Contract Law: Analyzing Damages, Breach, and Mental Distress in Cases

This essay delves into the intricacies of contract law, specifically examining the concept of damages arising from a breach of contract. It elucidates the purpose of damages, defining their scope and outlining the procedures for recovery. The essay explores the complexities of awarding damages, particularly in cases involving mental distress, referencing the seminal case of Addis v Gramophone (1909) and the 'Addis rule.' It differentiates situations where recovery is permissible from those where it is not, highlighting exceptions and providing illustrative case examples like Hobbs v London and South Western Railway Company (1875) and Failey v Skiner [2001] UKHL 49 to clarify the application of legal principles. The discussion underscores the importance of contract law in establishing legal relationships and consequences of breaches, particularly when mental distress is involved.

CONTRACT LAW

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Explain the purpose of damages for breech of contract..............................................................1
How damages are defined...........................................................................................................2
Recovery of damages for breach of contract ..............................................................................2
Refusal for awarding damages for mental distress -Addis v Gramophone (1909) -look in to
the case and explain the case .Addis rule ?.................................................................................3
Recovery is allowed for damages...............................................................................................4
Exceptions...................................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Contract Law is simply defined as the law where different parties are involved for the
common purpose so that terms and condition of an agreement can be completed. The most
important thing which is needed to be focused is that whenever any of the party enters into the
contract then in that respective situation terms and condition must be followed. In this types of
law, the problematic situation only arises in the situation where it is found that any one of the
involved party didn't perform their part of work as per the requirement. Here, in this file, the
main topic will be discussed in detail will be related with laws and regulations of contract law
and what are the consequences when breach of contract create mental distress. Also, several
cases will be discussed to understand the file in detail.
MAIN BODY
Explain the purpose of damages for breech of contract.
Talking about the contract law, it is the most crucial law for any of the sector because it
the only source through which two or more then two party can create legal relation with each
other. It is necessary to understand that non of the party has the right to breach the contract once
they enter into the contract. If it is found that contract has been breached then legal actions can
be taken.
Breach of Contract is the situation where one of the contracted party fails to perform
their part of work and it is also needed to understand that if that happens then legal actions can
be taken on defaulter. The primary object of any of the breach of contract is the compensate the
plaintiff but there is no saying that defaulter should be punished. Whenever there is a breach of
contact then defaulter party is compensated but there are some of the cases compensate is not
possible such as in the cases of mental distress1. It is said that mental distress is one of the major
problem where giving compensation is not an easy task.
The main purpose of providing the damage for the breach of contract is to provide the
benefit to the one who has been involved in the contact. There are number of situation where
people have to suffer, once they enter into the contract so for the purpose of improving the result
between the contracted party, the term damages for the breach of contract has been introduced.
1 Hugh Collins, 'European Social Policy And Contract Law' (2014) 1 European Review
of Contract Law.

But, in any of the breach of contract cases, decisions are not declared directly as proper
investigation is required. In addition, the purpose of damages for the breach of contract is very
simple where it doesn't want to allow any of the party to fall in the situation due to which
chances of breach can occur within the contract. If problem still occurs, then damages should be
be given which is the main purpose of damages for the breach of contact.
As per the view of Robinson v Harman (1848) is one of the case which took place in the
year 1848. Here, main problem was related with the breach of of contract where Harman
breached the terms and condition. In facts, Harman wrote to Robinson about the lease of
dwelling house in Croydon. As both of the them agreed on the terms and condition. After certain
time Harman refuges to enter into the contract. It was the situation where Robinson had to suffer
just because of the problem which were created by Harman.
In this cases, the judges of court want to explain that Harman will have to pay the amount
which has been given by Robinson but in addition, it was also necessary that damages must be
paid off. Damages includes all of the expenses and time which was incurred by Robinson within
the case will be required to paid off by the defaulter. In simple words, it was one of the famous
case which is willing to explain that if in any of the situation breach of contract occurs in the
case then in that particular situation it will be important for defaulter party to compensate the
innocent party who was involved within the case.
How damages are defined.
Damages can be defined as the way in which one of the party has to suffer just because of
the work performed by the another party. Whenever any of the person has to suffer from the
damages, then in that particular situation the person who was the main reason behind the the
occurrence of damages has to compensate the party2. Here, compensation should be done to the
party who has to suffer from the losses. It falls under the category of civil wrong. Damages are
mainly awarded in the condition where two part enters into the contract or else it can been seen
within tort law.
Recovery of damages for breach of contract
Whenever in any of the situation, situation of breach of contract occur, it becomes
necessary for the party to compensate the innocent party. Talking about the recovery of the
2 Simon Whittaker, 'The Optional Instrument Of European Contract Law And Freedom
Of Contract' (2011) 7 European Review of Contract Law.

