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United Kingdom Leading Case conditions warranties innominaterepudiatory breach

Hong Kong Fir Shipping Co Ltd v Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd

[1962] 2 QB 26
JurisdictionUnited Kingdom
CourtEngland and Wales Court of Appeal
Year1962
StatusBinding authority

Summary

Established the innominate term category: whether a breach entitles termination depends on whether it deprives the innocent party of substantially the whole benefit of the contract.

Key Principle

innominate terms; right to terminate depends on severity of breach consequences

Area of Law

Contract — Breach and Remedies

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

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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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