Principles of European Insurance Contract Law (PEICL)

This volume contains an expanded and partly updated version of the “Principles of European Insurance Contract Law (PEICL)” produced by the Project Group “Restatement of European Insurance Contract Law”. In addition to the rules applicable to all classes of insurance published in the first edition, this edition also includes provisions on liability insurance, life insurance and group insurance. The PEICL were drafted as a model for an optional instrument of European insurance contract law and are currently being considered as such at EU level. This volume is also expanded in the number of translations provided. In addition to the updated translations in Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Slovak, Spanish and Swedish, the PEICL rules have now also been translated into Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Serbian and Turkish. A short introduction sets out the approach used by the Project Group, the need for a common European insurance contract law, arguments in favour of introducing such a law by means of an optional instrument, as well as the political developments currently taking place. Essential reading for anyone concerned with the transnational dimension of insurance law. Preface to the Second Edition 5 Preface to the First Edition 6 Table of Contents 7 Our Sponsors 39 Members of the Project Group 40 Former Members of the Project Group 41 Corresponding Members of the Project Group 41 Members of the Drafting Committee 41 List of Rapporteurs 42 List of Translators 45 Publications on the PEICL 47 Introduction 55 Principles of European Insurance Contract Law (PEICL): Rules 85 Part One: Provisions Common to All Contracts Included in the Principles of European Insurance Contract Law (PEICL) 86 Chapter One: Introductory Provisions 86 Section One: Application of the PEICL 86 Section Two: General Rules 87 Section Three: Enforcement 89 Chapter Two: Initial Stage and Duration of the Insurance Contract 89 Section One: Applicant’s Pre-contractual Information Duty 89 Section Two: Insurer’s Pre-contractual Duties 90 Section Three: Conclusion of the Contract 91 Section Four: Retroactive and Preliminary Cover 92 Section Five: Insurance Policy 93 Section Six: Duration of the Insurance Contract 94 Section Seven: Post-contractual Information Duties of the Insurer 94 Chapter Three: Insurance Intermediaries 95 Chapter Four: The Risk Insured 95 Section One: Precautionary Measures 95 Section Two: Aggravation of Risk 96 Section Three: Reduction of Risk 97 Chapter Five: Insurance Premium 97 Chapter Six: Insured Event 98 Chapter Seven: Prescription 99 Part Two: Provisions Common to Indemnity Insurance 100 Chapter Eight: Sum Insured and Insured Value 100 Chapter Nine: Entitlement to Indemnity 100 Chapter Ten: Rights of Subrogation 101 Chapter Eleven: Insured Persons other than the Policyholder 101 Chapter Twelve: Insured Risk 102 Part Three: Provisions Common to Insurance of Fixed Sums 102 Chapter Thirteen: Admissibility 102 Part Four: Liability Insurance 102 Chapter Fourteen: General Liability Insurance 102 Chapter Fifteen: Direct Claims and Direct Actions 104 Chapter Sixteen: Compulsory Insurance 105 Part Five: Life Insurance 105 Chapter Seventeen: Special Provisions for Life Insurance 105 Section One: Third Parties 105 Section Two: Initial Stage and Duration of the Contract 106 Section Three: Changes during the Contract Period 108 Section Four: Relation to National Laws 109 Section Five: Insured Event 109 Section Six: Conversion and Surrender 110 Part Six: Group Insurance 111 Chapter Eighteen: Special Provisions for Group Insurance 111 Section One: Group Insurance in General 111 Section Two: Accessory Group Insurance 111 Section Three: Elective Group Insurance 112 Principles of European Insurance Contract Law (PEICL): RulesComments and Notes 113 Part One: Provisions Common to All Contracts Included in the Principles of European Insurance Contract Law (PEICL) 114 Chapter One: Introductory Provisions 114 Section One: Application of the PEICL 114 Article 1:101 Substantive Scope of Application 114 Comments 114 Substantive Scope: Substantive Private Insurance Contract Law 114 Mutual Insurance 114 Social Insurance Law 114 Law of Insurance Supervision and Other Public Law on Insurance 114 International Insurance Contract Law (Conflict of Laws) 115 Law of Insurance Intermediaries 115 Marine Insurance 115 Reinsurance 116 Notes 116 Application to Private