Court Opinion

ID: 9779514
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 22:04:43.279404+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:33:27.335560
License: Public Domain

GRANT, Justice,
concurring.
This case seems to violate the fundamental tenet of contract law that an injured party should not be put in a better position than if the contract had been performed. See E. Farnsworth, Contracts §§ 12, 16 (1982). The usual measure of damages for a breach of contract is the amount necessary to place the plaintiff in a financial position equivalent to that which she would have had if the contract had been fully performed by both parties. Little Darling Corp. v. Ald, Inc., 566 S.W.2d 347 (Tex.Civ.App. — Dallas 1978, no writ). The outcome of the present case is surprising in light of Phyllis Locke’s testimony that she had consistently lost money each month under the contract, and there was no projection to show that she would have made a profit during the last months of the contract. Thus, it appeared that Mistletoe Express might have saved her money by terminating the contract early.1
If the total past and projected loss under the contract had equaled or exceeded the unrecouped reliance costs, then Phyllis Locke would not have been entitled to a recovery for damages. However, the record contains no figures showing the amount of loss or how Phyllis Locke calculated the loss. As the majority correctly points out, the breaching party has the burden of proving that loss. The only exception would be when the loss figure is not available because of the fault of the party suffering the loss. The record in the present case does not show that the loss figure was not available. Since the amount of the loss is unknown, it cannot be used to negate the reliance damages.

. A breach of contract may prevent a loss as well as cause one. Insofar as it prevents loss, the amount will be credited in favor of the wrongdoer. 5 Corbin on Contracts § 1038 (1964).