compensatory Damages
b) Consequential Damages
c) Liquidated Damages
d) Nominal Damages
2) Restitutionary
a) Restitutionary Damages
b) Quasi-Contract
c) Replevin
d) Ejectment
PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATION:
LIST THE EQUITABLE REMEDIES AVAILABLE IN CONTRACT
Contract Equitable Remedies:
1) Equitable Restitutionary Remedies
a) Constructive Trusts
b) Equitable Liens
c) Rescission
d) Reformation
2) Equitable Coercive Remedies
a) Specific Performance
STEP 1 -
LEGAL REMEDIES:
COMPENSATORY DAMAGES
(Define)
Definition: Compensatory damages are calculated based on the cost ofthe injury to the Plaintiff and are intended to compensate the Plaintiff for her loss.
Tort: In tort cases, compensatory- damages are intended to put the Plaintiff back in the position she would have been in had the injury not occurred.
Contract: In contract cases, compensatory damages are generally intended to put the Plaintiff in the position she would have been in had the breaching party performed fully.
Note: Compensatory damages for breach of contract may be based upon an expectation or reliance interest.
CONTRACT:
EXPECTATION INTEREST
(Define & State the Rule)
Definition: The expectation interest provides the non-breaching party with the profits it would have received had the contract been performed.
Rule: Compensatory damages for breach of contract usually are computed based on the non- breaching party’s expectation interest.
CONTRACT:
RELIANCE INTEREST
(Define & State the Rule)
Definition: The reliance interest seeks to place the non-breaching party in the position it would have been in had the contract never been created.
Rule: Compensatory damages for breach of contract are computed based on the reliance interest when the non-breaching party suffered harm due to its reasonable reliance on the contract.
WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR A PLAINTIFF TO BE AWARDED COMPENSATORY DAMAGES?
Rule: To receive compensatory damages in a tort or contract case, a Plaintiff must demonstrate:
1) The Defendant breached a duty or contract,
2) The breach caused the harm or injury in dispute,
3) The harm or injury was foreseeable at the time of the breach,
4) Damages can be calculated with reasonable certainty, AND
5) The Plaintiff made a reasonable effort to mitigate the harm caused.
EXPLAIN THE CERTAINTY REQUIREMENT FOR CALCULATING DAMAGES
Rule: Damages must be established with reasonable probability and are not allowed to be overly speculative.
Note: The amount of damages need not be absolutely certain, however, and may be approximated if a reasonable basis of computation is provided.
HOW ARE FUTURE LOSSES CALCULATED?
Rule: To be compensated for future losses, a Plaintiff must demonstrate that the losses are more likely than not to occur. Upon such a showing, the Plaintiff can recover in full for all future losses stemming from the injury or breach.
Note: This is known as the “All or Nothing Rule.”
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
(Define)
Definition: Consequential damages are those that arise as a natural, proximate, or probable consequence ofthe tortious act or breach of contract. They are awarded distinct from and in addition to compensatory damages when it is determined that compensatory damages will not make the Plaintiff sufficiently whole.
WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR A PLAINTIFF TO BE AWARDED CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES?
Rule: Consequential damages may be awarded to make the Plaintiff whole if the damages:
1) Arise naturally from the tortious conduct or breach of contract, AND
2) Were reasonably foreseeable.
Note: Foreseeability is measured at the time the contract was executed or at the time the tortious conduct occurred.
NOMINAL DAMAGES
(Define)
Definition: Nominal damages are used to vindicate a Plaintiffs rights when the they have been violated and:
1) No loss is sustained, OR
2) The injury cannot be measured.
TORT:
PUNITIVE DAMAGES
(Define & State the Rule)
Definition: Punitive damages are awarded in addition to compensatory, consequential, or nominal damages to punish the Defendant and deter future unlawful conduct.
Rule: Due Process prohibits grossly excessive punitive damage awards against tortfeasors. To determine if damages are grossly excessive, courts balance:
1) The degree of reprehensibility of the conduct,
2) The disparity between the harm suffered and the amount of the award, AND
3) The amount of damages commonly awarded for comparable conduct.
Note:
1) The Defendant’s conduct must be worse than negligence.
2) Punitive damages are not awarded for breach of contract.
CONTRACT:
LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
(Define & State the Rule)
Definition: Liquidated damages are damages specifically provided for in the contract between the parties.
Rule: Parties to a contract are generally permitted to agree on the amount of damages orthe manner in which damages will be recovered in the event of breach by either party. A liquidated damages clause will be upheld if:
1) The amount agreed upon is a reasonable estimate ofthe amount required to compensate for the loss, AND
2) Damages were difficult to ascertain at the time of contract formation.
Note: The amount stated in the liquidated damages clause must be compensatory (not punitive) in nature.
LEGAL RESTITUTIONARY DAMAGES
(Define & State the Rule)
Definition: Legal restitutionary damages are based on the value ofthe benefit conferred on the Defendant.
Rule: Legal restitutionary damages can be measured by:
1) The reasonable value ofthe benefit conferred, OR
2) The extent to which the Defendant’s property value was increased or other interests advanced.
Note:
1) A Plaintiff cannot be awarded both compensatory and restitutionary damages.
2) Restitutionary damages are not available when the claim is only for partial damages.