breach of contract, it is needed to understand that contract law doesn't allow any of the party to
breach the terms and condition. For the purpose of recovering the damages, party has to file the
case in the premisses of court. Then, there is the requirement for the court to check the how was
the main person due to which problem related to breach of contract has occurred. Then,
according to the damages which has been faced by the innocent party total calculation is needed
to be done. Finally, decision is required to be declared so innocent party will get the opportunity
to recover the amount of losses which he/she has to bear while performing their part of work in
the contact. It is the complete procedure which is needed to be followed by the party for the
purpose of recovering the damage amount from the defaulter party.
Refusal for awarding damages for mental distress -Addis v Gramophone (1909) -look in to the
case and explain the case .Addis rule ?
It is necessary to understand and find that what are the situation where rewards for the
breach of contract can be given. It is just because so that plaintiff has to not suffer in future
period of time. In context of the file, contract law simply explains that loss and damages can only
be recovered in the form of monetary term3. But, there are number of situation where monetary
compensate is not possible such as mental distress and many more. Even court faces problem to
declare that what can be possible solution at the time where breach of contract develop the
concept of mental distress.
As it is never an easy task for any of the person to give compensate for the mental
distress, it has been refused to give any of the compensate amount to the person where they faces
the problem related to mental distress in breach of contract. Law explains that compensation can
be done only in the situation where monetary losses has been suffered by the involved parties.
But, if in any of the situation default has to face the problem related to mental distress then it is
not possible to do compensate. There are some of the case which can be helpful for the purpose
of understanding the situation in detail and those cases has been discussed below:
Addis v Gramophone (1909) was the case which was filed by Addis where he was
trying to explain that his reputation and ability has been challenged because Addis as removed
from the his managerial post and another person was appointed.
In this case, judges of the court where although confused but at the end of the day they
came with the solution in which it was important for Addis to understand that they just had the
3 J. W Carter, Breach Of Contract (LexisNexis Butterworths 2011).

option to claim for loss of wages and no prior notice was given by the company before removing
from the post4. But, the requirement which are being asked by Addis Gramophone is not able to
complete in any of the situation.
From the above discussed case, it is very easy to understand that any of the person can be
compensated but they are not able to compensate them whenever they want to explain that
compensate should be on the basis of metal distress faced by the innocent party. In number of
cases related which are related to the breach of contract there may be circumstances of malice,
fraud, defamation, or violence, which would sustain an action of tort as an alternative remedy to
an action for breach of contract.
Talking about the Addis Rule, it was the rules which was introduced from one the case
which took place between Addis vs Gramophone. This rule simply tries to justify that in any of
the situation person can only be compensate for the the damages which they suffered but in any
of the circumstances they will not be paid any of the compensate amount or loss of damage
amount. But, it cannot be paid for the mental distress.
Recovery is allowed for damages
Contract law is very crucial because it simply gives the idea that how any of the work is
needed to performed. It is necessary to understand that while forming any of the contract that
should not be formed in illegal manner because formation of contact in undesirable manner can
create problem for the business organisation. Contract law says that if in any of the
circumstances person fails to perform the work as per the requirement then in that respective
situation breach of contract will be applied. In addition, compensate should be done on the basis
of terms and condition prepared at the beginning.
In one of the case which took place between HOBBS V LONDON AND SOUTH
WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY: 1875 wants to explains that there are number of
circumstances where\ damages can be paid for personal inconvenience. In this case, HOBBS &
family had to suffer just because of the default performed by the railway company5. Here, it was
found that damages where just given on the basis of mere inconvenience but as HOBBS &
family wants the compensation for disappointment, annoyance and loss of temper. But looking at
the circumstances of case, Mellor J explained that damages cannot be given for the situation
4 (Addis v Gramophone, 1909)
5 (HOBBS V LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY, 1875)

