This PhD dissertation is about legal fictions in private law. A legal fiction, broadly, is a false assumption knowingly relied upon by the courts. The main aim of the dissertation is to formulate a test for which fictions should be accepted and which rejected. Subsidiary aims include a better understanding of the fiction as a device and of certain individual fictions, past and present. This research is undertaken, primarily, to establish a rigorous system for the treatment of fictions in English law - which is lacking. Secondarily, it is intended to settle some intractable disputes, which have plagued the scholarship. These theoretical debates have hindered progress on the practical matters which affect litigants in the real world. The dissertation is divided into four chapters. The first chapter is a historical study of common-law fictions. The conclusions drawn thereform are the foundation of the acceptance test for fictions. The second chapter deals with the theoretical problems surrounding the fiction. Chiefly, it seeks precisely to define 'legal fiction', a recurrent problem in the literature. A solution, in the form of a two-pronged definition, is proposed, adding an important element to the acceptance test. The third chapter analyses modern-day fictions and recommends retention or abolition for each fiction. In the fourth chapter, the findings hitherto are synthesised into a general acceptance test for fictions. This test, which is the thesis of this work, is presented as a flowchart. It is the author's hope that this project will raise awareness as to the merits and demerits of legal fictions, de-mystify the debate and bring about reform.

La constitution d’une fiducie-trust a comme effet la création d’une universalité juridique, le patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund. De cette universalité, les bénéficiaires-cestuis que trusts tirent les avantages que le constituant-settlor a prévu pour eux ; ainsi pour qu’ils puissent obtenir leurs avantages, il faut que le patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund soit en bon état. D’où l’importance d’avoir des moyens adéquates qui protègent le patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund. Dans le cas contraire, les possibilités que le but d’une fiducie-trust déterminée soit réalisé se réduisent, et l'efficacité de l'ensemble de l'institution est remise en question. La protection du patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund commence par des moyens qui évitent à cette universalité d’être endommagée. Puisque toute action, comme toute inaction du fiduciaire-trustee, peut avoir des effets négatifs sur le patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund, il faut empêcher qu’il endommage cette universalité. A l’égard du fiduciaire-trustee, le patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund encourt deux dangers : non seulement que le fiduciaire-trustee agisse dans un intérêt autre que celui des cestuis que trusts, mais aussi qu’il soit négligent dans l’exécution de ses obligations. Pour faire face à ces dangers, et empêcher que le patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund soit endommagé par le fiduciaire-trustee, deux obligations lui sont imposées : le devoir de loyauté-duty of loyalty et le devoir de diligence-duty of care. D’autre part, si le patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund peut être endommagé par le fiduciaire-trustee, il peut aussi être endommagé par des tiers. La protection à l’égard des tiers commence en faisant du fiduciaire-trustee le titulaire des droits mis en fiducie-trust (s’il s’agit d’une propriété, il sera propriétaire ; s’il s’agit d’une créance, il sera créancier) ; elle se poursuit en rendant les biens fiduciés, et donc le patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund, indépendants du patrimoine du fiduciaire-trustee.Bien qu’il existe des moyens préventifs de protection du patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund, ces moyens ne sont pas infaillibles. Ainsi, quand le patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund est endommagé, il est nécessaire que le constituant et les bénéficiaires-cestuis que trusts disposent de recours pour faire face aux préjudices soufferts par cette universalité. Parmi les moyens curatifs de protection, on en trouve de nature personnelle : ceux dont les remèdes visent l’exécution en nature de la fiducie-trust et ceux qui visent la réparation du patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund. Pour réparer le dommage causé au patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund, on trouve aussi des remèdes de nature réelle. Si le droit anglais offre de vrais remèdes réels, en revanche le droit français offre de « faux » remèdes réels puisque, même si ces remèdes ne sont pas stricto sensu des remèdes réels, ils ont des effets analogues aux remèdes du droit anglais. / The constitution of a fiducie-trust has the effect of creating a patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund. Because the beneficiaries obtain their benefits from the patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund it has to be in a condition that permits them to obtain those benefits. Hence the importance of having adequate means to protect the patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund. The protection of the patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund starts by preventing it from being harmed. Since any action or any inaction of the fiduciaire-trustee can have negative effects on the patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund, it is necessary to begin by protecting it from the fiduciaire-trustee. There are two situations which have been proven to be dangerous to the patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund: a) when the fiduciaire-trustee acts in an interest other than that of those of the beneficiaries and b) when the fiduciaire-trustee is negligent in the performance of his obligations. To cope with these two problems and to prevent the patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund from being damaged by the fiduciaire-trustee, two obligations are imposed upon him: a) the devoir de loyauté-duty of loyalty and b) the devoir de diligence-duty of care. If the patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund is at risk of the actions of the fiduciaire-trustee, it is also at risk of the actions of third parties. The protection of the patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund from third parties begin by the ownership of the fiduciaire-trustee and continues by separating the patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund from the personal property of the fiduciaire-trustee. Because the preventive measures that protect the patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund are not infallible, it is necessary that the constituant and the beneficiaries have access to legal remedies for when the patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund has been damaged. Among the remedial protection are those of personal nature, including remedies for specific enforcement of the fiducie-trust and those that tend to repair the patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund. To repair the damage caused to the patrimoine fiduciaire-trust fund there are also real remedies. If English law provides true real remedies, in contrast to French law offers "fake" real remedies because even if the nature of those remedies are not strictly real, they have similar effects to those offered by English law.

