What is a general damages in contract law?

Asked by: Prof. Martin Murray MD  |  Last update: August 25, 2022
Score: 4.3/5 (30 votes)

A. General Damages. General damages cover the loss directly and necessarily incurred by the breach of contract. General damages are the most common type of damages awarded for breaches of contract.

What is an example of general damages?

Examples of general damages include: physical pain and suffering (compensation for being in pain); physical injury or impairment (disfigurement or disability); mental pain and anguish (trauma, stress and anxiety); diminished quality of life (relying on others, lack of mobility, etc.); loss of companionship and support ...

What is the definition of general damages?

Damages that arise directly and inevitably from a breach of contract. In other words, those damages that would be theoretically suffered by every injured party under these circumstances.

What are special and general damages?

In tort law, special damages are damages like car dents or medical expenses that can actually be ascertained, and they are contrasted with general damages, which refer to damages for things like intentional infliction of emotional distress which do not have a set monetary cost.

What are the 3 types of damages?

Types of Damages
  • COMPENSATORY. Compensatory damages are generally the most identifiable and concrete type of damages. ...
  • GENERAL. General damages are sought in conjunction with compensatory damages. ...
  • PUNITIVE. Punitive damages are meant to punish a Defendant for particularly egregious conduct.

Contract Law - Chapter 8: Damages (Degree - Year 1)

22 related questions found

What is the difference between general damages and punitive damages?

General and special damages are compensatory damages, which serve to compensate the plaintiff for economic loss and pain and suffering, attempting to make them whole. Punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant for his or her negligence or recklessness.

What are different types of damages?

There are six different types of damages: compensatory, incidental, consequential, nominal, liquidated, and (sometimes) punitive.

Which of the following would be classified as general damages?

General damages include pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of companionship. Special damages are awarded for out-of-pocket or economic losses such as medical costs, loss or income, or damage to property.

How are general damages calculated?

General damages will be calculated based on the level of pain and suffering you have experienced as a result of your personal injury or illness. Medical evidence will be used to support this element of your claim.

What are the 5 types of damages?

There are six different types of damages: compensatory, incidental, consequential, nominal, liquidated, and (sometimes) punitive.

What are general damages in construction?

It held that general damages and LDs are "underpinned by different considerations": whilst general damages are intended to compensate an innocent party for actual losses suffered as a result of a breach; LDs are intended to be a genuine pre-estimate of the likely losses that would be suffered in the event of a breach.

Are general damages direct?

California recognizes two main types of damages for breach of contract. These are general damages and special damages. General damages, (sometimes called Direct Damages) are direct result of the breach i.e. general damages flow directly and necessarily from the breach of contract.

Which of the following qualifies for compensation as general damages?

General damages award the injured person for the non-monetary losses that they endured due to an accident. Non-monetary losses include pain and suffering, loss of companionship, physical disfigurement, mental anguish, and a general loss of enjoyment in life that results from diminished wellness.

What is general damages in breach of contract?

Ordinary or general damages

Section 73 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 identifies general damages to mean the damages which naturally occurred in the usual course events or things from the breach that has been caused, or which the parties were sure would arise in the event of a breach.

Can general damages be awarded for breach of contract?

Therefore, the general principle remains that general damages cannot be awarded for injury arising from breach of contract.

Is loss of amenity a general damage?

Pain, suffering and loss of amenity is another term for general damages. This head of damage is intended to compensate the Claimant not only for the pain and suffering caused by the injury but also for the impact of the injury on the Claimant's enjoyment of life.

What are the four types of damages?

One of the most common remedies comes in the form of damages, or monetary awards, which are further broken down into four general categories.
  • Compensatory Damages. Compensatory damages (or “actual damages”) are specifically meant to make up for the plaintiff's losses. ...
  • Punitive Damages. ...
  • Liquidation Damages. ...
  • Nominal Damages.

What are the 4 types of damages available for breach of contract?

Today, we're looking into four types of damages you may be able to receive in a breach of contract case.
  • Compensatory damages. ...
  • Punitive damages. ...
  • Nominal damages. ...
  • Liquidated damages.

How many types of damages are there in a contract?

There are four types of damages which can be claimed by the aggrieved party. Ordinary Damages or General Damages. Exemplary or Vindictive Damages. Nominal Damages.

What are the two types of damages?

Generally, there are two types of damages: compensatory and punitive. (The term "damages" typically includes both categories, but the term, "actual damages" is synonymous with compensatory damages, and excludes punitive damages.)

What are the 3 types of compensatory damages?

The three types of damages are economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.

Whats the difference between compensatory and punitive damages?

Compensatory And Punitive Damages

The compensatory damages awarded to plaintiffs are designed to give justice to them after being wronged. Punitive damages are designed to prevent others from being hurt by the same or similar actions.

What are the four main elements that must be proven in a negligence claim?

Negligence claims must prove four things in court: duty, breach, causation, and damages/harm. Generally speaking, when someone acts in a careless way and causes an injury to another person, under the legal principle of "negligence" the careless person will be legally liable for any resulting harm.

What are punitive damages in contract law?

Punitive damages are considered punishment and are typically awarded at the court's discretion when the defendant's behavior is found to be especially harmful. Punitive damages are normally not awarded in the context of a breach of contract claim.

Are exemplary damages general damages?

As mentioned earlier, the general aim of awarding damages is compensation, and not punishment. However, there are certain instances where a Court might order the breaching party to pay punitive (also known as 'exemplary' or 'aggravated') damages to deter him or her from committing future breaches of the same kind.