Breach of Contract Defenses

Breach of contract defenses are reasons a party may offer to explain why they did not fulfill their contractual obligations. Common defenses include: "impossibility," where unforeseen events made it impossible to perform; "duress," where one party was forced into the contract; "misrepresentation," where false information led to entering the agreement; and "mutual mistake," where both parties were wrong about a key fact. Additionally, if a party did not perform due to the other party's actions or failures, this might also serve as a defense. These defenses can help mitigate liability for breach.