The effect of a change of circumstances on the binding force of contracts : comparative perspectives / R.A. Momberg Uribe.
2011
K840 .M66 2011 (Map It)
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Title
The effect of a change of circumstances on the binding force of contracts : comparative perspectives / R.A. Momberg Uribe.
Published
Cambridge ; Portland : Intersentia ; [Maastricht] : Metro, [2011]
Copyright
©2011
Call Number
K840 .M66 2011
Former Call Number
Comp 500 M743 2011
ISBN
9781780680057 (pbk.)
1780680058 (pbk.)
9789400002227 (pbk.)
940000222X (pbk.)
1780680058 (pbk.)
9789400002227 (pbk.)
940000222X (pbk.)
Description
xvi, 327 pages ; 24 cm.
System Control No.
(OCoLC)730911358
Note
Published version of the author's thesis (doctoral)--2011.
Bibliography, etc. Note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 299-316).
Series
Record Appears in
Gift
Purchased from the income of the Rouse Fund
Gift
The Arthur W. Diamond Law Library
Purchased from the income of the Rouse Fund
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
vii
Abbreviations
xv
Part I Introduction And Historical Perspectives
1
ch. 1
Introductory remarks
3
1.
The origin of this research
3
1.1.
The same facts: the natural gas crisis
3
1.2.
...But two contradictory decisions
4
2.
Pacta sunt servanda and Rebus sic stantibus
5
3.
Scope of the research
7
3.1.
The concept of long-term contracts. The relational theory of contract
7
3.2.
Exclusion of related legal doctrines
9
3.2.1.
Impossibility, force majeure and excessive onerousness
10
3.2.2.
Mistake and excessive onerousness
11
3.2.3.
Laesio enormis and excessive onerousness
12
3.3.
The role of the economic analysis of the law
13
3.4.
The role of express clauses dealing with a change of circumstances
14
4.
Terminology and concepts
16
5.
Hypothesis and methodology
17
5.1.
Hypothesis
17
5.2.
Comparative method
19
5.3.
Jurisdictions selected
19
6.
Structure of the research
21
ch. 2
An historic approach to pacta sunt servanda, impossibility and rebus sic stantibus
23
1.
The origins of pacta sunt servanda
23
1.1.
Roman law: No pacta sunt servanda principle
23
1.2.
The glossators: the beginning of a rational and systematic scheme
24
1.3.
From nuda pactio obligationem non parit to pacta sunt servanda
25
2.
Impossibility
27
3.
Change of circumstances
29
3.1.
The philosophical Roman roots and development as an implied condition
29
3.2.
Evolution towards a more objective standard
31
3.3.
The codification and the clausula doctrine
33
4.
Conclusions
38
Part II Comparative Survey National Jurisdictions
41
ch. 3
French law
43
1.
Introduction
43
2.
The provisions of the Code Civil and the traditional legal doctrine
44
3.
The traditional case law
46
4.
Legislative intervention
48
5.
The different approach of French administrative law
50
6.
The approach of modern legal doctrine
52
7.
Modern case law
55
7.1.
The limited recognition of imprevision through the duty to renegotiate
55
7.2.
The rejection of court revision
57
8.
The reform projects
60
8.1.
General remarks
60
8.2.
The regulation of imprevision in the reform projects
62
9.
Conclusions
67
ch. 4
Italian law
69
1.
Introduction
69
2.
The excessively onerous nature of the performance: eccessiva onerosita sopravvenuta
69
3.
The foundations of eccessiva onerosita
70
4.
The conditions for the application of eccessiva onerosita
71
4.1.
Contracts covered by the provision
72
4.2.
The behaviour of the affected party
74
4.3.
The nature of the events
75
4.3.1.
Supervening events
75
4.3.2.
Extraordinary and unforeseeable events
75
4.4.
Excessive onerousness and the normal risk (alea) inherent in the contract
77
5.
The effects of eccessiva onerosita
80
5.1.
The termination of the contract (risoluzione del contratto)
80
5.2.
An equitable modification of the contract (reductio ad equitatem)
81
5.3.
The remedy in case of contracts with obligations for one party only (article 1468)
84
6.
The theory of the presupposizione
84
7.
Conclusions
88
ch. 5
Latin American jurisdictions - Chilean and Argentinian law
91
1.
Introduction
91
1.1.
The Latin American system of private law: a civil law system
91
1.2.
The development of private law in Latin America since the nineteenth century
92
1.2.1.
The nineteenth century: Codification as a tool for territorial and juridical unification and the influence of the Code Civil
92
1.2.2.
The twentieth century: The (relative) influence of the United States
94
2.
Chilean law
96
2.1.
The Chilean Civil Code
96
2.2.
The role of case law and legal thinking in the Chilean legal system
97
2.3.
Unexpected circumstances in Chilean law: teoria de la imprevision
100
2.3.1.
The binding force of contract in Chilean private law Article 1545 of the Civil Code and the rejection of imprevision
100
2.3.2.
The reinforcement of pacta sunt servanda through property law
101
2.3.3.
Contemporary legal doctrine: good faith as the basis for imprevision
102
2.3.4.
The discussion about the need of a legal reform
105
2.3.5.
The (failed) project of reform
106
2.3.6.
The situation of Chilean administrative law
107
2.3.7.
The case law
108
3.
Argentinian law
116
3.1.
The Argentinian Civil Code
116
3.2.
The doctrine of stare decisis in Argentinian law
118
3.3.
Unexpected circumstances in Argentinian law: the doctrine of imprevision
120
3.3.1.
