Taylor v Caldwell [1863]

Court: Queen's Bench

Facts: Taylor agreed to rent a music hall from Caldwell & Bishop, but the hall burned down before the first event. Taylor sought to be released from the contract due to impossibility of performance.

Issue: Does the destruction of the subject matter of a contract, making performance impossible, discharge the parties from their contractual obligations?

Held: The court ruled that the destruction of the music hall, which was an essential part of the contract, excused both parties from their contractual obligations. The doctrine of common law impossibility applied.

Key Judicial Statement: Justice Blackburn affirmed that if a contract's essential subject matter is destroyed without fault of either party, the parties are released from their obligations, reflecting principles of common law impossibility.

💡Leveluplaw: The doctrine of common law impossibility discharges contractual obligations when the subject matter of the contract is destroyed or becomes impossible to perform. This principle is crucial when unforeseen events render contract performance impossible.