PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW Introduction Conflicts of Laws in Contractual and Non-Contractual Obligations Summer Course 2013 Professor Volker Behr University

PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAWIntroduction

Conflicts of Laws in Contractual and Non-Contractual Obligations

Summer Course 2013

Professor Volker BehrUniversity of [email protected]


CL-INT


CL-INT, Inc. (CL-INT), a corporation under Delaware law and headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, has invented a drug which helps reducing blood sugar levels. CL-INT has applied for patent protection in the US but not yet elsewhere. The new drug is to be sold worldwide under the uniform name of OPTISUGAR. In Europe it shall be marketed by Intermed GmbH, a German corporation headquartered in Augsburg, Germany.


CL-INT asks for advice concerning possible lawsuits out of this contract or related to this contract

1. What are your considerations?2. What is your advice?


Considerations1.1. Where will a possible lawsuit

take place?1.2. What law will the court apply?


Advice as to 1.1. 1.1.1. Which court/courts will decide on a

possible lawsuit between CL-INT and Intermed?

1.1.2. Where do I find answers to my question?

1.1.3. What court will be favourable for CL-INT?

1.1.4. Can I procure that this court will decide the lawsuit?

1.1.5. Can I provide that CL-INT is not sued elsewhere?

1.1.6. How can I safeguard that CL-INT is sued only in the court he favors?


Advice as to 1.2. 1.2.1. What is a necessary prerequisite in

order to decide on what law will be applicable?

1.2.2. Where do I find what law is applicable? 1.2.3. What law will be favourable for CL-INT? 1.2.4. Can I provide that this law will be

applied? 1.2.5. How can I provide that this law will be

applied? 1.2.6. Are there limitations as to my influence

on the applicable law?


Objectives of PIL The “international” situation = situation having contacts to more than one jurisdiction

Rome I Article 1 Material scope 1. This Regulation shall apply, in situations involving a conflict of

laws, to contractual obligations in civil and commercial matters.

Rome II Article 1 Scope 1. This Regulation shall apply, in situations involving a conflict of

laws, to non-contractual obligations in civil and commercial matters.

….


NamePrivate International Law (not: International Private Law – that would be a terrible Germanism)

Conflict of LawsChoice of Law


Sources

1. (within the EU) Regulations E.g. REGULATION (EC) No 864/2007 OF THE EUROPEAN

PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 11 July 2007 on the law applicable to non-contractual obligations (Rome II)

2. International treaties (conventions) E.g. (Hague) Convention on….

3. Domestic statutory law E.g. Introductory Law to the German Civil Code La. Civ. Codde Ann. Art. 3544 (1)

4. Domestic case law E.g. Babcock v. Jackson, 191 N.E.2d 279 (N.Y. 1963)


PIL and Unified Substantive Law (e.g. CISG) United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (1980)

Article 1 CISG (1) This Convention applies to contracts of sale of

goods between parties whose places of business are in different States: (a) when the States are Contracting States; or (b) when the rules of private international law lead to the application of the law of a Contracting State.


EU-Legislation on PIL (previous)

1. Legal base for EU legislation on PIL in general

E.g. REGULATION (EC) No 593/2008 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 17 June 2008 on the law applicable to contractual obligations (Rome I)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 61(c) and the second indent of Article 67(5) thereof,

…


EU-Legislation on PIL (actual)

1. Legal base for EU legislation on PIL in general

Article 81 TFEU (ex Article 65 TEC) 1. The Union shall develop judicial cooperation in civil matters having cross-border

implications, based on the principle of mutual recognition of judgments and of decisions in extrajudicial cases. Such cooperation may include the adoption of measures for the approximation of the laws and regulations of the Member States.

2. For the purposes of paragraph 1, the European Parliament and the Council, acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, shall adopt measures, particularly when necessary for the proper functioning of the internal market, aimed at ensuring:

(a) the mutual recognition and enforcement between Member States of judgments and of decisions in extrajudicial cases;

(b) the cross-border service of judicial and extrajudicial documents; (c) the compatibility of the rules applicable in the Member States concerning conflict of laws

and of jurisdiction; (d) cooperation in the taking of evidence; ….


EU-Legislation on PIL (actual)

1. Legal base for EU legislation on PIL in general (enhanced cooperation)

= (Regulations covering only some of the Member States, but which are open for accession)

COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) No 1259/2010 of 20 December 2010 implementing enhanced cooperation in the area of the law applicable to divorce and legal separation

(1) Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 81(3) thereof,

(2) Having regard to Council Decision 2010/405/EU of 12 July 2010 authorising enhanced cooperation in the area of the law applicable to divorce and legal separation ( 1 ),


The „International“ Lawsuit - a three step approach

International Civil Procedure – Private International Law – Applicable Law

It all starts with jurisdiction (Because the court will apply its own PIL,

which leads to the applicable law)


The if – then mechanism of a legal norm

If… (A and B and C) requirements Then… (legal consequence)

If A somebody kills somebody and B he acts intentionally and C there is no justification

Then he will be punished

The PIL norm If it is about the applicable law to an international contract Then the applicable law will be determined as follows:


The „if – then“ mechanism of a legal norm (example)

Rome I Regulation Article 3 Freedom of choice

(If) A contract (then) shall be governed by the law chosen by the

parties. …


What is the applicable law as provided by PIL? = Problem of renvoi

Rome I Regulation Article 20 Exclusion of renvoi The application of the law of any country specified by this Regulation means the

application of the rules of law in force in that country other than its rules of private international law, unless provided otherwise in this Regulation.

Restatement of the conflict of laws 2d, § 187 (3)

(3) In the absence of a contrary indication of intention, the reference is to the local law of the state of the chosen law.

Comment: b. Reference is to “local law” of selected state. The reference, in the absence of a contrary

indication of intention (see § 187, Comment b), is to the “local law” of the state of the applicable law and not to that state's “law” which means the totality of its law including its choice-of-law rules (see § 4). Values of certainty of result and of ease of application dictate that the forum

PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAWRome I

It all starts with jurisdiction! But where do we find out about it?

Domestic law of the country where you want to sue International conventions as in force in the respective

country Statutory law of the country where you want to sue Case law

Within the European Union: COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 44/2001 of 22 December

2000 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (Brussels Regulation)


What is a EU Regulation?

Article 288 TFEU (ex Article 249 TEC) To exercise the Union's competences, the institutions shall adopt

regulations, directives, decisions, recommendations and opinions.