The revision of the contract in the Argentinian Civil Code
120
3.3.2.
Developments in legislation and case law
120
3.3.3.
Act 17.711 and the introduction of imprevision in the Argentinian Civil Code
121
3.3.4.
The conditions for the application of article 1198
123
3.3.5.
The effects of imprevision
131
3.4.
A reference to abus de droit
134
4.
Conclusions
136
ch. 6
The Common law jurisdictions - English and American law
139
1.
Introduction. Terminology: frustration, impossibility and impracticability
139
2.
English law
140
2.1.
Origins of the doctrine of frustration
140
2.2.
Frustration in cases of excessive onerosity or impracticability
142
2.2.1.
Introduction
142
2.2.2.
The rejection of impracticability as a ground for being discharged from a contract: development of the case law
143
2.3.
The doctrine of frustration of purpose
147
2.4.
The effects of frustration
150
2.4.1.
The common law rules in cases of performance rendered before frustration
151
2.4.2.
The Law Reform (Frustrated Contracts) Act 1943
153
2.4.3.
The rejection of a duty to renegotiate
155
2.5.
Conclusions
158
3.
American law, The doctrine of impracticability
160
3.1.
The concept of impracticability
161
3.2.
Impracticability in the UCC and the Restatement (2nd)
162
3.3.
The development of the case law
166
3.3.1.
The methods for determining impracticability
166
3.3.2.
The foreseeability standard
170
3.3.3.
The criticism concerning the foreseeability standard
175
3.4.
Frustration of purpose in American law
176
3.5.
The effects of impracticability
177
3.5.1.
Renegotiation of the contract
177
3.5.2.
Adjustment of contract
178
3.6.
Conclusions
181
Part III Comparative Survey International Instruments Of Contract Law
185
ch. 7
International instruments of contract law - the approach of the CISG, the PICC, the PECL and the DCFR
187
1.
Introduction
187
2.
The approach of the CISG
188
2.1.
The CISG system of exemptions
188
2.2.
Gap filling in the CISG
189
2.3.
Hardship under the CISG
191
2.4.
The approach of the case law
194
3.
The approach of non-legislative codifications: the PICC, the PECL and the DCFR
198
3.1.
General considerations
199
3.1.1.
The general rule
199
3.1.2.
Scope of the rules
200
3.2.
The conditions for the application of the remedies
201
3.2.1.
The effect of changed circumstances on the parties' obligations
201
3.2.2.
The change of circumstances must have occurred after the time when the obligation was incurred
203
3.2.3.
The debtor did not take into account, and could not reasonably be expected to have taken into account, the change of circumstances
203
3.2.4.
The exceptional nature of the change of circumstances
204
3.2.5.
Risk allocation
206
3.2.6.
The request for renegotiation
209
3.3.
Remedies
212
3.4.
Conclusions
213
Part IV The Effects Of A Change Of Circumstances
217
ch. 8
The duty to renegotiate as an effect of changed circumstances
219
1.
Comparative assessment. The double role of renegotiation
219
2.
Source of the duty
220
2.1.
Good faith and the nature of the contractual relationship as a source. An inherent or implied obligation
220
2.2.
Express contract provision. The renegotiation clause
224
2.1.1.
Concepts
224
2.2.2.
Structure and content of the clauses
225
3.
Content of the duty to renegotiate. Obligations and rights of the parties
227
3.1.
Duty to renegotiate in good faith
227
3.2.
Duty to agree or to accept the counterparty proposal
228
3.3.
Renegotiation period
230
4.
Consequences when renegotiations fail
230
4.1.
Termination and damages
230
4.2.
Adaptation or revision of the contract by the courts
231
5.
Conclusions
234
ch. 9
The adjustment of the contract as effect of changed circumstances
237
1.
Introduction
237
1.1.
Comparative assessment
237
1.2.
Terminology and the concept of adaptation
238
2.
The difficult case for the adaptation of contracts
239
2.1.
Foundations
239
2.2.
Arguments for and against a judicial adjustment
242
2.2.1.
A violation of the principle of the sanctity of contracts and the free will of the parties
243
2.2.2.
Lack of expertise on the part of judges
247
2.2.3.
Increase in the costs of contracting and litigation
248
2.2.4.
Adjustment leads to uncertainty and it is unclear
250
2.2.5.
A risk to the whole economic system
251
3.
The extent and content of modification. The powers of the court
253
4.
Termination of the contract
256
5.
Conclusions
258
ch. 10
Concluding remarks
261
1.
The general but not absolute principle of pacta sunt servanda
261
2.
Receptive and unreceptive legal systems
263
2.1.
Receptive legal systems
263
2.1.1.
Scope of the rules
263
2.1.2.
Requirements
264
2.1.3.
Effects
265
2.2.
Unreceptive legal systems
266
2.2.1.
The reasons for the rejection
266
2.2.2.
Exceptional recognition and limited effects
268
2.3.
Evaluation
269
3.
An attempt at a synthesis
270
3.1.
The advantages of legal recognition
270
3.2.
Minimum conditions
272
3.2.1.
Scope of application
272
3.2.2.
Mandatory nature of the provisions
272
3.2.3.
Excessive onerosity
273
3.2.4.
Reasonable unforeseen circumstances
273
3.3.
The effects of changed circumstances
273
3.3.1.
Renegotiation
274
3.3.2.
Adaptation
275
3.3.3.
Termination
277
4.
The political choices
278
Bibliography
299
Table of cases
317
Curriculum vitae
325