No / There is hardly any substantive difference between ‘utmost good faith’ and ‘good faith’. In insurance law there is not a general and independent duty to act in good faith. This is because the requirement of good faith in insurance law, although being both general and independent, is neither a statutory duty nor a common-law duty the breach of which usually gives rise to a cause of action. Instead it is an interpretative principle in the common law of insurance. Similarly in civil law jurisdictions, it is not a legal duty either but instead an interpretative principle.

Thèse.-- Geneva. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [287]-296).

This thesis is study of the principle of good faith in contract law. In the last fifteen years enormous attempts have been made by contract lawyers, especially those in common law systems, to consider the question of good faith in contracts. But the approach that has been taken by those lawyers in dealing with this important question is unsatisfactory and incapable of producing a coherent understanding of the role of good faith in contracts. Instead of considering the essential question of good faith in contracts, especially commercial contracts, the debate has turned out into a battle between common law and civil law. This approach creates a polarized debate. This study will concentrate on the applications of good faith in arm 's length contractual relationships. This will no doubt concentrate the analysis on its operation in contracts generally, without involving other theories that may explain the courts' concern over the problems of bad faith conducts. Examining good faith as a general requirement in contracts is vitally important in order to reach a coherent understanding of its implications for contracting parties. This study will examine in depth the most important issues regarding the operation of the good faith principle in contract law. I will examine the rationality of this principle in pre-contractual negotiations. This area of contract raises difficult questions in many common law legal systems. The Introduction of the principle of good faith at the stage of negotiation under the PECL and the UNIDROIT Principles has strengthened the role of that principle at the formation of contracts. The interaction between the principle of good faith and express terms in contracts will also be examined in an attempt to identify the limits of the parties' freedom in the enforcement of contract terms. In addition to dealing with the operation of the principle of good faith throughout the life of the contract, it is also vitally important to analyse the general provisions of good faith in the PECL, CISG, UCC and the UNIDROIT Principles. Examining these general provisions of good faith will help us to understand its role in commercial contracts.

Reinsurance contract as a contract of uberrimae fidei, in contrast to ordinary commercial contracts, attracts a duty of utmost good faith requiring both parties to exercise their best effort and endeavor to help each other to make an informed decision and perform the contract concluded thereon without any dishonesty or deceit. There are various forms of reinsurance which adopt different ceding methods and have specific characters in the placing progress. The unique placing process in London subscription market of such complex and complicated reinsurance contracts by specialist brokers has to certain degree modified the operation of the doctrine of utmost good faith in reinsurance context. Moreover, from partial codification by the MIA 1906 to significant changed by Insurance Act 2015, it is fair to that the doctrine of utmost good faith has experienced one hundred years long revolution. The courts have taken many opportunities to structure the doctrine, establish rules of the tests, confine the scope and clarify remedies for qualifying breach. Such development of the doctrine itself has important affect upon its operation in reinsurance context too. Modification of the doctrine in reinsurance occurs due to several reasons. First, the special placing process in London subscription market affects the formation procedure of reinsurance contracts, consequently reshapes operation of the doctrine. Secondly, the characters of reinsurance contracts distinguished from underlying insurance would have some impact on operation of the doctrine in reinsurance context. In addition, other significant common law rules such as the principle of waiver, which is in extensive use in the reinsurance market practice, will also modify the operation of the doctrine in reinsurance context. Moreover, evolution of the duty itself, from an absolutely strict duty to a duty only requiring fair presentation, and a proposal of a new proportionate regime of remedies brings potential problems of its operation in reinsurance context. Consequently, notwithstanding there has been a long history of the doctrine and clarification of many aspects of the doctrine comes from a reinsurance cases, difficulties and problems still exist in operating such duty smoothly and directly in reinsurance like in direct insurance context. Such problems extend to every specific aspect of operation of the duty in reinsurance context, from the formation to performance, and then remedies for qualifying breach of the duty in claim stage.

Thesis (doctoral)--Ruprecht-Karl-Universität zu Heidelberg.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Hamburg.

