Eduqas A-Level Law A150QS
Parliamentary and European Law Making
Delegated Legislation
Statutory Interpretation
Judicial Precedent
The Civil Courts and Civil Process
The Criminal Process
Legal Personnel
Access to Justice and Funding
Contract: Rules and Theory of Contract LawContract
Contract: Essential Requirements and FormationContract
Contract: Express and Implied TermsContract
Contract: Misrepresentation and Economic DuressContract
Contract: Discharge of ContractContract
Contract: RemediesContract
Tort: Rules and Theory of Tort LawTort
Tort: NegligenceTort
Tort: Occupiers' LiabilityTort
Tort: Torts Connected to LandTort
Tort: Vicarious LiabilityTort
Tort: Defences and RemediesTort
Criminal Law: Rules and TheoryCriminal
Criminal Law: General Elements of LiabilityCriminal
Criminal Law: Offences Against the PersonCriminal
Criminal Law: Property OffencesCriminal
Criminal Law: Capacity DefencesCriminal
Criminal Law: Necessity Defences and Preliminary OffencesCriminal
Human Rights: Rules and TheoryHuman rights
Human Rights: Protection of Rights and Freedoms in the UKHuman rights
Human Rights: Convention ProvisionsHuman rights
Human Rights: Restrictions on Convention RightsHuman rights
Human Rights: EnforcementHuman rights
Human Rights: ReformHuman rights
Contract: Remedies
Liquidated damages and penalty clauses
- 3 things to know
- Components 2 and 3
Overview
Liquidated damages clause, penalty clause and legitimate interest for these purposes.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
What is a penalty clause?
Why do commercial parties use liquidated damages clauses?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is a liquidated damages clause?
Model answer
A liquidated damages clause fixes in advance the sum payable on a particular breach. The agreed sum is recoverable without proof of the actual loss.
- 2
What is a penalty clause?
Model answer
A penalty clause imposes a payment out of proportion to any legitimate interest of the innocent party. A penalty clause is unenforceable.
- 3
Why do commercial parties use liquidated damages clauses?
Model answer
A fixed sum avoids arguments about the amount of the loss. Each side can price the risk of delay before the work begins.
- 4
What tests did Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co v New Garage and Motor Co [1915] lay down?
Model answer
Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co v New Garage and Motor Co [1915] asked whether the sum was a genuine pre-estimate of loss. Lord Dunedin treated an extravagant sum, or one payable on several different breaches, as a penalty.
- 5
How did Cavendish Square Holding BV v Makdessi [2015] change the test?
Model answer
Cavendish Square Holding BV v Makdessi [2015] asked whether the clause imposes a detriment out of all proportion to a legitimate interest. The Supreme Court moved away from the genuine pre-estimate language.
- 6
What was decided in ParkingEye Ltd v Beavis [2015]?
Model answer
ParkingEye Ltd v Beavis [2015] upheld an £85 charge for overstaying in a free car park. The operator and the landowner had a legitimate interest in managing the turnover of spaces.
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