In
contract law
A contract is a legally enforceable agreement between two or more parties that creates, defines, and governs mutual rights and obligations between them. A contract typically involves the transfer of goods, services, money, or a promise to t ...
or
tort law
A tort is a civil wrong that causes a claimant to suffer loss or harm, resulting in legal liability for the person who commits the tortious act. Tort law can be contrasted with criminal law, which deals with criminal wrongs that are punishab ...
, the term heads of loss or heads of claim refers to categories of damage that a party may incur. It uses the term "head" in its sense of "category"; each head of loss refers to the damages that correspond to a particular category of duty.
Contract law
When used in the context of contracts, "loss" is the equivalent of damages at common law. The measure of such damages can be complex, but the starting position is to put the injured party in the same position (so far as money can accomplish) as if the contract had been correctly performed
For example, a book on "Building Contract Claims" lists the following "more common heads of loss":
''Building Contract Claims''
David Chappell, Vincent Powell-Smith, John Sims
* On-site establishment costs
* Head office overheads
* Loss of profit
* Inefficient or increased use of labour and plant
* Winter working
* Plant
* Increased costs
* Financing charges and interest
See also
*Duty of care
In tort law, a duty of care is a legal obligation that is imposed on an individual, requiring adherence to a standard of reasonable care while performing any acts that could foreseeably harm others. It is the first element that must be establi ...
* Reliance damages
References
Contract law
Tort law