Breach of contract
Breach of contract is related to contract law. It is a civil wrong (if someone breaches a contract, the other person in the contract can use the law to fix some problems that the breach caused). A breach of contract happens when someone does not do something that they agreed to do as part of a contract.[1] A breach of contract also happens if someone does not do everything that they said they would do for a contract, or if they only do some of it.[2]
A person who is legally bound by a contract (someone who has to follow the rules of a legal contract) is called a 'party' to the contract. The 'terms' of the contract are the things that the parties agreed to do.
Remedies
[change | change source]There are three legal remedies that are used to help one party if another party breached their contract. These three remedies are damages, specific performance and injunction.[2]
Damages
[change | change source]Damages are normally in the form of money. The person who breached the contract pays damages to another party that they harmed.[3]
Specific performance
[change | change source]Specific performance is when the court forces a party to do what they agreed to do in the contract. Judges use this remedy when damages would not be enough to help the person who was harmed.[4]
Injunction
[change | change source]An injunction is an order to stop doing something (prohibitory injunction). An injunction can also stop people from doing things in the future. An injunction is only used if damages would not be enough to help the person who was harmed.[5]
Related pages
[change | change source]References
[change | change source]- ↑ "Breach of contract definition". LexisNexis Employment expert. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
When a party to a formal agreement (contract) breaks a condition (term) of that contract.
- 1 2 "An Introduction to the Breach of Contract". LawTeacher. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- ↑ "Damages definition". LexisNexis Dispute Resolution expert. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
The monetary compensation awarded by law to a person for the legal wrong done to him
- ↑ Chen, Will. "Specific Performance". LawProf. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
Specific performance is an equitable remedy that compels a party to fulfil their contractual obligation as originally agreed, rather than simply paying monetary damages for breach.
- ↑ Chen, Will. "Injunction (Tort)". LawProf. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
An injunction in tort law is an equitable remedy granted by the court that orders a defendant either to cease committing a wrongful act (prohibitory injunction) or to take specific action to remedy a tortious situation (mandatory injunction).
