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United Kingdom Leading Case conditions warranties innominateanticipatory breach

The Mihalis Angelos

[1971] 1 QB 164
JurisdictionUnited Kingdom
CourtCourt of Appeal (England and Wales)
Year1971
StatusBinding authority

Summary

Where a condition precedent cannot be fulfilled, the innocent party may treat the contract as terminated without needing to rely on anticipatory breach.

Key Principle

Where a condition precedent cannot be fulfilled, the innocent party may treat the contract as repudiated even before the time for performance; the right to terminate arises from the impossibility of satisfaction, not from anticipatory breach.

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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