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Quantum definition

What does Quantum mean? Quantum describes the amount of money at issue in a claim, most commonly the sum of damages or compensation to be awarded. It is a descriptive Latin term used across civil litigation rather than a term defined by statute; its assessment is governed by general principles in case law and procedural rules. In practice, courts and practitioners separate “liability” from “quantum”, with a trial or proof on quantum where fault is admitted or established. Determining quantum involves evidence on heads of loss, causation, mitigation and interest, often with expert reports (for example, medical, actuarial or accountancy). Typical contexts include contract, tort/delict,...

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Quantum in construction disputes: variations, loss and expense, LADs; damages in contract/negligence; recoverable heads, global claims, mitigation/betterment, net contribution, exclusions and evidential requirements

Practice notes
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This Practice Note

This Practice Note considers the principal factors a party to a construction contract should address when preparing the Quantum elements of a claim. It covers routine contractual claims (for example, Loss and expense), as well as scenarios where the dispute stems from breach of contract or Negligence, i.e. a claim for Damages.

It also examines frequent categories of recoverable loss, including:

  • damages relating to defects claims
  • future losses
  • wasted management time
  • loss of a chance
  • third party settlement sums

Beyond establishing whether a loss is recoverable and its value, additional quantum issues may include whether to advance a ‘global claim’, mitigation and betterment considerations, contributory negligence, and any contractual limits or exclusions. On the issue of loss within a dispute, the claimant bears the burden of proving both the fact of the loss and the amount claimed. For a fuller review of key and/or recent authorities concerning common heads of loss in construction disputes, such as in...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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