Pre-Contractual Liability (Culpa in Contrahendo) Summary The purpose of my thesis is to analyse the issue of pre-contractual liability from the microcomparative perspective which subsequently serves as the tool to characterise the main features of pre-contractual liability in the realm of Czech Civil and Commercial Codes. The reason for my research is to prove the existence and importance of pre-contractual liability in the Czech legal order as well as in the sphere of the European Union in the light of its respective case laws. The thesis is composed of five chapters, each of them dealing with different aspects of negotiation stage and pre-contractual liability. Chapter One is introductory and defines basic terminology, methodology used in the thesis, scope, and aims. Chapter Two examines chosen foreign legal regulations of pre-contractual liability. The essential attention is given to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland as those legal systems are very close to the Czech one (historically and geographically). The French view is also considered because legislators seek to prepare the reform of obligation laws. Finally, common law of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America is discussed and challenged because of its adverse approach to pre-contractual liability....

This dissertation focuses on the principle of good faith and on the principle of good faith and fair dealing. The differences between the two mentioned principles and the problems with terminology are covered. The author suggests and reasons for her own terminological solution. Furthermore, the dissertation discusses on the general delimitation of the two principles, their content and relation to other related principles. Moreover, it focuses on the legal frame of good faith and good faith and fair dealing principles including historical and comparative aspects of the issue. The author of the dissertation describes the practical impact of the two principles in question and compares the recent and current legal regulation. She analyses the practical impact of the principles of good faith and good faith and fair dealing in commercial relations: not only in the business contractual law but also in the life of a business corporation. Furthermore, the relevant judicature is covered including the delimitation of its possible applicability on the current legal regulation.

Sąžiningumo ir sąžiningos dalykinės praktikos principas yra įtvirtintas kontinentinės teisės tradicijos valstybių doktrinose bei tarptautiniuose sutarčių teisę harmonizuojančiuose dokumentuose (UNIDROIT Principuose, PECL ir Europos civilinio kodekso projekte). Skirtingose valstybėse šiam principui suteikiamas skirtingas vaidmuo bei apimtis – Vokietijoje sąžiningumui skiriamas itin didelis dėmesys, o Prancūzijoje daugiau koncentruojamasi į šalių valią ir sąžiningumo doktrina yra nedaug išplėtota. Lietuvos 2001 m. Civilinio kodekso 6.158 straipsnyje įtvirtintas sąžiningumo ir sąžiningos dalykinės praktikos principas yra recepuotas iš UNIDROIT Principų 1.7 straipsnio. Sąžiningumo ir sąžiningos dalykinės praktikos principo turinio neįmanoma apibrėžti a priori – jis paliekamas suformuluoti teismams konkrečių aplinkybių kontekste. Lietuvos teisės doktrinoje yra beveik nenagrinėjamas sąžiningumo ir sąžiningos dalykinės praktikos principas bei jo aspektai. Manytina, kad, kaip ir UNIDROIT Principuose bei PECL, Lietuvos sutarčių teisėje šis principas turėtų būti suvokiamas objektyviąja prasme. Sistemiškai aiškinant 2001 m. Civilinio kodekso nuostatas matyti, kad 1.5 straipsnį, kuriame įtvirtinti teisingumo, protingumo ir sąžiningumo principai, bei 6.158 straipsnio 1 dalį, kurioje įtvirtintas sąžiningumo ir sąžiningos dalykinės praktikos principas, sieja subordinacinis santykis. Šiame darbe daroma išvada, kad 1.5 straipsnis turėtų būti laikomas lex generalis, o 6.158 straipsnio 1 dalis... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The principle of good faith and fair dealing is established in the doctrines of continental law tradition countries and the international documents harmonizing contract law (UNIDROIT Principles, PECL and European Civil Code project). This principle possesses different role and volume in different countries: in Germany, good faith is especially important, while France is more concentrated on the willpower of parties, while good faith doctrine is poorly developed. The good faith and fair dealing practice was receipted from UNIDROIT Principles, Article 1.7 and established in the Lithuanian Civil Code of 2001, Article 6.158. The content of good faith and fair dealing can hardy be described a priori – it is the courts to formulate them in the context of a definite situation. Good faith and fair dealing is not widely analysed in the doctrine of Lithuanian law. This principle is thought to be understood in the objective way, as it is in UNIDROIT Principles and PECL. According to systematic explanation of the Civil Code regulations of 2001, Article 1.5, which establishes the principles of justice, rationality and good faith and the Article 6.158, part 1, establishing the principle of good faith and fair dealing are in the subordinate relation with each other. This study concludes that the Article 1.5 must be considered as lex generalis, while the Article 6.158, Part 1, must be considered as lex specialis in relation to the Article 1.5. Thus the principle established in the Article 6... [to full text]