Insurance Contracts 116 Mutual Insurance 116 Marine Insurance 116 Reinsurance 117 Other Specific Branches of Insurance 117 Article 1:102 Optional Application 117 Comments 118 Basic Principle 118 Legal Nature of Opting-in 118 Priority over Confl ict Rules 118 Domestic Insurance Contracts 119 No Partial Choice 119 Effect on Intermediaries 119 Note 119 Article 1:103 Mandatory Character 120 Comments 120 Focus on Mandatory Law 120 Technique 121 Notes 122 Mandatory Acts 122 Single Mandatory Provisions 122 Minimum Protection Acts 123 Single Minimum Protection Provisions 123 Beneficiaries of Mandatory and Minimum Protection Rules 124 Article 1:104 Interpretation 125 Comments 125 The Objective 125 Interpretation and Development 125 Textual Interpretation 126 Context 126 Good Faith and Fair Dealing 126 Certainty in Contractual Relationships 126 Uniform Application 127 Protection of Policyholders 127 Note 127 Article 1:105 National Law and General Principles 127 Comments 128 Basic Principle 128 Mandatory National Provisions 128 Supervisory Law 128 Internationally Mandatory Provisions 129 Exceptional Recourse to Mandatory National Provisions 129 Filling Gaps 129 General Principles of Contract Law 129 Note 130 Section Two: General Rules 130 Article 1:201 Insurance Contract 130 Comments 130 Insurance Contract (para. 1) 130 Insured Event (para. 2) 131 Indemnity Insurance (para. 3) 131 Insurance of Fixed Sums (para. 4) 132 Liability Insurance (para. 5) 132 Life Insurance (para. 6) 132 Group Insurances: Accessory Group Insurance, Elective Group Insurance ( paras. 7-9) 133 Notes 133 The Pros and Cons of Defi ning the Insurance Contract 133 Standard Elements of Defi nitions of the Insurance Contract 134 The Insurer’s Obligation 134 Uncertain Event 134 Definitions of Other Terms 135 Article 1:202 Further Defi nitions 135 Comments 135 Introduction 135 Insured (para. 1) 136 Beneficiary (para. 2) 136 Person at Risk (para. 3) 136 Victim (para. 4) 136 Insurance Agent (para. 5) 137 Premium (para. 6) 137 Contract Period (para. 7) 137 Insurance Period (para. 8) 137 Liability Period (para. 9) 138 Compulsory Insurance (para. 10) 138 Note 138 Article 1:203 Language and Interpretation of Documents 138 Comments 139 Relationship to the Principles of European Contract Law 139 Transparency 139 Language of Documents 139 Sanctions 140 Notes 140 Transparency 140 Language 141 In dubio contra stipulatorem 141 Article 1:204 Receipt of Documents: Proof 142 Comments 142 Notes 142 General Law of Evidence 142 Specific Rules of Insurance Law 142 Article 1:205 Form of Notice 143 Comments 143 Consensual and Formal Contracts 143 Proof 143 Notice 143 Persons Favoured 144 No Particular Form Being Required 144 Notices by the Insurer 145 Notes 145 Community Law 145 The Kind and Context of the Notice 145 General Principle: No Formal Requirements 146 An Example: Notice of an Insured Event 146 Article 1:206 Imputed Knowledge 147 Comments 147 The Issues 147 Imputation and Agency 147 Persons Whose Knowledge May Be Imputed 147 Notes 148 General Law of Agency 148 Specific Provisions for Insurance Contracts 148 Knowledge of the Policyholder’s Agent 149 When Policyholder and Insured are Not Identical 149 Article 1:207 Non-Discrimination 150 Comments 150 Insurance and Differentiation 150 Equal Treatment of Men and Women 152 Non-Discrimination on Grounds of Nationality, Racial or Ethnic Origin 152 Sanctions 153 Burden of Proof 153 Note 153 Article 1:208 Genetic Tests 153 Comments 154 Background 154 Scope of Application 154 Subject of Prohibition (para. 1) 154 Exceptions (para. 2) 154 Section Three: Enforcement101 156 Article 1:301 Injunctions 157 Comments 155 Enforcement of Mandatory Rules by Injunction 155 Measures by Qualifi ed Entities 156 Note 156 Background in Community Law 156 Article 1:302 Out-of-court Complaint and Redress Mechanisms 156 Comments 157 Out-of-court Complaint and Redress Mechanisms under National Law 157 Relationship to the Principles of European Insurance Contract Law 157 Note 158 Chapter Two: Initial Stage and Duration of the Insurance Contract 158 Section One: Applicant’s Pre-contractual Information Duty 158 Article 2:101 Duty of Disclosure 158 Comments 158 Information Imbalance 158 The Timing of the Duty 158 Questionnaires 159 Relative Knowledge 159 Inside Knowledge: the Alter Ego 159 Outside Knowledge: The Knowledge of Agents 159 Enquiry or Investigation 160 Notes 160 Survey 160 Duty of Spontaneous Disclosure 161 Duty to Answer the Insurer’s Questions 161 Approximation 162 Article 2:102 Breach 162 Comments 163 Remedies Available to Insurers 163 Termination (Article 2:102 paras. 