Youprint Productions Pte Ltd v Mak Sook Ling: Breach of Contract & Nominal Damages
In Youprint Productions Pte Ltd v Mak Sook Ling, the High Court of Singapore heard an appeal regarding a breach of contract claim. The appellant, Youprint Productions Pte Ltd, sued the respondent, Mak Sook Ling, for breaching her employment contract. The District Judge found a breach but dismissed the claim due to lack of proven loss. Chua Lee Ming J allowed the appeal, holding that a breach of contract is actionable even without proof of damage, entitling the claimant to nominal damages. The court awarded nominal damages of $1,500 to the appellant.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
General Division of the High Court of the Republic of Singapore1.2 Outcome
Appeal Allowed
1.3 Case Type
Civil
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Appeal regarding breach of contract. The court held that a breach of contract is actionable even without proof of loss, entitling the claimant to nominal damages.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youprint Productions Pte Ltd | Appellant | Corporation | Appeal Allowed | Won | |
| Mak Sook Ling | Respondent | Individual | Appeal Dismissed | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Chua Lee Ming | Judge of the High Court | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Roche Eng Keng Loon | R.E. Law LLC |
| Wong Jieh | Circular Law Chambers LLP |
4. Facts
- Youprint Productions Pte Ltd sued Mak Sook Ling for breach of her employment contract.
- The District Judge found that Mak Sook Ling had breached her employment contract.
- Youprint Productions Pte Ltd did not prove loss or damage resulting from the breach.
- The District Judge dismissed Youprint Productions Pte Ltd’s claim.
- Youprint Productions Pte Ltd appealed the District Judge’s decision.
5. Formal Citations
- Youprint Productions Pte Ltd v Mak Sook Ling, District Court Appeal No 20 of 2022, [2022] SGHC 212
- Youprint Productions Pte Ltd v Mak Sook Ling, , [2022] SGDC 131
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Hearing date | |
| Judgment date |
7. Legal Issues
- Breach of Contract
- Outcome: The court held that a breach of contract is actionable even without proof of loss.
- Category: Substantive
- Related Cases:
- [2007] 4 SLR(R) 413
- [2021] 1 SLR 631
- [2018] 2 SLR 199
- Damages
- Outcome: The court awarded nominal damages of $1,500.
- Category: Substantive
- Related Cases:
- [2018] 2 SLR 199
- [2008] 2 SLR(R) 623
8. Remedies Sought
- Damages
- Account of Profits
9. Cause of Actions
- Breach of Contract
10. Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation
11. Industries
- Printing
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LighthouseCarrwood Ltd v Luckett | English High Court | Yes | [2007] EWHC 2866 (QB) | England and Wales | Cited by the District Judge as authority for dismissing a breach of contract claim where no loss is proven, but the High Court disagreed with its reasoning. |
| RDC Concrete Pte Ltd v Sato Kogyo (S) Pte Ltd and another appeal | Court of Appeal | Yes | [2007] 4 SLR(R) 413 | Singapore | Cited for the principle that an innocent party is always entitled to claim damages for loss resulting from breach of contract. |
| Denka Advantech Pte Ltd and another v Seraya Energy Pte Ltd and another and other appeals | Court of Appeal | Yes | [2021] 1 SLR 631 | Singapore | Cited for the principle that an innocent party is always entitled to claim damages for loss resulting from breach of contract. |
| Biofuel Industries Pte Ltd v V8 Environmental Pte Ltd and another appeal | Court of Appeal | Yes | [2018] 2 SLR 199 | Singapore | Cited for the principle that if the claimant fails to prove either the fact of damage or the quantum of its loss, only nominal damages may be awarded. |
| Phua Seng Hua and others v Kwee Seng Chio Peter and another | High Court (Appellate Division) | Yes | [2022] SGHC(A) 11 | Singapore | Cited for the principle that a claim for Wrotham Park damages has to be pleaded, but distinguished as not relevant to the issue of whether a breach of contract is actionable as of right. |
| Robertson Quay Investment Pte Ltd v Steen Consultants Pte Ltd and another | Court of Appeal | Yes | [2008] 2 SLR(R) 623 | Singapore | Cited in Biofuel for the principle that a claimant must adduce sufficient evidence of loss to quantify damages. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| No applicable statutes | |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Breach of contract
- Nominal damages
- Loss
- Damages
- Employment contract
15.2 Keywords
- Breach of contract
- Nominal damages
- Singapore
- Employment contract
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Breach of Contract | 95 |
| Nominal damages | 90 |
| Damages | 80 |
| Remedies | 75 |
| Contract Law | 60 |
16. Subjects
- Contract Law
- Civil Procedure