Diese Arbeit behandelt das Thema "Rechtsinstitut der vorvertraglichen Haftung in Theorie und Praxis". Die ganze Arbeit ist in drei Teile gegliedert und zwar "Der Begriff der Vorvertraglichen Haftung", "Die Komparative Analyse der ausländischen Rechtsordnungen" und "Das tschechische Konzept der vorvertraglichen Haftung". Das Hauptziel dieser Arbeit ist, die praktischen Aspekte der vorvertraglichen Haftung zu beschreiben, was aber ohne ausreichende theoretische Grundlagen unmöglich ist. Die Doktrin culpa in contrahendo (Verschulden beim Vertragsabschluss) wird Rudolph von Jhering zugeschrieben, denn er hat im Jahre 1861 als erstes die charakteristischen Züge der vorvertraglichen Obligationen beschrieben. Der Autor ordnet in dem ersten Teil dieser Arbeit noch die vorvertragliche Haftung in das Rechtssystem ein. Die zum Teil von dem Autor entworfene Definition dient dann in dem zweiten und dritten Teil zu dem einfacheren Vergleich der Konzepte von vorvertraglicher Haftung in verschiedenen Rechtsordnungen. In dem zweiten Teil wird zuerst das deutsche Konzept der culpa in contrahendo beschrieben, wie es sich von R. von Jhering über die Schuldrechtsmodernisierung bis zum heutigen Tag entwickelt hat. Die Entwicklung der deutschen Auffassung der vorvertraglichen Haftung von der materiellen zur formalen...

Formation of a contract is nowadays more sophisticated than it formerly used to be due to major progress in communication technologies and technical development, and therefore, looking on negotiation process only through the notions of offer and acceptance alone appears to be somewhat insufficient. It is not unusual and infrequent that long term and complicated dealings take place prior to the conclusion of a contract, especially in more or less complex business matters. During various negotiation stages, many parties may incur different kinds of significant expenses in order to prepare well for the next phase of the negotiations and, eventually, for the targeted contractual performance. For the conclusion of a contract it may also be necessary to inform the other party about the terms and conditions which are essential for the first party's final decision about the contract, while some of this information might be considered as strictly confidential. Although the fundamental principle of contractual freedom allows the parties to act freely in negotiations and the contractual process is generally regarded as a non-binding relationship, there are some restrictions set up with the aim to protect good faith of the parties and support their fair dealings. According to the abovementioned, a situation...

- The Principle of Fair Business Transactions The submitted thesis called The Principle of Fair Business Transactions deals with assessment of impacts of private law's recodification on this principle and the issue of its application. The thesis consists of two main parts - theoretical and analytical. The theoretical part is divided into general and specific. The general theoretical part focuses on the specification of the business principle and its emplacement among other similar private law's principles such as principle of good faith and fair dealing and good manners. The aim of this part was to define divergences of each of the principles and the aftermaths of breaking these principles. It is impossible to go through the topic of the principle of fair business transactions globally, especially due to the extensiveness and variety of usage of the principle in business law relationships. Therefore, special attention has been paid to the principle of fair business transactions in the field of contractual penalty in the next theoretical part. In the analytical part, I endeavour to deal with the issue of the exercising of the right of a contractual penalty. In the first part, there is a short discourse on the contractual penalty itself, definition of an inadequate amount of the contractual penalty...

An insurance contract is a contract of utmost good faith. The nature of the insurance bargain makes the duty a commercial necessity. Duties of disclosure and representation, which were two fundamental components of the principle of utmost good faith, operate in different ways in England and China. The insured and insurer in these two countries bears distinctive good faith related obligations pre- and post-contractually. English insurance law exercise considerable influence in most common law countries and some civil law jurisdictions. The separation between utmost good faith and the duty of fair presentation, with the abolition of the avoidance remedy, under the Insurance Act 2015 could influence other jurisdictions to alter their remedies. This thesis examines the application of the civil law notion of good faith and the common law duty of utmost good faith. It covers the operation of insured’s pre-contractual duties of disclosure and representation in both countries. The thesis considers the insurer’s duties as well as the continuing duties and the effect of utmost good faith taking in account the recent legislative changes on fraudulent claims and late payment. The thesis further examines the legal status of brokers and their disclosure duty in China and England. Finally, it also provides special considerations on consumers and micro-businesses.

