Hadley v Baxendale established the fundamental rule for remoteness of damages in contract law. The case determined that damages for breach of contract are only recoverable if they arise naturally from the breach or were reasonably foreseeable at the time of contract formation. This created the two-limb test that remains the cornerstone of contractual damages assessment today.

Court of Appeal decision limiting damages for mental distress in contract to cases involving physical inconvenience and discomfort, with awards to be modest.

Fundamental case establishing the basic principle of contractual damages - to put the innocent party in the position they would have occupied had the contract been performed.

This Court of Appeal case established that a party who contracts for work to be done on another's property can recover substantial damages for defective performance, even though they suffer no direct financial loss themselves.

This landmark contract law case established when courts will award damages for defective performance of building contracts. The House of Lords ruled that where the cost of remedying defects would be wholly disproportionate to the benefit obtained, nominal damages may be appropriate instead of the full cost of cure.

Victoria Laundry established the test for remoteness of damage in contract law, holding that damages are recoverable if they were reasonably foreseeable as a probable result of the breach at the time of contract formation. The case refined the rule in Hadley v Baxendale by introducing a degree of probability test for consequential losses.

Thomas v Thomas established that consideration in contract law need not be adequate or equivalent in value to the promise, only that it must be sufficient and have some legal value. The case demonstrates that courts will not inquire into the adequacy of consideration provided it has some recognizable worth in law.

House of Lords case establishing the test for remoteness of damage in contract law. Confirmed that damages must be within reasonable contemplation of parties at time of contract.

House of Lords decision recognizing that damages for mental distress can be awarded where peace of mind is an important object of the contract, even without physical inconvenience.

Loss of chance must be substantial to ground contractual damages claim

Hochster v De La Tour established the doctrine of anticipatory breach in contract law, allowing a claimant to sue immediately when the other party repudiates a contract before performance is due. This case created an important exception to the general rule that breach must occur before an action can be commenced.

No liability for damage to property already damaged by another tortfeasor.

Hypothetical bargain damages available where traditional loss-based damages inadequate.

Case establishing that performance beyond contractual duty can constitute valid consideration if it involves substantially different obligations.

Foakes v Beer established the rule that payment of a smaller sum cannot satisfy a debt of a larger sum, even if the creditor agrees to accept the lesser amount. This case affirmed the rule in Pinnel's Case that part payment of an existing debt is not good consideration, and confirmed the general rule that an accord without satisfaction is unenforceable.

A case establishing that tickets issued after payment cannot contain effective exclusion clauses unless reasonable notice is given before or at the time of contracting.

A leading case establishing that exclusion clauses displayed in hotel rooms cannot be incorporated into contracts made at reception, as notice comes too late.

The Court of Appeal held that a father's promise to pay maintenance could be supported by consideration even where the mother had a legal duty to maintain the child.

Davis Contractors v Fareham UDC established the modern test for frustration of contract in English law. The House of Lords held that frustration occurs when performance becomes radically different from what was originally contemplated, rejecting both the 'implied term' and 'just and reasonable' theories.

House of Lords decision establishing that frustration requires the contractual adventure to become fundamentally different, not merely more expensive or inconvenient.

Beswick v Beswick established that a third party beneficiary of a contract cannot sue in their own right due to the doctrine of privity of contract, but may obtain the contractual benefit if they can sue in a representative capacity. The case confirmed the strict application of privity while demonstrating how it might be circumvented in appropriate circumstances.

House of Lords clarifies causation test in medical negligence claims

Merritt v Merritt established that agreements between spouses can be legally binding contracts when made after separation; the husband's argument that there was no consideration failed, since the wife's payment of the outstanding mortgage was ample consideration. The case distinguished between domestic arrangements made in harmony versus those made when the relationship has broken down, with the latter presumed to have legal intent.

Concurrent liability in contract and tort possible; Hedley Byrne extends to services.

The Court of Appeal restored orthodoxy by holding that face-to-face contracts are presumed valid and only voidable for fraud, not void for mistake as to identity. This decision effectively overruled the approach in Ingram v Little.

Walton Stores negotiated a lease with Maher, who demolished an existing building and began constructing a new one in reliance on the expectation of a contract. Walton Stores allowed Maher to continue construction while negotiations stalled, then withdrew. The High Court of Australia held that promissory estoppel could operate as a cause of action where unconscionable conduct induced detrimental reliance.

Defendants liable if type of harm foreseeable, even if manner unforeseeable

A wife charged her interest in matrimonial property to secure her husband's business debts. The Court of Appeal held that to establish undue influence (actual or presumed), the transaction must be shown to be manifestly disadvantageous to the complainant. The court found actual undue influence by the husband but dismissed the claim because the transaction was not manifestly disadvantageous to the wife, so the bank could enforce the charge.

House of Lords establishes neighbour principle and modern negligence law

Tortfeasor liable for full damages despite victim's subsequent unrelated injury

Duty of care extends to pure economic loss for defective flooring where special relationship exists

Tortfeasor not liable for losses from unrelated supervening illness

Section 2(1) damages assessed on fraud basis, including all consequential losses.

This House of Lords case examined when a contracting party can recover substantial damages for breach despite suffering no loss themselves. It established important exceptions to the general rule that damages reflect the claimant's actual loss.

Negligent hospital escapes liability due to lack of causation

Mitigation duty requires reasonable steps but not complex litigation against third parties.

The Court of Appeal held that a claimant may recover wasted expenditure incurred before contract formation as an alternative to expectation damages, provided such expenditure was within the defendant's reasonable contemplation.

Unforeseeable chemical reaction made explosion damages too remote despite negligence.

House of Lords decision establishing that damages for wrongful dismissal are limited to financial loss and do not include compensation for injured feelings, mental distress, or damage to reputation.

No general duty to prevent third parties causing harm; liability requires special circumstances.

Directors must exercise reasonable care but may receive statutory relief for honest mistakes.

House of Lords establishes three-stage test for duty of care in negligence

House of Lords restricts pure economic loss claims in negligence

Divisible injury: damages apportioned where only part of harm attributable to defendant's breach