Reviewed case brief
Hadley v. Baxendale
(1854) 9 Exch 341; 156 ER 145
(1854) 9 Exch 341; 156 ER 145 · Court of Exchequer (England)
- Court
- Court of Exchequer (England)
- Year
- 1854
- Subjects
- Law of Contract I
- Reviewed
- 2026-08-02
Rule established
Damages for breach of contract are limited to those: (1) arising naturally from the breach in the usual course of things (first limb), or (2) those which were in the reasonable contemplation of both parties at the time of contracting as the probable result of breach (second limb, special damages requiring notice).
Facts
Issues
Held
Ratio decidendi
How to use it in an exam
Editorial source
(1854) 9 Exch 341; 156 ER 145; verified via umn.edu, lexology.com, ipsaloquitur.com, oxbridgenotes.co.uk, opencasebook.org
Educational summary only. Read the reported judgment or an authorised law report before relying on the case professionally.