Framställan behandlar i vilken utsträckning den ena avtalspartens brott mot lojalitetsplikten medför att den andra avtalsparten får en, helt eller delvis, inskränkt lojalitetsplikt (lojalitetsreciprocitet). Då lojalitetsreciprocitet utgör en del av lojalitetsplikten är förståelsen för det senare institutet avgörande för att kunna analysera reciprociteten. Därför studeras även lojalitetspliktens innehåll och betydelse. Slutsatserna om reciprocitet grundas i stor utsträckning på avtalstyper där lojalitetsplikten är särskilt långtgående. Det medför slutsatserna störst betydelse vid en mer långtgående lojalitetsplikt. Emellertid gör slutsatserna anspråk på att vara så generella att de grunder och principer som fastställs för bedömningen har betydelse även vid en mindre långtgående lojalitetsplikt. Vidare studeras reciprociteten i förhållande till lojalitetsförpliktelser, vilka inte skiljer sig åt lika mycket mellan olika kontraktstyper. En fråga av stor vikt för lojalitetsreciprocitetens betydelseområde är om det kan anses föreligga en allmän lojalitetsplikt inom hela kontraktsrätten. Slutsatsen i den delen är att det föreligger en allmän lojalitetplikt inom varje kontraktstyp även om den är starkt varierande till sin omfattning. Det medför att lojalitetsreciprocitet får ett stort betydelseområde eftersom det då kan beaktas inom varje kontraktstyp avseende både den allmänna lojalitetsplikten och lojalitetsförpliktelserna. Föremålet för framställan, lojalitetsreciprocitet, analyseras dels utifrån förekommande lojalitetsreciprocitet inom ett antal utvalda kontraktstyper (bl.a. mellanmans-, samarbets- och företagsförsäkringsförhållanden), dels utifrån reciprocitet oberoende av kontraktstyp. Utifrån de reciprocitetsuttryck som finns i materialet fastställs generella ramar och principer för bedömningen av lojalitetsreciprocitet inom lojalitetsplikten i dess helhet. Slutsatserna visar att det finns många gemensamma överväganden och principer för bedömningen av lojalitetsreciprocitet. För det första finns det tre förutsättningar som är nödvändiga för att lojalitetsreciprocitet överhuvudtaget ska kunna föreligga: ett lojalitetsbrott, en ömsesidig lojalitetsplikt och att reciprociteten inte drabbar en tredje avtalspart. För det andra har det identifierats två förhållanden som är av störst vikt för lojalitetsreciprocitet: dels  hur allvarligt lojalitetsbrottet är, dels i vilken omfattning reciprocitet skulle riskera onödig förstöring. Det förra har i sin tur funnits primärt vara beroende av den subjektiva skulden hos parten som begår lojalitetsbrottet, om denne varit i en överordnad ställning och hur långtgående lojalitetsplikten som inte efterlevdes var.För det tredje finns ett antal andra förhållanden som påverkar reciprociteten, bland annat: om skyddshänsyn avseende lojalitetssubjektet gör sig gällande, passivitet hos reciprocitetssubjektet och om annan lojalitetsbrottsverkan inträder. / The essay seeks to determine the extent to which a breach of the obligation of good faith reducesthe corresponding obligation of the other party to the contract (reciprocity). To be able to graspthe meaning and analyze reciprocity it is necessary to understand the institute of good faith.Thus, the text firstly examines good faith in general, followed by an analysis of reciprocity withinthat institute. The paper is based on legal sources typified by strong obligation of good faith.Accordingly, the analysis primarily sheds light on areas where the obligations of good faith arefar-reaching. The general principles of reciprocity, however, are applicable across the board,regardless of how strong the obligations of good faith are. The study evaluates reciprocity inrelation to several types of contracts, but it also interprets reciprocity as a freestanding generalprinciple which is applicable to all contracts. The specific obligations of good faith undoubtedly fall within the scope of reciprocity. Arelated and important question, which needs to be addressed, is whether there is a generalobligation of good faith within all type of contracts. The subsequent answer determines theadditional scope of reciprocity. In this matter the essay concludes that the question should beanswered in the affirmative. There is a general obligation of good faith, but the strength of thatobligation varies considerably depending on the type of contract. The conclusion of the essay is that there are several general principles within reciprocity.Firstly, there are three prerequisites for reciprocity: (i) a breach of the obligation of good faith; (ii)a mutual obligation of good faith between the involved parties; and (iii) the rule that reciprocitycannot affect a third party. Secondly, the paper identifies that the following two questions are the most significantfactors in the assessment of reciprocity: how severe is the breach of good faith and to whichextent does it entail negative economic consequences? An essential aspect of the former question is whether the party responsible for the breachhad ill intent and, if so, the degree and severity of that ill intent. Another important factor iswhether the party responsible for the breach is in a superior position. Three further examples of factors relevant to the assessment are: when a vulnerable partyis responsible for the breach such circumstances can affect the possibility of reciprocity andmitigate the seriousness of the misconduct in question; occasions when the other party has failedto act (passivity); and when the responsible party suffers consequences in addition to reciprocity.