No

Thesis (LLM)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It is clear that the classical concept of contract suffers from weaknesses because it takes too little account of social and economic changes that have occurred in our highly competitive global climate. More particularly, it fails to acknowledge implicit dimensions of contract. The classical contract theory was designed for transactions rather than to regulate relations. In view of the relational contract theory, contracts are agreements, often developed gradually, over a period of time and last over a period of time, perhaps indefinitely. As illustrated, with a discussion of the various theories attempting to qualify the classical law, the development of the relational contract theory and the need for implicit dimensions is in line with changes in business, market transactions and the economic and social environment of today. The relational contract is gradual and emphasises the relationship between the parties. Focus is placed on their understandings, party practices, customs and expectations as opposed to formal doctrines and principles. Characteristically, relational contracts are often incomplete in their specifications, thus leaving room for the creation of expectations and understandings inter partes. These expectations and understandings along with co-operation, rationality and trust are the implicit dimensions, which reflect the shared interest the parties have in their transaction. The ways in which these implicit dimensions can be recognised, developed and applied to contracts, particularly in the South African context is considered in light of our law's treatment of the implication of terms into contracts. It was found that considerations of reasonable expectations and policy do playa role in our law, albeit not to such an extent as to meet the demands of the relational contract theory and the recognition of implicit dimensions. Existing contract principles are also evaluated in the light of the relational contract and implicit dimensions. It is not suggested that classical contract law doctrines are to be dispensed with but that a shift of focus should occur, from the traditional focus on the ''paper'' deal to focusing on the ''real'' deal, between the parties. It is concluded that a principle of good faith would be a suitable starting point to give cognisance to implicit dimensions and to regulate relational contracts. In recognising a principle of good faith, the courts will be able to better respond to the expectations of the parties. A principle of good faith is recommended as being advantageous towards developing a pre-contractual duty of disclosure and encouraging more co-operative thinking and dealing in both legal doctrine and contracting practice. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dit is vandag duidelik dat die klassieke kontraksmodel aan swakhede ly omrede dié model nie genoegsaam rekening hou met sosiale en ekonomiese veranderinge mons hoogskompeterende wêreldklimaat nie. Meer bepaald, neem die model nie die implisiete aspekte van kontrakte in ag nie. Die klassieke teorie is meer gepas vir eenmalige transakies tussen kontraktante en nie soseer gebruik vir die regulering van deurlopende kontraksverhoudinge nie. In terme van die verhoudingskontrakteorie ("relational contract theory") word kontrakte beskou as ooreenkomstes wat geleidelik, oor 'n lang tydperk kan duur, miskien selfs vir 'n onbepaalde tydperk. Soos gei1lustreer, is daar verskeie teoriëe wat poog om die bestaande klassieke benadering aan te pas. Die ontwikkeling van die verhoudingskontrakteorie en die implisiete aspekte van kontrakte korreleer met veranderinge in internasionale handel en die ekonomiese en sosiale omgewing van vandag. Die verhoudingskontrakteorie beklemtoon die verhouding tussen die partye, hul praktyke en gewoontes en verwagtinge en is nie net slegs op formele beginsels gebaseer nie. 'n Eienskap van hierdie kontraktstipe is dat hulle dikwels nie poog om die verhouding van die partye volledig te reguleer nie. Sodoende word ruimte gelaat vir die ontwikkeling van verwagtinge en implisiete verwagtinge tussen die partye. Hierdie verwagtinge en verstandhoudings te same met die beginsels van samewerking, redelikheid en onderlinge vertroue, is die implisiete aspekte wat die gemeenskaplike belang wat partye in hul verhouding het, weerspieël. Maniere om hierdie implisiete aspekte te herken, te ontwikkel en toe te pas, veral in die Suid- Afrikaanse konteks, is oorweeg in die lig van ons reg se benadering tot die inlees van onuitgesproke bedinge in kontrakte. Alhoewel daar bevind is dat redelike verwagtinge en beleid wel 'n rol speel, is dit onvoldoende in die lig van die eise van die verhoudingskontrakteorie en die behoefte aan implisiete aspekte. Bestaande kontraksbeginsels is ook geëvalueer in die lig van die verhoudingsgebaseerde kontrak en implisiete aspekte. Daar word nie gesuggereer dat klassieke beginsels van die hand gewys moet word nie. Eerder dan die tradisionele fokus op die "paper deal" moet die fokus op die"real deal" wees. Ten slotte word die behoefte aan die erkenning van 'n beginsel van goeie trou uitgelig. Breedweg sal howe beter kan reaggeer op partye se verwagtinge en verstandhoudinge en dié beginsel word ook aanbeveel met die oog op die behoefte aan samwerking tussen partye en die ontwikkeling van 'n voor-openbaarmakingsplig.

Research report (L.L.M. (Coursework))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, School of Law, 2014

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