where people have to face the problem which is related to inconvenience, disappointment. And
even judges where very clear towards their points while declaring the decision as they want to
explain that sentimental are not acceptable and those types of damages is not possible to be
given.
Failey v Skiner [2001] UKHL 49, is also of the case where plaintiff sued the defaulter
for the breach of contract where he had to suffer from mental distress. Here, Failey has given
clear instruction to Skiner that while searching the property he must give focus that aircraft noise
should not be occurred. But, Skiner didn't perform his task as per the requirement.
On this particular situation, Failey filed the case against Skiner to compensate for mental
distress and Skiner didn't performed as per the promise. But Judges had decided that giving
compensation on the basis of mental distress is not possible but there was the possibility that
damages can be given on the ground of not fulfilling the basis requirement. So, on this respective
ground Failey was awarded benefit of £10,000 as facing the discomfort6.
Exceptions
In any of the case, there are some of the expectation and even in the contract law, there
are some of the exceptions. It is said that it is quite compulsory for any of the party to follow the
laws and regulation where contract law simply explains that whenever situation of breach of
contract will occur then damages should be paid by the defaulter party. But, there are some of the
default performed by the defaulter very plaintiff suffers from the sentimental problem and in that
respective situation it is not possible to compensate them. Although, giving compensation is not
the solution in this types of cases but still there are some of the exceptions which has been
explained with the help of cases.
Watts v Marrow [1991]
In this case, Watts filed the case against Marrow as Watts has informed Marrow to have
detail survey on the property which he willing to purchase. After having the survey he informed
to Watts that property was good enough to be purchased and it will be his benefit if he purchase
the property. Once the property was purchased it was found that Watts has to suffer from lots of
expenses to fix the property which he purchased where he had to suffer a lot. Looking at the
situation of the case, it was found that Watts had to face the problem just because of the
carelessness of Marrow. In this situation the judges of court decided that Marrow was one who is
6 Richard G Lawson, Damages For Breach Of Contract (2013).

responsible for mental distress from which Watts has to suffer. It was one of the rear case
damage was awarded for mental distress.
Jarvis v Swan Tours Ltd [1973]
It was the on of the case where contract had taken place between Jarvis and Swan Tours
Ltd. Here, Swan Tours have promised to provide different kinds of benefits while enjoying the
holidays with Swan Tours7. But, company was unable to provide the benefit which they must to
provide due to which Jarvis has to suffer. Looking at the condition of the case, the court decided
that if main purpose of entering into the contract is just for entertainment then in that respective
situation Jarvis was awarded the for the damages as it was written within the law.
Roxley v Forsyth[1995]
Roxley was the one who filed the case because it found that Roxley informed Forsyth to
built the swimming of seven feet and 6 inch but he built it the pool of six feet and nine inch. Here
opinion of both the parties have been contradicted. It is one of the reason that Roxley want
Forsyth to reconstruct the work8. The judges of the court declared that the opinion of all both the
parties didn't meet with the terms and condition of the contract due to which it is necessary for
Forsyth to rebuilt the swimming pool. Even, all of the expenses are required to be bear by
Forsyth only.
From the above discussed cases, it can be made clear that there are some of the situation
where cases can be filed and in that respective situation even decision can be declared in favour
of mental distress as well. But, there is very less probability where it can be seen that damages
are being given for the mental distress. In short, only damages for monetary terms can be
rewarded but some of the exceptions will be there where decision will be taken on the basis of
situation.
7 (Jarvis v Swan Tours, 1972)
8 'Damages: Breach Of Contract: Mental Suffering' (2016) 2 Michigan Law Review.

CONCLUSION
From the above file, it can be concluded that contract law is vital law which guides the
business organisation that how any of the legal agreement can be formed. Breach of contract
create issues for the defaulter where it is necessary for them to compensate the innocent party.
Damages should be paid including all of the expenses which has been incurred by plaintiff. It is
necessary to understand that damages can only be given for the cause of monetary losses as
mental distress are never included in it.

REFERENCES
Books & Journals
Collins H, 'European Social Policy And Contract Law' (2014) 1 European Review of Contract
Law
Whittaker S, 'The Optional Instrument Of European Contract Law And Freedom Of Contract'
(2011) 7 European Review of Contract Law
Carter J, Breach Of Contract (LexisNexis Butterworths 2011)
Lawson R, Damages For Breach Of Contract (2013)
'Damages: Breach Of Contract: Mental Suffering' (2016) 2 Michigan Law Review
Online
Addis v Gramophone. 1909. [Online]. Available Through:
<http://www.e-lawresources.co.uk/cases/Addis-v-Gramophone.php>
HOBBS V LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY: 1875 [Online].
Available Through: <https://swarb.co.uk/hobbs-v-london-and-south-western-railway-
company-1875/>
Jarvis v Swan Tours. 1972. [Online]. Available Through:
<http://www.e-lawresources.co.uk/cases/Jarvis-v-Swan-Tours-1972.php>