A regulation shall have general application. It shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

A directive shall be binding, as to the result to be achieved, upon each Member State to which it is addressed, but shall leave to the national authorities the choice of form and methods.

… However: „all“ Member States?


PROTOCOL (No 21)

ON THE POSITION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELANDIN RESPECT OF THE AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY AND JUSTICE

Article 1 Subject to Article 3, the United Kingdom and

Ireland shall not take part in the adoption by the Council of proposed measures pursuant to Title V of Part Three of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (i.e. Area of Freedom, Security and Justice). ….


PROTOCOL (No 22)

ON THE POSITION OF DENMARK

Article 1 Denmark shall not take part in the adoption by the

Council of proposed measures pursuant to Title V of Part Three of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (i.e. Area of Freedom, Security and Justice). The unanimity of the members of the Council, with the exception of the representative of the government of Denmark, shall be necessary for the decisions of the Council which must be adopted unanimously.


COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 44/2001

Article 1

1. This Regulation shall apply in civil and commercial matters whatever the nature of the court or tribunal. It shall not extend, in particular, to revenue, customs or administrative matters.



Article 2 1. Subject to this Regulation, persons

domiciled in a Member State shall, whatever their nationality, be sued in the courts of that Member State.

2. Persons who are not nationals of the Member State in which they are domiciled shall be governed by the rules of jurisdiction applicable to nationals of that State.



Article 3 1. Persons domiciled in a Member State may

be sued in the courts of another Member State only by virtue of the rules set out in Sections 2 to 7 of this Chapter.

2. In particular the rules of national jurisdiction set out in Annex I shall not be applicable as against them.



Section 2 Special jurisdiction Article 5 A person domiciled in a Member State may, in another Member

State, be sued: 1. (a) in matters relating to a contract, in the courts for the place

of performance of the obligation in question; (b) for the purpose of this provision and unless otherwise agreed,

the place of performance of the obligation in question shall be: - in the case of the sale of goods, the place in a Member State

where, under the contract, the goods were delivered or should have been delivered,…..



Section 7 Prorogation of jurisdiction Article 23 1. If the parties, one or more of whom is domiciled in a Member

State, have agreed that a court or the courts of a Member State are to have jurisdiction to settle any disputes which have arisen or which may arise in connection with a particular legal relationship, that court or those courts shall have jurisdiction. Such jurisdiction shall be exclusive unless the parties have agreed otherwise. Such an agreement conferring jurisdiction shall be either:

(a) in writing or evidenced in writing; or (b) in a form which accords with practices



Article 24 Apart from jurisdiction derived from other

provisions of this Regulation, a court of a Member State before which a defendant enters an appearance shall have jurisdiction. This rule shall not apply where appearance was entered to contest the jurisdiction, or where another court has exclusive jurisdiction by virtue of Article 22.



Exclusive jurisdiction Article 22 The following courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction, regardless

of domicile: 1. in proceedings which have as their object rights in rem in

immovable property or tenancies of immovable property, the courts of the Member State in which the property is situated. However, in proceedings which have as their object tenancies of immovable property concluded for temporary private use for a maximum period of six consecutive months, the courts of the Member State in which the defendant is domiciled shall also have jurisdiction, provided that the tenant is a natural person and that the landlord and the tenant are domiciled in the same Member State;


Legal Base within the EU as to PIL of contracts:

REGULATION (EC) No 593/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 on the Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations (Rome I Regulation)


Legal Base within the U.S.: See Restatement of conflict of laws 2d

§ 6. Choice-Of-Law Principles(1) A court, subject to constitutional restrictions, will follow a statutory directive of its own state on choice of law.

(2) When there is no such directive, the factors relevant to the choice of the applicable rule of law include

(a) the needs of the interstate and international systems, (b) the relevant policies of the forum, (c) the relevant policies of other interested states and the relative interests

of those states in the determination of the particular issue, (d) the protection of justified expectations, (e) the basic policies underlying the particular field of law, (f) certainty, predictability and uniformity of result, and (g) ease in the determination and application of the law to be applied.


Legal Base within the U.S. as to contracts: See Restatement of conflict of laws 2d

§ 6. Choice-Of-Law Principles(1) A court, subject to constitutional restrictions, will follow a statutory directive of its own state on choice of law.


(a) the needs of the interstate and international systems, (b) the relevant policies of the forum, (c) the relevant policies of other interested states and the relative interests

of those states in the determination of the particular issue, (d) the protection of justified expectations, (e) the basic policies underlying the particular field of law, (f) certainty, predictability and uniformity of result, and (g) ease in the determination and application of the law to be applied.



§ 186. Applicable LawIssues in contract are determined by the law chosen by the parties in accordance with the rule of § 187 and otherwise by the law selected in accordance with the rule of § 188.



§ 187. Law Of The State Chosen By The Parties(1) The law of the state chosen by the parties to govern their contractual rights and duties will be applied if the particular issue is one which the parties could have resolved by an explicit provision in their agreement directed to that issue.

(2) The law of the state chosen by the parties to govern their contractual rights and duties will be applied, even if the particular issue is one which the parties could not have resolved by an explicit provision in their agreement directed to that issue, unless either

(a) the chosen state has no substantial relationship to the parties or the transaction and there is no other reasonable basis for the parties' choice, or

(b) application of the law of the chosen state would be contrary to a fundamental policy of a state which has a materially greater interest than the chosen state in the determination of the particular issue and which, under the rule of § 188, would be the state of the applicable law in the absence of an effective choice of law by the parties.

(3) In the absence of a contrary indication of intention, the reference is to the local law of the state of the chosen law.



§ 188. Law Governing In Absence Of Effective Choice By The Parties(1) The rights and duties of the parties with respect to an issue in contract are determined by the local law of the state which, with respect to that issue, has the most significant relationship to the transaction and the parties under the principles stated in § 6.

(2) In the absence of an effective choice of law by the parties (see § 187), the contacts to be taken into account in applying the principles of § 6 to determine the law applicable to an issue include:

(a) the place of contracting, (b) the place of negotiation of the contract, (c) the place of performance, (d) the location of the subject matter of the contract, and (e) the domicil, residence, nationality, place of incorporation and place of business of

the parties. These contacts are to be evaluated according to their relative importance with respect

to the particular issue. (3) If the place of negotiating the contract and the place of performance are in the same

state, the local law of this state will usually be applied, except as otherwise provided in §§ 189 – 199 and 203.