The thesis deals with questions of pre-contractual liability which is seen as a very specific institute whose conception is diverse in different EU countries and also outside. The main research question is a difference between pre-contractual liability perception in the different countries and its full description in relation to the negotiations of business contracts with an emphasis on Czech law. In the first part, the author analyses historical background of pre-contractual liability in relation to Roman law and German-Austrian legal systems in which the professor Jhering developed that construction of culpa in contrahendo. In the following chapters, the author deals with the description and nature of pre-contractual liability, particularly in questions of whether they are contractual or delictual liability and enter into details the basic facts, example and extent of damages with respect to the European concept of pre-contractual liability. He concludes that the pre-contractual liability is in the European concept as delictual liability, with regard to the decision of European Court of Justice. The author simultaneously mentions that although similar facts in the legal systems, the extent of damages is very different when there is a clear dichotomy between positive and negative interesse. The...

Vid en fastighetsöverlåtelse är det mycket information som ska utbytas på kort tid, mellan köpare, säljare och mäklare vad beträffar fastighetens fysiska skick och standard. I egenskap av en lojal, opartisk och sakkunnig person avseende fastighetsförsäljningar, har mäklaren ålagts en upplysningsplikt avseende sådant kring fastighetens skick som denne iakttagit, känner till eller annars har anledning att misstänka, som kan antas ha betydelse för köparen. Räckvidden av mäklarens upplysningsplikt gentemot köparen, avseende fysiska missförhållanden enligt FML 16§ 3st. kommer att utgöra uppsatsens brännpunkt. I detta inryms att söka klar-göra vilka typer av fysiska missförhållanden som en mäklare förväntas informera en köpare om, för att inte riskera att drabbas av någon typ av påföljd. Därutöver utreds förutsägbarheten och ändamålsenligheten kring FML 16§ 3st. Bedömningen av mäklarens upplysningsplikt ska även ses utifrån köparens och säljarens inbördes ansvarsområden för faktiska fel i fastigheten, samt i vilken omfattning det anses motiverat att mäklaren ikläder sig parternas ansvarsroller. Hänsyn i bedömningen får även tas till det faktum att mäklaren åläggs en grundläggande lojalitetsplikt som denne uppbär gentemot såväl köparen som säljaren. Problematiken kan i första hand härledas till tvetydiga och tämligen oklara förarbetsuttalanden, samt frånvaron av prejudicerade rättspraxis på området. Rättsreglerna kring bestämmelsen synes därav även vara svåra att tillämpa i de lägre domstolsinstanserna och hos tillsynsmyndigheten, FMN. Därav kvarstår osäkerhet kring rättsläget avseende omfattningen av mäklarens upplysningsplikt vad beträffar fysiska missförhållanden härlett till fastigheten. / When selling a property there is much information, in regards to the property’s physical standard, which should be discussed between the parties; the realtor, the buyer and the property owner. In relation to the buyer and the property owner, the realtor will be known as a loyal, independent person that carries expert know-ledge in regards to selling property. Therefore the realtor should carry the liability to inform the buyer about physical errors according to the property, that has been found, or for some other reason will be known, or if there is a reason to suspect an error, that can be of  importance to the buyer. The focus point of this thesis is the magnitude of the realtor’s liability to inform the buyer on physical errors, according to FML 16§ 3st., and to examine what kind of physical errors that the buyer have the right to be informed of. Because if the realtor do not respect the obligations according to FML 16§ 3st., legal sanctions will be given. The author will also examine if the legal rule, FML 16§ 3st., is predictable and appropriate. To examine the magnitude of the realtor’s liability to inform the buyer on physical errors, the legal relation between the buyer and the property owner has to be taken into account according to JB 4:19§. The fact that the realtor also carries a responsibility to submit to good faith and fair dealing will also be interesting. The principal legal issue will be based on the unclear preparatory work, regarding to FML (2011:666) 16§ 3st., and the magnitude of realtor’s liability to inform the buyer on physical errors. Furthermore, there is no case law given by the Swedish Supreme Courts, and that is one more reason why the area is so hard to apply. The legal position will therefore stay unclear, according the realtor’s liability to inform the buyer about physical errors of the property.