保險代位之本質，可說是整個保險代位體系之核心所在。本文乃以保險代位之本質—亦即求償模式為重心，對於保險代位之相關問題，依序加以討論。本文首先自保險代位存在之法理、以及學說上對其之批評加以分析、並提出回應。在保險代位之求償模式方面，我國傳統以來循大陸法系之傳統，採取法定債權移轉理論，而與英美法有所不同；英美法之架構近年來漸受學說之重視，甚至對其有所爭議，故實有釐清之必要。本文乃對英美保險代位之本質、架構加以探索，並對其與擬制信託之融合詳加分析，以求釐清其法律關係。除了英美以外，本文亦對其他主要國家之立法例詳加分析，並歸納為大陸法系與英美法系兩大系統。而中國大陸與台灣均屬於繼受法之地位，關於保險代位求償模式、名義等，亦可見受不同立法例所影響之軌跡；其許多條款與學說見解亦有疑義，值得我國引以為戒。於分析英美法與各國立法例，並審酌我國之背景後，本文乃嘗試對我國提出「保險代位求償模式相對論」—即原則上仍採取法定債權移轉理論，但在保險人與被保險人有特定具體之特約時，則可約定採取英美法之模式、或是自行約定其他求償模式。 另外，關於不足額保險、而應負責之第三人資力不足時，保險人與被保險人之間受償順序之問題，本文將由傳統的法釋義學方法出發，藉由對立法例、實務與學說見解的分析，以重新思考相關的法理基礎。本文也將使用法律經濟分析的方法，以經濟模型重新考量代位求償過程中可能的因素，重新驗證被保險人優先受償模式對於被保險人的效用。就結論而言，在損失填補原則的架構下，被保險人優先受償模式仍應為最適的解決方案。但此原則應有以法規或嚴格意定予以排除、修正之空間。在判斷順序上，可依三階段判斷：先檢視法規有無特別規定，再檢視當事人間是否有特別約定，若均無再適用被保險人優先受償模式以分配之。 對於特別保險—如全民健康保險法、勞工保險條例、強制汽車責任保險法等中之代位體系，本文亦加以分析，並同樣認為於適當之類型中，本文之保險代位模式求償相對論亦應可加以適用。在再保險與保險代位之適用問題上，本文肯認保險人對第三人之求償無庸扣除再保險之給付。而對於再保險是否、如何適用於保險代位，本文則認為可以三階段判斷之：首先，就再保險之類型為判斷；再判斷原保險人是否欲向第三人求償；如再保險之類型適合、又原保險人不欲向第三人求償時，則應允許再保險人向第三求償。最後，總結全文提出結論；並分三階段對於我國法提出相關建議，以供未來進一步之參酌。 / The nature of subrogation can be regarded as the core of the subrogation system. This research put stress on the nature of subrogation which was the subrogation. Regarding the related problems of subrogation, they will be discussed orderly. The article firstly starts to analyze from the existence of subrogation and the criticism for the theory to provide the responses. In the aspect of the way how subrogation operates, our country traditionally follows the Continental Law System to adopt the “legal assignment theory” which is different the Anglo-American Law System. The structure of Anglo-American Law System is stressed by the theory and is very controversial. Consequently, it is necessary to figure out the truth. This research is aimed at exploring the nature and structure of common law subrogation theory and analyzes other integration of the constructive trust to figure out the law relationship. Except for Anglo-American countries, this research also analyzes the lawmaking of other countries and induces the two main systems which are Continental Law System and Anglo-American Law System. Mainland China and Taiwan belong to the status of Succession Law. Regarding the subrogation and nominal, it can be seen that the orbit is affected by different ways of lawmaking. Understandings of many clauses and theories are still uncertain. Our country should learn a lesson from it. With analyzing the ways of lawmaking of common law and each country, and considering the background of our country, the research attempts to address the “relativity theory of insurance subrogation” to our country. In principle, it still adopts legal assignment theory. However, when the insurer and insured have specific agreement, they can negotiate to adopt the Anglo-American model or make other subrogation model by themselves. Other problems can arise with regard to payment priority between the insurer and the insured, particularly in cases of underinsurance and when the responsible third party has insufficient funds to make up the difference. The present study takes the traditional rechtsdogmatik approach as its starting point, analyzing legislative precedents, practical aspects and academic theories to re-examine the underlying legal principles. The paper also makes use of economic analysis of law techniques, employing economic models to reconsider the factors that may be involved in the subrogation process, and re-examining the efficacy of the insured-whole doctrine from the point of view of the insured. The main conclusions reached are that, within the framework created by the principle of indemnity, the insured-whole doctrine is still the optimal solution; however, there may be situations in which the insured-whole doctrine must be rejected or modified in light of legal or regulatory requirements or strict interpretation. Determination can be made in three stages. Firstly, the relevant laws and regulations should be examined to determine whether any special provisions apply. Then, an examination should be made to determine whether any special agreements exist between the parties concerned. If no special legal or regulatory provisions apply and no special agreements exist, then the insured-whole doctrine can be applied. For the subrogation systems in special insurances—for examples, the National Health Insurance, Labor Insurance, and Compulsory Automobile Liability Insurance, the research also analyzes them and considers that in the proper type, the relativity theory of insurance subrogation can be adopted. About the problems about reinsurance and subrogation, this research admits that insurer asks for subrogation for the third party not need to deduct from settlement of reinsurance. For reinsurer and how to apply to the subrogation, the research considers that it can be judged from three stages. If the type of reinsurance is suitable and the original insurer does not want to claim against the third party, it should be allowed that the reinsurer can claim against the third party directly. Finally, the research makes the conclusion and provides related suggestions to the law of our country to be viewed as the future reference.

