Legal Definitions - make one whole

Definition: Make one whole is a legal theory that aims to remedy a breach of contract or other legal obligation by awarding damages to the affected party. The goal is to put the person in the same position they would have been if the obligation was not broken.

For example, let's say John hired a contractor to build a deck in his backyard for $5,000. The contractor started the work but never finished it, leaving John with a half-built deck. In this situation, John could sue the contractor for breach of contract and ask for damages to make him whole. This might include the cost of hiring a new contractor to finish the deck, as well as any other expenses John incurred as a result of the breach.

However, determining what it takes to make someone whole can be difficult. In some cases, it may be straightforward, such as in the example above. But in other cases, there may be additional expenses or losses that are harder to quantify. For instance, if a business breaches a contract with a supplier, the supplier may lose out on future business opportunities as a result. It can be challenging to put a dollar value on these types of losses.

Overall, the goal of the make one whole theory is to provide a fair and just remedy for breaches of contract or other legal obligations. However, it's not always easy to determine what that remedy should be.