A penalty clause is a provision in a contract that imposes a monetary or other punishment on a party for failing to fulfill specific terms of the agreement. These clauses are typically designed to deter breach of contract and to encourage parties to perform their obligations as agreed.
These clauses allow parties, at the time of contracting, to agree to their respective damages liability if they later breach. While liquidated damages clauses are generally enforceable, courts do not enforce penalty clauses.
(2) The Contractual Penalty shall in any case be credited against any damage claims the Company may raise vis-Ã -vis the Consultant in connection with a breach of the Consultant's duties under the Consultancy Contract.
How to Draft an Enforceable Penalty Clause? Make sure there is a legitimate interest that is proportionate to the enforcement of the main obligation by the innocent party. Consider whether the penalty clause has an actual pre-estimation of loss. Avoid making the penalty extravagant or unconscionable.
When writing a penalty clause, consider the following steps: Clear Identification: Explicitly state which obligations or deadlines the penalty clause applies to. Specific Penalty Amounts: Specify the exact monetary penalty that will be imposed for each failure to meet an obligation or deadline.
Contract clauses which have the effect of placing the non-breaching party in a better position than if the contract were fully performed are presumptively unenforceable because they amount to penalties; the goal of enforcing contracts is not to penalize, but to prevent loss to the non-breaching party.
While liquidated damages clauses are generally enforceable, courts do not enforce penalty clauses.
Examples include confidentiality, liability, and termination clauses, all of which serve to protect parties' interests and provide a framework for resolving potential disputes.
Generally, any clause included within a commercial contract which is included for the sole purpose of punishing a breaching party is deemed a 'penalty,' and is consequently unenforceable in law to the extent that it extends beyond the actual loss sustained as a result of the breach.
Penalty clauses serve a vital purpose in contracts. They help ensure that both parties take their obligations seriously and fulfill their promises. They also act as motivators for everyone involved to stick to their commitments and deliver their best, lest they incur a breach of contract penalty.