Legal Base within the U.S. as to contracts:

See Restatement of conflict of laws 2d

§ 189. Contracts For The Transfer Of Interests In LandThe validity of a contract for the transfer of an interest in land and the rights created thereby are determined, in the absence of an effective choice of law by the parties, by the local law of the state where the land is situated unless, with respect to the particular issue, some other state has a more significant relationship under the principles stated in § 6 to the transaction and the parties, in which event the local law of the other state will be applied.

§ 190 …


Appicability

Article 1 1. This Regulation shall apply in civil and

commercial matters whatever the nature of the court or tribunal. It shall not extend, in particular, to revenue, customs or administrative matters

…


Applicability Article 29 Entry into force and application This Regulation shall enter into force on the

20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 17 December 2009 except for Article 26 which shall apply from 17 June 2009.


Applicability

Art. 29 This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and

directly applicable in the Member States in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community.

Art. 1 4. In this Regulation, the term ‘Member State’ shall

mean Member States to which this Regulation applies. However, in Article 3(4) and Article 7 the term shall mean all the Member States.


Applicability

Accession of the U.K. Brussels, 24 July 2008 from : Mr Kim Darroch, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom dated 24 July 2008 to : Mme Rachida Dati, President of the Council of the European Union Subject : Regulation (EC) No. 593/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 on

the law applicable to contractual obligations (Rome I) - Opt-in United Kingdom I refer to Regulation (EC) No 593/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 on

the law applicable to contractual obligations (Rome I). The Regulation was made on the basis of Article 61(c) and the second indent of Article 67(5) of the Treaty

establishing the European Community. Under Article 4 of the Protocol to that Treaty governing the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in relation to measures under Title IV of the Treaty, the United Kingdom may, at any time after the adoption of such a measure by the Council, notify its intention to the Council and to the Commission that it wishes to accept that measure.

The purpose of this letter is to communicate the United Kingdom’s formal notification that it wishes to accept and therefore to participate in the Rome I Regulation.

I am copying this letter to Jonathan Faull at the Commission and Ivan Bizjak in the Council Secretariat. (signed) Kim Darroch


Applicability

Article 2Universal applicationAny law specified by this Regulation

shall be applied whether or not it is the law of a Member State.


Law chosen by the parties, Art. 3

1. A contract shall be governed by the law chosen by the parties. …

2. The parties may at any time agree to subject the contract to a law other than that which previously governed it, whether as a result of an earlier choice made under this Article or of other provisions of this Regulation. Any change in the law to be applied that is made after the conclusion of the contract shall not prejudice its formal validity under Article 11 or adversely affect the rights of third parties.


Law chosen by the parties, Art. 3

When to chose?What to chose?What for to chose?


How to draft a sensible choice of law clause

Pittco and Intermed have agreed upon the following choice of law clause: The substantive law of Germany shall be applicable to all

arbitration/litigation. CISG is excluded. The substantive law of Pennsylvania shall be applicable to all

arbitration/litigation. The substantive law of Switzerland shall be applicable to all

arbitration/litigation. CISG is excluded. Applicable law is the international law. Applicable law is the lex mercatoria. The law between the parties is the contract itself. (Law of country X shall be used for the interpretation and the implementation of

this Agreement only accessorily and only in the case where the Agreement would leave a problem unsolved.)

Evaluate the different approaches


How to draft a sensible choice of law clause

Recital (13) This Regulation does not preclude parties from incorporating by reference into their contract a non-State body of law or an international convention.

What does: …“incorporate into their contract „ say in substance?

Choice of law? Modification of the otherwise applicable law?


Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (in force as from 1 January 1998)

Article 17 - Applicable Rules of Law 1. The parties shall be free to agree upon the rules of law to be

applied by the Arbitral Tribunal to the merits of the dispute. In the absence of any such agreement, the Arbitral Tribunal shall apply the rules of law which it determines to be appropriate.

2. In all cases the Arbitral Tribunal shall take account of the provisions of the contract and the relevant trade usages.

3. The Arbitral Tribunal shall assume the powers of an amiable compositeur or decide ex aequo et bono only if the parties have agreed to give it such powers.


Choice of Law and CISG

The substantive law of Germany shall be applicable to all arbitration/litigation. CISG is excluded.

The substantive law of Pennsylvania shall be applicable to all arbitration/litigation. CISG is excluded.

The substantive law of Germany shall be applicable to all arbitration/litigation.

The substantive law of Pennsylvania shall be applicable to all arbitration/litigation.


Choice of Law and the Battle of Forms – last shot or knock out?

Forms of Party A: German law applies

Forms of Party B: French law applies

Execution of the Contract

Dispute about applicable law


Implied Choice of Law

Rome I, Recital 12 (12) An agreement between the parties to

confer on one or more courts or tribunals of a Member State exclusive jurisdiction to determine disputes under the contract should be one of the factors to be taken into account in determining whether a choice of law has been clearly demonstrated.


Applicable Law in the Absence of Choice of Law

Restatement 2d § 188. Law Governing In Absence Of Effective Choice By The Parties (1) The rights and duties of the parties with respect to an issue in contract are determined by

the local law of the state which, with respect to that issue, has the most significant relationship to the transaction and the parties under the principles stated in § 6.

(2) In the absence of an effective choice of law by the parties (see § 187), the contacts to be taken into account in applying the principles of § 6 to determine the law applicable to an issue include:

(a) the place of contracting, (b) the place of negotiation of the contract, (c) the place of performance, (d) the location of the subject matter of the contract, and (e) the domicil, residence, nationality, place of incorporation and place of business of the

parties. These contacts are to be evaluated according to their relative importance with respect to the

particular issue. (3) If the place of negotiating the contract and the place of performance are in the same state,

the local law of this state will usually be applied, except as otherwise provided in §§ 189-199 and 203.


