Assignment Question Contract Law

Marcus is the owner of an interior design business. Last year Marcus made a number of contracts with clients but due to underestimating the work involved he has ended up in a number of disputes.

Marcus contracted with Nina to renovate three bedrooms in her house, for a total price of 15,000 payable on completion. While Marcus was able to carry out the vast majority of the work, clearing the rooms of all previous furnishing and decoration, laying new carpets and painting the walls, he failed to fit a custom-built wardrobe in one bedroom and has not provided curtains and other soft furnishings in the other two. Nina has paid a rival interior designer 1,000 to complete the work. She has refused to pay any money to Marcus.

Marcus also contracted with Olivia, an artist who wished to turn her garage into a studio. Marcus agreed to design and install a special roof window that would allow in the most possible light for 10,000, paid up front. The window was not properly installed by Marcus and does not allow in quite as much light as expected, although it functions perfectly well as a window. It would cost 15,000 to remove the existing window and reinstall it.

Paul agreed with Marcus that Marcus would renovate Paul's luxury apartment for an overall payment of 20,000, paid up front. It was agreed that if Marcus was late in finishing the work, he would pay a "late completion fee" of 10,000 back to Paul. Marcus was two days late in completing the renovation.

Finally, Marcus agreed to personally redesign Quentin's kitchen. Marcus has failed to carry out the work and has offered Quentin a full refund, but Quentin is adamant that the only thing that will satisfy him is for Marcus to carry out the work as planned.

Advise Marcus as to:

• whether he may recover any money from Nina, and if so how much.
• the remedies Olivia, Paul and Quentin might claim from him.