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United Kingdom Leading Case penalty clauses and liquidated damages

Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co Ltd v New Garage and Motor Co Ltd

[1915] AC 79
JurisdictionUnited Kingdom
CourtUK House of Lords
Year1915
StatusBinding authority

Summary

Sets the classic four-part test for distinguishing a valid liquidated damages clause from an unenforceable penalty, requiring a genuine pre-estimate of loss.

Key Principle

classic penalty clause test; genuine pre-estimate of loss

Area of Law

Contract — Breach and Remedies

Related Cases

Cavendish Square Holding BV v Talal El Makdessi [2015] UKSC 67

The UKSC reformulated the penalty clause rule, replacing the Dunlop test with a legitimate interest test asking whether the clause is extravagant or unconscionable relative to that interest.

Transfield Shipping Inc v Mercator Shipping Inc (The Achilleas) [2008] UKHL 48

Remoteness of damage in contract may depend on whether the defendant assumed responsibility for the type of loss, not merely reasonable contemplation.

Golden Strait Corporation v Nippon Yusen Kubishika Kaisha (The Golden Victory) [2007] UKHL 12

Where a charterparty was repudiated, damages are assessed by reference to subsequent events that would have terminated the contract early, reducing the award accordingly.

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