Applicable Law in the Absence of Choice of Law

Rome I Regulation Article 4 Applicable law in the absence of choice 1. To the extent that the law applicable to the contract has not been chosen in accordance with Article 3 and without prejudice to

Articles 5 to 8, the law governing the contract shall be determined as follows: (a) a contract for the sale of goods shall be governed by the law of the country where the seller has his habitual residence; (b) a contract for the provision of services shall be governed by the law of the country where the service provider has his habitual

residence; (c) a contract relating to a right in rem in immovable property or to a tenancy of immovable property shall be governed by the law of

the country where the property is situated; (d) notwithstanding point (c), a tenancy of immovable property concluded for temporary private use for a period of no more than six

consecutive months shall be governed by the law of the country where the landlord has his habitual residence, provided that the tenant is a natural person and has his habitual residence in the same country;

(e) a franchise contract shall be governed by the law of the country where the franchisee has his habitual residence; (f) a distribution contract shall be governed by the law of the country where the distributor has his habitual residence; (g) a contract for the sale of goods by auction shall be governed by the law of the country where the auction takes place, if such a

place can be determined; (h) a contract concluded within a multilateral system which brings together or facilitates the bringing together of multiple third-party

buying and selling interests in financial instruments, as defined by Article 4(1), point (17) of Directive 2004/39/EC, in accordance with non-discretionary rules and governed by a single law, shall be governed by that law.

2. Where the contract is not covered by paragraph 1 or where the elements of the contract would be covered by more than one of points (a) to (h) of paragraph 1, the contract shall be governed by the law of the country where the party required to effect the characteristic performance of the contract has his habitual residence.

3. Where it is clear from all the circumstances of the case that the contract is manifestly more closely connected with a country other than that indicated in paragraphs 1 or 2, the law of that other country shall apply.

4. Where the law applicable cannot be determined pursuant to paragraphs 1 or 2, the contract shall be governed by the law of the country with which it is most closely connected.


Hypo

Pittco., Inc. (Pittco), a corporation under Delaware law and headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, has invented a new drug which helps in reducing blood sugar levels. Pittco has applied for patent protection in the US but not yet elsewhere.

The new drug is to be sold worldwide under the uniform name of OPTISUGAR. In Europe it shall be marketed by Intermed GmbH, a German corporation headquartered in Augsburg, Germany.

a) Intermed is supplied by Pittco from Pittco’s facilities in Pittsburgh.

b) Pittco and Intermed enter into a franchise agreement which provides for supply of OPTISUGAR by Pittco and an exclusive dealership of Intermed.

Parties did not reach an agreement on the applicable law.


Balancing Predictability and Individual Justice

Compare §§ 6, 188, 189 Restatement of Conflict of Laws 2d and Rome I Articles 3 and 4


Contracts not covered by Art. 4 (1)

Article 4 Applicable law in the absence of choice (2) Where the contract is not covered by paragraph 1

or where the elements of the contract would be covered by more than one of points (a) to (h) of paragraph 1, the contract shall be governed by the law of the country where the party required to effect the characteristic performance of the contract has his habitual residence.


The Escape Clause

Article 4(3) Where it is clear from all the

circumstances of the case that the contract is manifestly more closely connected with a country other than that indicated in paragraphs 1 or 2, the law of that other country shall apply.


Protection and Favor of “Weaker” Parties

Contracts of carriage, Art. 5Consumer contracts, Art. 6 Insurance contracts, Art. 7 Individual employment contracts, Art. 8


Protection and Favor of “Weaker” Parties – Contracs of carriage, Art. 5

Article 5 Contracts of carriage 1. To the extent that the law applicable to a contract for the carriage of goods has

not been chosen in accordance with Article 3, the law applicable shall be the law of the country of habitual residence of the carrier, provided that the place of receipt or the place of delivery or the habitual residence of the consignor is also situated in that country. If those requirements are not met, the law of the country where the place of delivery as agreed by the parties is situated shall apply.

2. To the extent that the law applicable to a contract for the carriage of passengers has not been chosen by the parties in accordance with the second subparagraph, the law applicable shall be the law of the country where the passenger has his habitual residence, provided that either the place of departure or the place of destination is situated in that country. If these requirements are not met, the law of the country where the carrier has his habitual residence shall apply. The parties may choose as the law applicable to a contract for the carriage of passengers in accordance with Article 3 only the law of the country where:

…


Protection and Favor of “Weaker” Parties – Contracs of carriage, Art. 5

Carriage of goods Choice of law under Art. 3 Absent choice: law of the carrier when additional

requirements are met Carriage of persons

Choice of law: restricted to specific countries Absent choice: law of the passenger when

additional requirements are met


Protection and Favor of “Weaker” Parties – Consumers, Art. 6

Article 6 Consumer contracts 1. Without prejudice to Articles 5 and 7, a contract concluded by a natural person for a

purpose which can be regarded as being outside his trade or profession (the consumer) with another person acting in the exercise of his trade or profession (the professional) shall be governed by the law of the country where the consumer has his habitual residence, provided that the professional:

(a) pursues his commercial or professional activities in the country where the consumer has his habitual residence, or

(b) by any means, directs such activities to that country or to several countries including that country,

and the contract falls within the scope of such activities. 2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, the parties may choose the law applicable to a contract

which fulfils the requirements of paragraph 1, in accordance with Article 3. Such a choice may not, however, have the result of depriving the consumer of the protection afforded to him by provisions that cannot be derogated from by agreement by virtue of the law which, in the absence of choice, would have been applicable on the basis of paragraph 1.

…


Protection and Favor of “Weaker” Parties – Consumers, Art. 6

Art. 5 and 7 excluded even when passengers or insured persons are consumers

Consumer legally defined Law of the habitual residence of the consumer

in case of special activities of the professional Chosen law superimposed by indispensable

consumer protection law applicable absent a valid choice


Protection and Favor of “Weaker” Parties – insurance contracts, Art. 7

Article 7 Insurance contracts 1. This Article shall apply to contracts referred to in paragraph 2, whether or not the risk

covered is situated in a Member State, and to all other insurance contracts covering risks situated inside the territory of the Member States. It shall not apply to reinsurance contracts.

2. An insurance contract covering a large risk as defined in Article 5(d) of the First Council Directive 73/239/EEC of 24 July 1973 on the coordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the taking-up and pursuit of the business of direct insurance other than life assurance (2)

(2) OJ L 228, 16.8.1973, p. 3. Directive as last amended by Directive 2005/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 323, 9.12.2005, p. 1).

shall be governed by the law chosen by the parties in accordance with Article 3 of this Regulation. To the extent that the applicable law has not been chosen by the parties, the insurance contract shall be governed by the law of the country where the insurer has his habitual residence. Where it is clear from all the circumstances of the case that the contract is manifestly more closely connected with another country, the law of that other country shall apply.