Money laundering involves activities which are aimed at concealing benefits that were acquired through criminal means for the purpose of making them appear legitimately acquired. Money laundering promotes criminal activities in South Africa because it allows criminals to keep the benefits that they acquired through their criminal activities. It takes place through a variety of schemes which include the use of banks. In this sense money laundering control is based on the premise that banks must be protected from providing criminals with the means to launder the benefits of their criminal activities. The Financial Intelligence Centre Act 38 of 2001 (‘FICA’) in aggregate with the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998 (‘POCA’) form the backbone of South Africa’s anti-money laundering regime. Like its international counterparts FICA imposes onerous duties on banks seeing that they are most often used by criminals as conduits to launder the benefits of crime. In turn, POCA criminalises activities in relation to the benefits of crime and delineates civil proceedings aimed at forfeiting the benefits of crime to the state. This study identifies the idiosyncrasies of the South African anti-money laundering regime and forwards recommendations aimed at improving its structure. To this end nine issues in relation to money laundering control and banks are investigated. The investigation fundamentally reveals that money laundering control holds unforeseen consequences for banks. In particular, a bank that receives the benefits of crimes such as fraud or theft faces prosecution if it fails to heed FICA’s money laundering control duties, for example, the filing of a suspicious transaction report. However, if the bank files a suspicious transaction report, it may be sued in civil court by the customer for breach of contract. In addition, if the bank parted with the benefits of fraud or theft whilst suspecting that the account holder may not be entitled to payment thereof, it may be sued by the victim of fraud or theft who seeks to recover loss suffered at the hand of the fraudster or thief from the bank. Ultimately, this study illustrates that amendment of some of the provisions of South Africa’s anti-money laundering legislation should enable banks to manage the aforementioned and other unforeseen consequences of money laundering control whilst at the same time contribute to the South African anti-money laundering effort. / Criminal and Procedural Law / Mercantile Law / LL.D.

Money laundering involves activities which are aimed at concealing benefits that were acquired through criminal means for the purpose of making them appear legitimately acquired. Money laundering promotes criminal activities in South Africa because it allows criminals to keep the benefits that they acquired through their criminal activities. It takes place through a variety of schemes which include the use of banks. In this sense money laundering control is based on the premise that banks must be protected from providing criminals with the means to launder the benefits of their criminal activities. The Financial Intelligence Centre Act 38 of 2001 (‘FICA’) in aggregate with the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998 (‘POCA’) form the backbone of South Africa’s anti-money laundering regime. Like its international counterparts FICA imposes onerous duties on banks seeing that they are most often used by criminals as conduits to launder the benefits of crime. In turn, POCA criminalises activities in relation to the benefits of crime and delineates civil proceedings aimed at forfeiting the benefits of crime to the state. This study identifies the idiosyncrasies of the South African anti-money laundering regime and forwards recommendations aimed at improving its structure. To this end nine issues in relation to money laundering control and banks are investigated. The investigation fundamentally reveals that money laundering control holds unforeseen consequences for banks. In particular, a bank that receives the benefits of crimes such as fraud or theft faces prosecution if it fails to heed FICA’s money laundering control duties, for example, the filing of a suspicious transaction report. However, if the bank files a suspicious transaction report, it may be sued in civil court by the customer for breach of contract. In addition, if the bank parted with the benefits of fraud or theft whilst suspecting that the account holder may not be entitled to payment thereof, it may be sued by the victim of fraud or theft who seeks to recover loss suffered at the hand of the fraudster or thief from the bank. Ultimately, this study illustrates that amendment of some of the provisions of South Africa’s anti-money laundering legislation should enable banks to manage the aforementioned and other unforeseen consequences of money laundering control whilst at the same time contribute to the South African anti-money laundering effort. / Criminal and Procedural Law / Mercantile Law / LL.D.