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Which kinds of cases could receive relief in the Court of Chancery?
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Common law
Henry II (left) disputing with Thomas Becket (center), miniature from a 14th-century manuscript; in the British Library (Cotton MS. Claudius D.ii).
The Court of Chancery was established to provide remedies in situations where the common law courtsâwhich were often rigid and limited primarily to awarding damages or recovering propertyâcould not offer adequate justice. The chancellor would hear cases where no legal remedy existed or where the available legal remedy was insufficient to address the harm.12
Representative cases and equitable remedies included:
- Specific performance of contract: Compelling a party to fulfill a promise when damages would be an inadequate substitute, such as in contracts for land or unique chattels.2
- Enforcement of trusts: Ensuring that those holding property for others fulfilled their fiduciary obligations.2
- Injunctions: Preventing threatened or continuing wrongs, such as property damage.2
- Restitution: Compelling the surrender of wrongfully acquired benefits to prevent unjust enrichment.2
- Correction of instruments: Canceling or correcting written documents due to mistake or misrepresentation.2
- Equity of redemption: Allowing a defaulting mortgagor to reclaim land after forfeiture but before foreclosure.2
Ultimately, the chancellor was restricted to hearing cases where there was no adequate remedy at law or where the threatened injury was irreparable.12