…



Article 7 Insurance contracts …3. In the case of an insurance contract other than a contract falling within

paragraph 2, only the following laws may be chosen by the parties in accordance with Article 3:

(a) the law of any Member State where the risk is situated at the time of conclusion of the contract;

(b) the law of the country where the policy holder has his habitual residence; (c) in the case of life assurance, the law of the Member State of which the policy

holder is a national;



Differentiation based on type of insurance business-type of insurence – mostly the

general system under Art. 3 and 4 Restricted choice of law in „everybodys“ type

of insurance In everybodys type of insurance: Absent a

valid choice law of the country where the risk is is situated


Protection and Favor of “Weaker” Parties – individual employment, Art. 8

Article 8 Individual employment contracts 1. An individual employment contract shall be governed by the law chosen by the

parties in accordance with Article 3. Such a choice of law may not, however, have the result of depriving the employee of the protection afforded to him by provisions that cannot be derogated from by agreement under the law that, in the absence of choice, would have been applicable pursuant to paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of this Article.

2. To the extent that the law applicable to the individual employment contract has not been chosen by the parties, the contract shall be governed by the law of the country in which or, failing that, from which the employee habitually carries out his work in performance of the contract. The country where the work is habitually carried out shall not be deemed to have changed if he is temporarily employed in another country.

3. Where the law applicable cannot be determined pursuant to paragraph 2, the contract shall be governed by the law of the country where the place of business through which the employee was engaged is situated.

4. …escape clause


Protection and Favor of “Weaker” Parties – individual employment, Art. 8

Choice of law superimposed by indispensable labor protection law applicable absent a valid choice of law

Absent choice of law: law of the country where the employee habitually carries out his/her work

Absent a habitual place of work:place of employing business

Escape clause


Overriding Domestic or Foreign Interests

Hypo Intermed GmbH, the German corporation headquartered in Augsburg,

Germany, distributes OPTISUGAR in Germany and all over Europe, in part by directly negotiating with and selling to other distributors and in part by commercial agents acting in the name and on behalf of Intermed, and in part directly to consumers.

Contracts between Intermed and the other distributors as well as between Intermed and the agents and Intermed and consumers are based on Intermed’s standard forms which read: All contracts are exclusively governed by the law of Pennsylvania, CISG being excluded.

The law of which country/countries is applicable in the respective contractual relationships? Take into consideration, that German law and the law of some European countries contents mandatory provisions protecting consumers and commercial agents beyond what is available under Pennsylvania law.



Article 9 Overriding mandatory provisions 1. Overriding mandatory provisions are provisions the respect for which is

regarded as crucial by a country for safeguarding its public interests, such as its political, social or economic organisation, to such an extent that they are applicable to any situation falling within their scope, irrespective of the law otherwise applicable to the contract under this Regulation.

2. Nothing in this Regulation shall restrict the application of the overriding mandatory provisions of the law of the forum.

3. Effect may be given to the overriding mandatory provisions of the law of the country where the obligations arising out of the contract have to be or have been performed, in so far as those overriding mandatory provisions render the performance of the contract unlawful. In considering whether to give effect to those provisions, regard shall be had to their nature and purpose and to the consequences of their application or non-application.



Article 21 Public policy of the forum The application of a provision of the law of any

country specified by this Regulation may be refused only if such application is manifestly incompatible with the public policy (ordre public) of the forum.



Choice of law superimposed by indispensable law applicable absent a valid choice in case of a „purely domestic“ case, Art. 3

Choice of law superimposed by indispensable law applicable absent a valid choice in case of a „purely European“ case, Art. 3

Application of „mandatory“ provisions of the law of the forum, Art. 9

Eventual application of „mandatory“ provisions of a third country, Art. 9

Public policy of the forum state, Art. 21


Consent and material validity, Art. 10

Article 10 Consent and material validity 1. The existence and validity of a contract, or of any term of a

contract, shall be determined by the law which would govern it under this Regulation if the contract or term were valid.

2. Nevertheless, a party, in order to establish that he did not consent, may rely upon the law of the country in which he has his habitual residence if it appears from the circumstances that it would not be reasonable to determine the effect of his conduct in accordance with the law specified in paragraph 1.


Consent and material validity, Art. 10

In general: law which would be applicable in case of a valid contract

Lack of consent possibly according to the law of the habitual residence of a party


Formal validity, Art. 11

Article 11 Formal validity 1. A contract concluded between persons who, or whose agents, are in the same

country at the time of its conclusion is formally valid if it satisfies the formal requirements of the law which governs it in substance under this Regulation or of the law of the country where it is concluded.

2. A contract concluded between persons who, or whose agents, are in different countries at the time of its conclusion is formally valid if it satisfies the formal requirements of the law which governs it in substance under this Regulation, or of the law of either of the countries where either of the parties or their agent is present at the time of conclusion, or of the law of the country where either of the parties had his habitual residence at that time.

3. A unilateral act intended to have legal effect relating to an existing or contemplated contract is formally valid if it satisfies the formal requirements of the law which governs or would govern the contract in substance under this Regulation, or of the law of the country where the act was done, or of the law of the country where the person by whom it was done had his habitual residence at that time.

…


Formal validity, Art. 11

Wide range of possibilitiesFavor of formal validity


Scope of applicable law, Art. 12 Article 12 Scope of the law applicable 1. The law applicable to a contract by virtue of this Regulation shall

govern in particular: (a) interpretation; (b) performance; (c) within the limits of the powers conferred on the court by its procedural

law, the consequences of a total or partial breach of obligations, including the assessment of damages in so far as it is governed by rules of law;

(d) the various ways of extinguishing obligations, and prescription and limitation of actions;

(e) the consequences of nullity of the contract. 2. In relation to the manner of performance and the steps to be taken in

the event of defective performance, regard shall be had to the law of the country in which performance takes place.


Scope of applicable law, Art. 12InterpretationPerformanceConsequences of non-performanceEnd of obligationsConsequences of nullity of the contract


Incapacity, Art. 13

Article 13 Incapacity In a contract concluded between persons who are in

the same country, a natural person who would have capacity under the law of that country may invoke his incapacity resulting from the law of another country, only if the other party to the contract was aware of that incapacity at the time of the conclusion of the contract or was not aware thereof as a result of negligence.


Incapacity, Art. 13

Capacity in general not covered by Rome I, Art. 1 (2) (a)

Specifically: Incapacity according to domestic law of a party may be invoked


Voluntary assignment and legal subrogation, Art. 14, 15

Article 14 Voluntary assignment and contractual subrogation 1. The relationship between assignor and assignee under a

voluntary assignment or contractual subrogation of a claim against another person (the debtor) shall be governed by the law that applies to the contract between the assignor and assignee under this Regulation.

