Punishment is the punishment imposed on a criminal. This can take the form of imprisonment or a fine. It can be a sum of money demanded as punishment for an injustice to the state or a civil injustice. In general, the penalty is used in the context of crimes, but it can sometimes also be imposed for civil injustice. Punitive clauses cases use the words « void » and « unenforceable » interchangeably. Before the High Court of Australia in AMEV-UDC Finance Ltd v. Austin,[28] Justices Mason and Wilson stated, « At least since the advent of the judicial system, a penal provision has been considered unenforceable or, perhaps void, from the outset. » (Emphasis added) Since a claim that a clause constitutes a penalty is usually made to defend a contractual claim, there is no practical difference. However, if a party were to pay under such a clause and then demand repayment of the money paid, then it would be clearly essential to determine whether the clause was merely unenforceable (in which case the money could not be recovered) or void (in which case it could). [29] No.
1) in criminal law, a fine or forfeiture of property ordered by the judge after a conviction for a criminal offence. (2) an amount agreed in advance if payment or performance is not made on time, para. B example a « late payment » for a promissory note or rental agreement or a fine for each day a contractor does not complete an order. PENALTY, Control. Clause of a contract by which the debtor undertakes to pay a certain amount of money if he does not perform the contract contained in another clause of the same agreement. 2. A penalty clause in an agreement presupposes two obligations, one of which is the principal or principal obligation; and the other, is conditional or incidental. 3. The obligation to impose penalties is different from an alternative obligation because it is, by its very nature, only one obligation; While a penalty always involves two different obligations, and if the first is fulfilled, the second is void.
If a breach has occurred, the creditor has the choice of demanding the performance of the first obligation or the payment of the penalty payment in cases that cannot be exempted in the form of equity if the penalty is considered as a lump sum damage. Dalloz, Dict. words Obligation with penal clause. 4. In many cases, it is difficult to distinguish between a contractual penalty and a lump sum compensation. In general, courts tend to view the amount set aside by such an agreement as a penalty rather than an agreed damage. (n.a.) 5. The amount shall be considered as a penalty and not as a lump sum compensation in the following cases: 1. If the parties to the agreement have expressly declared the amount as a penalty and no other intention is to be recovered from the instrument.
2 Bos. & p. 346; 1 H. Bl. 227; 1 Selection. 45 1; 4 choices. 179; 7 Wheat. 14; 3. Johannes Fälle, 297. 2. If the form of the instrument, as in the case of a monetary obligation, indicates clearly enough that a penalty was provided. (3) Where it is doubtful whether the amount was conceived as a penalty or not, and a certain damage or debt is due on the front of the instrument.
2 B. & S. 350; 3 C. & S. 240. 4. If the agreement was clearly concluded to obtain another article for which the amount indicated is entirely a guarantee, 11 Mass. 76; 15. Fair 488; 1 bro.C.C. 418, 419.
(5) Where the agreement contains several situations of varying importance and that amount is nevertheless due for the breach of each, even the least. 6 Bing. 141; 5 Bing. No.C. 390; 7. Scott, 364. 6. If the contract is not under lock and key and the damages can be determined and estimated; despite the fact that the parties expressly declared the amount as lump sum damages. 2B. & Ald. 704; 6 B. & C.
216; 4 Dall. 150; 5. Cowen, p. 144. See 2 Greenl. Ev. 258. 1 Holt N.
S.C. 43 1 Bing. R. 302; S.C. 8 Moore, 244; 4 ridges. 2229. 6. The penalty is not affected, although the condition could be partially enforced; as in the case where the penalty was a thousand dollars and the condition was to pay a pension of one hundred dollars, which had been paid for ten years; The punishment was still valid.
5 Vermin 365. 7. In the courts of equity, a distinction seems to be made between penalties and forfeiture. In the event of forfeiture for breach of an agreement other than an obligation to pay rent, no relief will be granted in equity unless there is an accident, fraud, error or surprise if the breach is eligible for compensation. Edin. on Inj. 22; 16 Ves. 403; S.C.
18 Ves. 58 3 Ves. 692; 4 Bouv. List. No. 3915 8. Punishment also includes the penalty imposed by law for its violation; The term is usually applied to a fine. See 6 Pet. 404; 10 wheat.
246; 1 gall. R. 26; 2 galls. R. 515; 1 Freemason, R. 243; 3. Johannes Cas. 297: Rule 451; 15. Fair 488; 7 John 72 4 Mass 433; 8.
Fair 223; 8 Com. Digging. 846; 16 Wine. From. 301; 1 Vern. 83, n.; 1 hour. 58, n.; 1 swan. 318; 1 Washing.C.C. R. 1; 2 Washing.C.C.
R. 323; Paine, C.C R. 661; 7 Wheat. 13. See, in general, Bouv. Inst. Index, h.t. Although parties to a contract who use the words « penalty » or « lump sum damages » are supposed to mean prima facie what they say, the term used is inconclusive.
The court must determine whether the agreed payment is in fact a penalty or a lump sum compensation. In 2005, Jackson LJ in Alfred McAlpine Projects v. Tilebox[19] concluded that it had seen only four reported cases in which a clause had been removed as a penalty. That same year, in the Court of Appeal`s decision in murray v. Leisureplay plc,[20] Arden LJ raised a series of five issues that the Court should consider with respect to sanctions:[21] It is considered a penalty if the prescribed sum is extravagant and unscrupulous in relation to the largest loss that could have resulted from the infringement. The Supreme Court also confirmed that the criminal rule applies only to secondary obligations, i.e. obligations arising from the breach of a principal obligation. [23] A clause that sets out onerous provisions in a contract may be onerous, but if it is not triggered by a breach, it is not a penalty under the law. Their lordships also noted that a penalty clause can often be a simple payment of money, but it can also include other things, such as withholding payments, asset transfer requirements, or (depending on the facts they have) a request for reimbursement of a non-refundable deposit. The penalty may also be the agreed damage that a party would have to pay in the event of a breach. This is the amount of money that the party pays or loses as a penalty in the event of a breach of contract. However, if the penalty provided for in the contract is excessive, the court may refuse performance.
The penalty may also apply to a surcharge against a party who violates a contractual provision. For example, the prepayment penalty is a commission levied on a borrower who chooses to repay a loan before it is due. The Supreme Court`s decision on the scope of the criminal rule represents the clear contrast between Australian contract law and British contract law. The position of the common law courts was adopted and codified in the Administration of Justice Act 1696 and later in the Administration of Justice Act 1705. As a result, procedural legal protection with respect to these obligations was then fully administered by the common law courts without the intervention of the fair courts .. . .