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"Rethinking Jacob Youngs v Kent" [2019] ELECD 2886; in Goldberg, P. Victor (ed), "Rethinking the Law of Contract Damages" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2019) 142

Book Title: Rethinking the Law of Contract Damages

Editor(s): Goldberg, P. Victor

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

Section: Chapter 8

Section Title: Rethinking Jacob Youngs v Kent

Number of pages: 22

Abstract/Description:

Jacob and Youngs v. Kent has long been a staple in Contracts casebooks. This chapter makes three contributions. First, it demonstrates that Cardozo broke no new ground. The law involving willfulness and substantial completion in building contracts had been around for half a century. The recognition of value of completion when the cost substantially exceeded the value was also well established. Second, it examines the record and concludes that Cardozo’s decision was justified. In particular it resolves two puzzles: (a) why did both the majority and dissent ignore the condition that the architect provide a certificate of completion; and (b) why didn’t Kent counterclaim for the full cost of completion? Finally, it considers how modern contract forms produced by the American Institute of Architects deal with the problem of deviations.