2. The law governing the assigned or subrogated claim shall determine its assignability, the relationship between the assignee and the debtor, the conditions under which the assignment or subrogation can be invoked against the debtor and whether the debtor's obligations have been discharged.

3. The concept of assignment in this Article includes outright transfers of claims, transfers of claims by way of security and pledges or other security rights over claims.


Habitual residence, Art. 19

Article 19 Habitual residence 1. For the purposes of this Regulation, the habitual residence of

companies and other bodies, corporate or unincorporated, shall be the place of central administration. The habitual residence of a natural person acting in the course of his business activity shall be his principal place of business.

2. Where the contract is concluded in the course of the operations of a branch, agency or any other establishment, or if, under the contract, performance is the responsibility of such a branch, agency or establishment, the place where the branch, agency or any other establishment is located shall be treated as the place of habitual residence.

3. For the purposes of determining the habitual residence, the relevant point in time shall be the time of the conclusion of the contract.


Habitual residence, Art. 19Only defined as to companies


Renvoi, Art. 20 Article 20 Exclusion of renvoi The application of the law of any country

specified by this Regulation means the application of the rules of law in force in that country other than its rules of private international law, unless provided otherwise in this Regulation.

In general excluded


Renvoi, Art. 20

Renvoi in general excluded

PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAWRome II

PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW

PART II

NON-CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIPS


Jurisdiction

In general: see at Rome I

Special jurisdiction

Article 5 A person domiciled in a Member State may, in another Member

State, be sued: … 3. in matters relating to tort, delict or quasi-delict, in the courts for

the place where the harmful event occurred or may occur;


Jurisdiction

Bier v. Mines de Potasse (ECJ 30. 11. 1976, NJW 1977, 493 = RIW/AWD 1977, 356 mit

Anm. Linke - Firma Handels-Kwekerij G. J. Bier ./. Firma Mines de Potasse d’Alsace S. A.)

In Alsace Mines de Potasse d’Alsace pollutes the river Rhein by discharging potasse into the river. By consequent the river rhine in the Netherlands contains amounts of potsasse dangerous to crops in the Netherlands.

Netherland farmers, who traditionall use water from the river to irrigate their plants are afraid that their crops are endangered. They want to sue in the Hague/Netherlands for omission of such pollution.


Jurisdiction Bier v. Mines de Potasse Order On those grounds THE COURT, in answer to the question referred

to it by the Gerechtshof, The Hague, by judgment of 27 February 1976,

HEREBY RULES: Where the place of the happening of the event which may give rise

to liability in tort, delict or quasi-delict and the place where that event results in damage are not identical, the expression "place where the harmful event occurred", in Article 5 (3) of the Convention of 27 September 1968 on Jurisdiction and the Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters, must be understood as being intended to cover both the place where the damage occurred and the place of the event giving rise to it.


Non-contractual Relationships

Legal base within the EU:Regulation (EC) no. 864/2007 of the

Parliament and the Council of 11. July 2007 On the applicable law to non-contractual relationships („Rome II“)



Legal base within the U.S. : See Restatement of conflict of laws 2d

§ 6. Choice-Of-Law Principles

(1) A court, subject to constitutional restrictions, will follow a statutory directive of its own state on choice of law.


(a) the needs of the interstate and international systems, (b) the relevant policies of the forum, (c) the relevant policies of other interested states and the relative interests of those

states in the determination of the particular issue, (d) the protection of justified expectations, (e) the basic policies underlying the particular field of law, (f) certainty, predictability and uniformity of result, and (g) ease in the determination and application of the law to be applied.



Legal base within the U.S. as to torts: See Restatement of conflict of laws 2d

§ 145. The General Principle

(1) The rights and liabilities of the parties with respect to an issue in tort are determined by the local law of the state which, with respect to that issue, has the most significant relationship to the occurrence and the parties under the principles stated in § 6.

(2) Contacts to be taken into account in applying the principles of § 6 to determine the law applicable to an issue include:

(a) the place where the injury occurred, (b) the place where the conduct causing the injury occurred, (c) the domicil, residence, nationality, place of incorporation and place of business of the parties, and (d) the place where the relationship, if any, between the parties is centered.

These contacts are to be evaluated according to their relative importance with respect to the particular issue.



Legal base within the U.S as to torts: See Restatement of conflict of laws 2d

§ 146. Personal Injuries

In an action for a personal injury, the local law of the state where the injury occurred determines the rights and liabilities of the parties, unless, with respect to the particular issue, some other state has a more significant relationship under the principles stated in § 6 to the occurrence and the parties, in which event the local law of the other state will be applied.

§ 147 …



Torts

Unjust enrichment

Acting on behalf of others without contract (Negotiorum gestio)

Fault in negotiating (Culpa in contrahendo)


Law applicable to torts – theoretical options

Place of the tort A) place of wrongful action, or B) place of damages, or C) either place D) weighting of contacts not: place of preparatory actions not: place of subsequent damages


Torts: in general (1)

Article 4 General rule 1. Unless otherwise provided for in this Regulation, the law applicable to a non-

contractual obligation arising out of a tort/delict shall be the law of the country in which the damage occurs irrespective of the country in which the event giving rise to the damage occurred and irrespective of the country or countries in which the indirect consequences of that event occur.

2. However, where the person claimed to be liable and the person sustaining damage both have their habitual residence in the same country at the time when the damage occurs, the law of that country shall apply.

3. Where it is clear from all the circumstances of the case that the tort/delict is manifestly more closely connected with a country other than that indicated in paragraphs 1 or 2, the law of that other country shall apply. A manifestly closer connection with another country might be based in particular on a preexisting relationship between the parties, such as a contract, that is closely connected with the tort/delict in question.


Torts general rule (2) Place of the Tort Article 4 General rule 1. Unless otherwise provided for in this Regulation, the

law applicable to a non-contractual obligation arising out of a tort/delict shall be the law of the country in which the damage occurs irrespective of the country in which the event giving rise to the damage occurred and irrespective of the country or countries in which the indirect consequences of that event occur.


Torts general rule (3) Shared habitual residence of the parties,

article 4 (2) (1) … 2. However, where the person claimed to be

liable and the person sustaining damage both have their habitual residence in the same country at the time when the damage occurs, the law of that country shall apply.


