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LSDefine

Simple English definitions for legal terms

penalty clause

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A quick definition of penalty clause:

A penalty clause is a part of a contract that says if someone breaks the contract, they have to pay a lot of money that is not fair. It's like a punishment instead of a reasonable amount of money for the harm caused by breaking the contract. Penalty clauses are not allowed because they are too harsh. For example, if someone rents an apartment and the contract says they have to pay $750 a day if they stay longer than they are supposed to, that is not fair and is a penalty clause. The law says that contracts can have a fair amount of money that someone has to pay if they break the contract, but not too much.

A more thorough explanation:

A penalty clause is a part of a contract that imposes damages that are unreasonably high and represent a punishment for breach, rather than a reasonable forecast of damages for the harm that is caused by the breach. These clauses allow parties to agree to their respective damages liability if they later breach. However, courts do not enforce penalty clauses.

For example, if a landlord leases an apartment to a tenant for $1000 a month and the lease provides that if a tenant holds over, the tenant must pay $750 per day, then this would be considered a penalty clause and be invalid because the damages for holding over are excessive.

Another example could be a contract between a company and a vendor. The contract states that if the vendor is late in delivering the goods, they must pay the company $10,000 per day. This would also be considered a penalty clause and be invalid because the damages are excessive and do not represent a reasonable forecast of damages for the harm caused by the breach.

These examples illustrate how penalty clauses are unenforceable because they do not represent a reasonable forecast of damages for the harm caused by the breach. Instead, they are seen as a punishment for breaching the contract.

penalty | pendent jurisdiction

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glovediedthisishismom
13:24
thats definetly horsey on an alt
glovediedthisishismom
13:24
no way any professor did that
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thrifted a vintage burberry suit today and feeling unstoppable
Dkk
13:26
Nice
glovediedthisishismom
13:26
im in the field like a defensive lineman im always in saks 💯
1a2b3c4d26z
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That's awesome
1a2b3c4d26z
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real ones shop at bergdorf
13:28
real ones shop at YMH
triplethread
13:28
i missed another fordham wave
triplethread
13:28
mamas getting denied
JumpySubsequentDolphin
13:29
the bergdorf on 5th Ave in NYC is so
JumpySubsequentDolphin
13:29
it feels like home
Dkk
13:29
I'm at your mommas house rn: https://x.com/Mansavelli_/status/1648073454665572352
triplethread
13:29
im addicted to reacting to all of the decisions
triplethread
13:29
with the emojis
HopefullyInLawSchool
13:29
I shop at Joe
HopefullyInLawSchool
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Joe's
glovediedthisishismom
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i shop at tawget
glovediedthisishismom
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im dawk gawthic maga
triplethread
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i shop at giant eagle
ForDizzyDJoy
13:31
How did i miss Fordham and American’s wave and I applied in september 🙃
13:33
Lol UC Davis took me of ED and put me in RD
13:34
surprised I didnt get straight denied
HopefullyInLawSchool
13:34
they emailed you/
HopefullyInLawSchool
13:34
?
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@HopefullyInLawSchool: Yea, I just got it
i just want a cornell ii :(
13:37
yak you will be fucking shit up at cornell this time next year dw
i love u
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love you too bby
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