Modern courts have held that repudiation occurs in which of the following ways?

A contract is a document signed by two or more parties and gives rise to rights and duties. The terms and conditions stipulated within a contract determine the parties’ obligations towards each other. Unfortunately, in some cases, parties will neglect their obligations, thus creating a breach of contract. This article will explore repudiation as a form of breach of contract.

What is a contract?

A valid contract is an agreement entered into by two or more parties who have the intention of creating legal obligations. The agreement is recognised by law as being binding on the parties. The purpose of the contract is to ensure that the parties honour the promises that they have made to each other. Should either of the parties fail to do so, the aggrieved party may rely on the law to hold the offending party liable to the contract. The law, therefore, provides mechanisms for the enforcement of promises when they are broken. Additionally, legislation regulates the conclusion and performance of agreements to ensure parties appropriately conduct themselves.

When does repudiation occur?

When a party to a legally binding contract expresses the intention to no longer be bound by the contract or any obligations arising out of the contract, a breach of contract occurs. This breach of contract is referred to as repudiation. Repudiation can occur either expressly or by conduct.

Repudiation is determined by using an objective test. The test considers whether a reasonable person would believe that the party accused of repudiation has acted in a way that shows that he/she no longer has the intention to fulfil or completely fulfil his/her duties in terms of the contract. If the party accused of repudiation acted in good faith by misunderstanding the content of the contract, he/she would still be liable for breach in terms of repudiation. Thus, repudiation includes an unjustified attempt to cancel the contract, denying the existence of a contract, refusing to perform or accept performance, notification of inability to perform, offering incomplete or defective performance as full performance, insufficient notification of the termination of the contract or the unjustified refusal of an employer to allow an employee to perform his/her duties.

Repudiation is also known as anticipatory breach because, in some cases, the breach may not have actually occurred yet. The anticipation of repudiation can occur when the accused party notifies the other party that he/she will not be able to perform on the stipulated date. The repudiation must also be of a continuing nature, in that the party accused of repudiation must have been allowed to correct the breach.

The consequences of repudiation

When repudiation occurs, the innocent party is allowed the option to reject the repudiation and enforce the continuation of performance in terms of the contract, or the contract may be rescinded.

If the repudiation is accepted, the breach must be of such a severe nature that the cancellation of the contract is justified. If the cancellation of the contract is in anticipation of the breach, it must be of such a nature that if the breach were to occur, a reasonable person could not be expected to abide by the contract. Where the breach occurs in the form of late payment of a debt, then cancellation can only happen if time is of the essence. If not, then the innocent party is not immediately entitled to rescind the contract; instead, he/she may notify the party that the contract will be rescinded if repudiation continues.

Additionally, suppose the contract terms prescribe a procedure to be followed before the innocent party rescinds the contract due to repudiation. In that case, the innocent party is not bound by those terms. However, once the innocent party informs the guilty party of the decision to rescind, then any performance made by the innocent party must be restored by the guilty party.

If the repudiation is rejected, then the guilty party may be forced to perform his/her duties in terms of the contract. This means that the relationship between the parties will continue as if no repudiation has occurred. Thus, there can be no claim for specific performance or damages arising from the breach. The repudiation does, however, allow the innocent party to suspend his/her duties and obligations for the duration of the repudiation.

Conclusion

Repudiation occurs when one of the parties to a legally binding contract refuses to render performance or renders incomplete performance. Repudiation is a breach of contract that can also occur in anticipation of non-performance. The innocent party of repudiation is entitled to either accept the repudiation and thus cancel the contract, or reject the repudiation, in which case the repudiation will be ignored, and the terms of the contract will remain enforceable.

Contact an attorney at SchoemanLaw for assistance on issues relating to contract, breach or dispute resolution.

Written by Ms Thandazile Makasi, Candidate Attorney at Schoemanlaw Inc.

See also:

• First comes love, then comes… contracts?
• Understanding contracts and dealing with contractual disputes
• Considerations when negotiating and enforcing commercial contracts
• Contract – Claim for payment

(This article is provided for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. For more information on the topic, please contact the author/s or the relevant provider.)

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