Torts in general (4)

Escape clause, article 4 (3)

3. Where it is clear from all the circumstances of the case that the tort/delict is manifestly more closely connected with a country other than that indicated in paragraphs 1 or 2, the law of that other country shall apply. A manifestly closer connection with another country might be based in particular on a preexisting relationship between the parties, such as a contract, that is closely connected with the tort/delict in question.


Torts in general (5)

Article 14 Freedom of choice 1. The parties may agree to submit non-contractual obligations to the law of their

choice: (a) by an agreement entered into after the event giving rise to the damage occurred; or (b) where all the parties are pursuing a commercial activity, also by an agreement

freely negotiated before the event giving rise to the damage occurred. The choice shall be expressed or demonstrated with reasonable certainty by the

circumstances of the case and shall not prejudice the rights of third parties. 2. Where all the elements relevant to the situation at the time when the event giving

rise to the damage occurs are located in a country other than the country whose law has been chosen, the choice of the parties shall not prejudice the application of provisions of the law of that other country which cannot be derogated from by agreement.

3. Where all the elements relevant to the situation at the time when the event giving rise to the damage occurs are located in one or more of the Member States, the parties’ choice of the law applicable other than that of a Member State shall not prejudice the application of provisions of Community law, where appropriate as implemented in the Member State of the forum, which cannot be derogated from by agreement.


Torts in general (6) Hypo Two Russian students from Omsk an Moscow

respectively travel to England. Each of the rents a car and travels the country. In driving Tatyana takes the right lane as she is used to do. Olga coming from the opposite direction uses the left lane. Hence there is a collision of the cars. Both students are hurt and their cars are damaged.


Torts in general (6) Article 17 Rules of safety and conduct In assessing the conduct of the person

claimed to be liable, account shall be taken, as a matter of fact and in so far as is appropriate, of the rules of safety and conduct which were in force at the place and time of the event giving rise to the liability.


Product liability

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 25 July 1985 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning liability for defective products (85/374/EEC), O.J. 1985 L 0374

Article 2 For the purpose of this Directive, ‘product' means all

movables even if incorporated into another movable or into an immovable. ‘Product‚ includes electricity.


Torts: Product liability (2) Donaghue v. Stevenson [1932] AC 562 (HL) (modified) Mr. Donaghue, an Englishman whose habitual

residence is London, travels to Spain. Preferring English Ale he orders a bottle of English Ale. He nearly empties the bottle finding at the bottom of the bottle the famous nearly decomposed “Donaghue snail”. He vomits and gets sick.

Applicable law?


Torts: Product liability (3) Article 5 Product liability 1. Without prejudice to Article 4(2), the law applicable to a non-contractual obligation

arising out of damage caused by a product shall be: (a) the law of the country in which the person sustaining the damage had his or her

habitual residence when the damage occurred, if the product was marketed in that country; or, failing that,

(b) the law of the country in which the product was acquired, if the product was marketed in that country; or, failing that,

(c) the law of the country in which the damage occurred, if the product was marketed in that country.

However, the law applicable shall be the law of the country in which the person claimed to be liable is habitually resident if he or she could not reasonably foresee the marketing of the product, or a product of the same type, in the country the law of which is applicable under (a), (b) or (c).

2. Where it is clear from all the circumstances of the case that the tort/delict is manifestly more closely connected with a country other than that indicated in paragraph 1, the law of that other country shall apply. A manifestly closer connection with another country might be based in particular on a pre-existing relationship between the parties, such as a contract, that is closely connected with the tort/delict in question.


Torts: Unfair Competition (1) Article 6 Unfair competition and acts restricting free competition 1. The law applicable to a non-contractual obligation arising out of an act of

unfair competition shall be the law of the country where competitive relations or the collective interests of consumers are, or are likely to be, affected.

2. Where an act of unfair competition affects exclusively the interests of a specific competitor, Article 4 shall apply.(3) …

4. The law applicable under this Article may not be derogated from by an agreement pursuant to Article 14.

Recital (21) The special rule in Article 6 is not an exception to the general rule in Article 4(1) but rather a clarification of it. In matters of unfair competition, the conflict-of-law rule should protect competitors, consumers and the general public and ensure that the market economy functions properly. The connection to the law of the country where competitive relations or the collective interests of consumers are, or are likely to be, affected generally satisfies these objectives.


Torts: Unfair Competition (2)

German Federal Court, BGHZ 122 Defendant copies mens clothes of a competitor. Part

of the cloths are trademark protected others are not. Plaintiff claims damages and omission of further infringments based on violation of his trademark protection and based on unfair competition law.

Asume: Plaintiff is from Moscow, defendant is from Augsburg and cloths are sold in France.


Torts: Unfair competition (3)

German steel producer competing with another German steel producer in the Russian market lures away from his competitor specialists, who have special experience in the Russian market. He then writes a letter to potential Russion clients that from now on his company alone has the special know-how as far as the Russian market is concerned.


Torts: Restriction of competition (1)

Recital (23) For the purposes of this Regulation, the concept of restriction of competition should cover prohibitions on agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings and concerted practices which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition within a Member State or within the internal market, as well as prohibitions on the abuse of a dominant position within a Member State or within the internal market, where such agreements, decisions, concerted practices or abuses are prohibited by Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty or by the law of a Member State.


Torts: Restriction of competition (2)

Article 6 Unfair competition and acts restricting free competition … 3. (a) The law applicable to a non-contractual obligation arising out of a restriction of

competition shall be the law of the country where the market is, or is likely to be, affected. (b) When the market is, or is likely to be, affected in more than one country, the person

seeking compensation for damage who sues in the court of the domicile of the defendant, may instead choose to base his or her claim on the law of the court seised, provided that the market in that Member State is amongst those directly and substantially affected by the restriction of competition out of which the non-contractual obligation on which the claim is based arises; where the claimant sues, in accordance with the applicable rules on jurisdiction, more than one defendant in that court, he or she can only choose to base his or her claim on the law of that court if the restriction of competition on which the claim against each of these defendants relies directly and substantially affects also the market in the Member State of that court.



Tort: Unfair Competition (3)

IN ECJ case T-201/04 Microsoft Corp., a US company sues the European Union beccause the EU Commission has fined Microsoft about 500 million €. Reason for the fine was that Microsoft as a market dominating company had withhold from their competitors – notably Sun Microsystems, another US company – information necessary to communicate with the Microsoft systems.

The ECJ (Court of firt instance) considered the decision to be justified.

