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United States Leading Case conditions warranties innominateexpectation damages

Jacob & Youngs v Kent

230 NY 239 (1921)
JurisdictionUnited States
CourtNew York Court of Appeals
Year1921
StatusBinding authority

Summary

Substantial performance of a construction contract entitles the contractor to payment less diminution-in-value damages, not cost of replacement, where breach is trivial and innocent.

Key Principle

Cardozo J held that substantial performance of a construction contract entitles the contractor to payment less damages measured by the diminution in value, not the cost of replacement, where the breach is trivial and innocent.

Area of Law

contract

Related Cases

Mann v Paterson Constructions Pty Ltd (2019) 267 CLR 560

On termination of a building contract, a builder may recover reasonable value of work done in restitution, subject to the contract price as a ceiling where work was performed under a valid contract.

Paciocco v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (2016) 258 CLR 525

Bank late payment fees are not penalties where they represent a genuine pre-estimate of loss or protect a legitimate interest of the stipulating party.

Simic v New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation (2016) 260 CLR 85

High Court of Australia examined the principles governing rectification of written contracts for common intention and unilateral mistake in equity.

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