Description
Book SynopsisThe quantification of contractual money awards is a topic of both significant theoretical interest and immense practical importance. Recent debates have ranged from the availability of gain-based relief to the basis for principles of remoteness and mitigation. While these and other important issues, such as the recovery of damages for non-pecuniary loss, are touched upon, the book’s principal objective is to challenge the conventional interpretation of the principle generally acknowledged to govern this area of the law, which Parke B famously laid down in
Robinson v Harman. According to this conventional interpretation, the objective of all money awards given in accordance with the
Robinson v Harman principle is simply to ‘compensate’ the promisee for the ‘loss’ that can be attributed to the promisor’s failure to perform as promised. After challenging this orthodoxy, Dr Winterton proposes a new understanding of the
Robinson v Harman principle, which draws an important distinction between money awards that substitute for the performance promised and money awards that aim to make good certain detrimental factual consequences that can be attributed to a promisor’s breach. In exploring the significance of this distinction, the different principles underpinning the quantification and restriction of each kind of award are explored in addition to some important theoretical issues such as the effect that the occurrence of a breach has on the rights generated by contract formation. The book’s unifying objective is to outline a coherent picture of the law of contractual money awards. It will be of interest to judges, practitioners and academics alike. Nominated for the 2018 St Petersburg International Legal Forum Private Law Prize!
Trade ReviewWinterton’s analysis provides thought-provoking insight on the important and sometimes difficult topic of monetary awards for breach of contract. This is precisely what a good monograph on the law of contract should do. -- Associate Professor Jeannie Marie Paterson, Melbourne Law School * University of New South Wales Law Journal *
Table of ContentsPart I: The Inadequacy of the Orthodox Understanding of Contractual Money Awards 1. An Overview of the Orthodox Account 2. The Doctrinal Inaccuracy of the Orthodox Account 3. Conceptual and Terminological Difficulties with the Orthodox Account Part II: A New Account of Contractual Money Awards 4. Foundations of the New Account 5. Money Awards that Substitute for Performance 6. Money Awards that Compensate for Loss Part III: The New Account in Practice 7. Explaining Some Important Decisions in Tension with the Orthodox Account 8. Defusing Some Potential Doctrinal Objections Conclusion