Asume: Sun Microsystems now sues Microsoft for damages.


Torts: Environmental damages (1)

Article 7 Environmental damage The law applicable to a non-contractual obligation arising out of

environmental damage or damage sustained by persons or property as a result of such damage shall be the law determined pursuant to Article 4(1), unless the person seeking compensation for damage chooses to base his or her claim on the law of the country in which the event giving rise to the damage occurred.

Recital (25) Regarding environmental damage, Article 174 of the Treaty, which provides that there should be a high levelof protection based on the precautionary principle and the principle that preventive action should be taken, the principle of priority for corrective action at source and the principle that the polluter pays, fully justifies the use of the principle of discriminating in favour of the person sustaining the damage. The question of when the person seeking compensation can make the choice of the law applicable should be determined in accordance with the law of the Member State in which the court is seised.



Recital (24) ‘Environmental damage’ should be understood as meaning adverse change in a natural resource, such as water, land or air, impairment of a function performed by that resource for the benefit of another natural resource or the public, or impairment of the variability among living organisms.



(Again: Bier ./. Mines de Potasse) (ECJ 30. 11. 1976, NJW 1977, 493 = RIW/AWD 1977, 356 mit

Anm. Linke - Firma Handels-Kwekerij G. J. Bier ./. Firma Mines de Potasse d’Alsace S. A.)

In Alsace Mines de Potasse d’Alsace pollutes the river Rhein by discharging potasse into the river. By consequent the river Rhein in the Netherlands contains amounts of potsasse dangerous to crops in the Netherlands.

Netherland farmers, who traditionall use water from the river to irrigate their plants are afraid that their crops are endangered. They want to sue in the Hague/Netherlands for omission of such pollution.


Torts: Intellectual property (1)

Recital (26) Regarding infringements of intellectual property rights, the universally acknowledged principle of the lex loci protectionis should be preserved. For the purposes of this Regulation, the term ‘intellectual property rights’ should be interpreted as meaning, for instance, copyright, related rights, the sui generis right for the protection of databases and industrial property rights.


Torts: Intellectual property (2)

Article 8 Infringement of intellectual property rights 1. The law applicable to a non-contractual obligation arising

from an infringement of an intellectual property right shall be the law of the country for which protection is claimed.

2. In the case of a non-contractual obligation arising from an infringement of a unitary Community intellectual property right, the law applicable shall, for any question that is not governed by the relevant Community instrument, be the law of the country in which the act of infringement was committed.



Intellectual Property (3)

Hypo Mike, a company from Omsk manufactures sports

goods and sportswear. Products are labeled by a red arrow. This design is protected in Germany. However, it is not protected in France.

Pike, a Chines company copies Mike‘s products marketing them in Germany and France.

Mike sues Pike in Germany and France asking for damages and omission of further design violation.


Industrial action

Article 9 Industrial action Without prejudice to Article 4(2), the law applicable to a

noncontractual obligation in respect of the liability of a person in the capacity of a worker or an employer or the organisations representing their professional interests for damages caused by an industrial action, pending or carried out, shall be the law of the country where the action is to be, or has been, taken.

Recital (27) The exact concept of industrial action, such as strike action or lock-out, varies from one Member State to another and is governed by each Member State’s internal rules. Therefore, this Regulation assumes as a general principle that the law of the country where the industrial action was taken should apply, with the aim of protecting the rights and obligations of workers and employers.


Torts: Unjust enrichment (1) - within preexisting relationships

Article 10 Unjust enrichment 1. If a non-contractual obligation arising out of unjust enrichment, including

payment of amounts wrongly received, concerns a relationship existing between the parties, such as one arising out of a contract or a tort/delict, that is closely connected with that unjust enrichment, it shall be governed by the law that governs that relationship.

… … 4. Where it is clear from all the circumstances of the case that the non-

contractual obligation arising out of unjust enrichment is manifestly more closely connected with a country other than that indicated in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, the law of that other country shall apply.


Torts: Unjust enrichment (2)

Article 10 Unjust enrichment … 2. Where the law applicable cannot be determined on the basis of

paragraph 1 and the parties have their habitual residence in the same country when the event giving rise to unjust enrichment occurs, the law of that country shall apply.

3. Where the law applicable cannot be determined on the basis of paragraphs 1 or 2, it shall be the law of the country in which the unjust enrichment took place.

4. Where it is clear from all the circumstances of the case that the non-contractual obligation arising out of unjust enrichment is manifestly more closely connected with a country other than that indicated in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, the law of that other country shall apply.


Article 11 Negotiorum gestio 1. If a non-contractual obligation arising out of an act performed without due

authority in connection with the affairs of another person concerns a relationship existing between the parties, such as one arising out of a contract or a tort/delict, that is closely connected with that non-contractual obligation, it shall be governed by the law that governs that relationship.

2. Where the law applicable cannot be determined on the basis of paragraph 1, and the parties have their habitual residence in the same country when the event giving rise to the damage occurs, the law of that country shall apply.

3. Where the law applicable cannot be determined on the basis of paragraphs 1 or 2, it shall be the law of the country in which the act was performed.

4. Where it is clear from all the circumstances of the case that the non-contractual obligation arising out of an act performed without due authority in connection with the affairs of another person is manifestly more closely connected with a country other than that indicated in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, the law of that other country shall apply.


(not just a) Hypo

German owner‘s ship is stolen in Spain. Investigator finds the ship and returns it to owner.

Investigator asks for an award.


Article 12 Culpa in contrahendo 1. The law applicable to a non-contractual obligation arising out of dealings

prior to the conclusion of a contract, regardless of whether the contract was actually concluded or not, shall be the law that applies to the contract or that would have been applicable to it had it been entered into.

2. Where the law applicable cannot be determined on the basis of paragraph 1, it shall be:

(a) the law of the country in which the damage occurs, irrespective of the country in which the event giving rise to the damage occurred and irrespective of the country or countries in which the indirect consequences of that event occurred; or

(b) where the parties have their habitual residence in the same country at the time when the event giving rise to the damage occurs, the law of that country; or

(c) where it is clear from all the circumstances of the case that the non-contractual obligation arising out of dealings prior to the conclusion of a contract is manifestly more closely connected with a country other than that indicated in points (a) and (b), the law of that other country.





Documents

PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW Introduction Conflicts of Laws in Contractual and Non-Contractual Obligations Summer Course 2013 Professor Volker Behr University