2 (second sentence), 3 and 4) 163 Variation (Article 2:102 para. 2) 163 Notice (Article 2:102 para. 2) 163 Discharge (Article 2:102 para. 5) 164 Notes 164 The All-or-Nothing Principle 164 The Proportional Reduction of the Insurance Money 165 Approximation 166 Innocent Breach 166 Article 2:103 Exceptions 166 Comments 167 Unanswered Questions 167 Immaterial Information 167 The Reasonable Insurer 167 Waiver 168 Information Known to Insurers 168 Effects of the Exceptions 168 Notes 168 Obvious Defects of the Policyholder’s Answer, Article 2:103(a) 168 Immaterial Information, Article 2:103(b) 169 The Insurer’s Knowledge and Behaviour, Article 2:103(c) and (d) 169 Article 2:104 Fraudulent Breach 169 Comments 170 The Range of Remedies 170 The Impact of Fraud 170 Avoidance 170 The Position of Policyholders 170 Notes 171 Article 2:105 Additional Information 171 Comment 172 Note 172 Article 2:106 Genetic Information 171 Comments 172 Section Two: Insurer’s Pre-contractual Duties 172 Article 2:201 Provision of Pre-contractual Documents 172 Comments 173 Pre-contractual Documents in General 173 Duty to Provide an Applicant with a Pre-contractual Document 173 Pre-contractual Documents in Special Branches of Insurance 174 Right to a Copy of the Completed Documents 174 Form of Documents 174 Notes 174 European Directives and their Implementation 174 The Kind of Information to Be Given 175 Stricter Requirements under National Laws 175 Information Duty Draft ed in General Terms 176 Application Form Provided by the Insurer, Article 2:201 para. 3 176 Article 2:202 Duty to Warn about Inconsistencies in the Cover 176 Comments 176 General Remarks 176 Duty to Assist the Applicant 177 Consequences of Failure to Assist 178 Damages 178 Termination 178 Notes 179 Community Law 179 National Law 179 Sanctions 180 Article 2:203 Duty to Warn about Commencement of Cover 180 Comments 181 Problems of Commencement of Cover in Practice 181 Duty to Warn 181 Notes 181 Community Law 181 The Sanction of Immediate Cover 181 Incomplete and Unclear Sanctions 182 Section Three: Conclusion of the Contract 182 Article 2:301 Manner of Conclusion 182 Comments 182 The Principles of European Contract Law 182 Agreement 183 Ways of Concluding an Insurance Contract 183 Insurance Contract 183 Mandatory Character 184 Proof 184 Notes 184 A Matter of General Contract Law 184 Consensual Contract 185 Article 2:302 Revocation of an Application for Insurance 185 Comments 186 An Application for Insurance 186 Revocation by the Applicant 186 Time for the Arrivals of Revocations and Acceptances Sent Electronically 186 Effectiveness of Revocation 187 Notes 187 The Roles of Off eror and Offeree 187 The Binding Nature of an Offer 188 Article 2:303 Cooling-off Period 189 Comments 189 Introduction 189 Structure of the Rule 189 Avoidance 189 Commencement of the Cooling-off Period 190 Timeliness of Notice to Withdraw 190 The Exceptions to the General Rule 190 Notes 191 Community Law 191 Implementation for Life Assurance and Similar Products 192 General Right of Withdrawal 192 Exception for Short-Term Insurance Contracts 192 Exception for Prolongation of Pre-Existing Contracts 193 Exception for Preliminary Cover 193 Article 2:304 Abusive Clauses 193 Comments 194 Unfair Contract Terms Directive (93/13/EEC) 194 Persons Protected under Article 2:304 194 Core terms 194 Individually Negotiated Terms 195 Fairness Test 195 Grey List 196 Sanctions 196 Burden of Proof: Unfairness 196 Notes 208 Implementation of EU Law 199 Additional and Broader Provisions on the Fairness of Insurance Terms 200 Non-Negotiated Contracts, Article 2:304 paras. 1 and 4 201 Exceptions from Judicial Review, Article 2:304 para. 3 201 Consequences of Invalidity of a Clause, Article 2:304 para. 2 202 Section Four: Retroactive and Preliminary Cover 202 Article 2:401 Retroactive Cover 202 Comments 202 Issues of Risk 202 Knowledge of the Insurer 203 Knowledge of the Policyholder 203 Notes 203 General Permission for Retroactive Cover 203 Sector-Specific Permission for Retroactive Cover 204 Article 2:402 Preliminary Cover 205 Comments 205 Preliminary Cover 205 Evidencing the Preliminary Cover 206 Exclusion of Articles 2:201 to 2:203 206 Notes 206 Survey 206 Form and Information Requirements: Germany, Greece 206 France 207 Belgium 207 Luxembourg 208 United Kingdom 208 Terms of the Cover Note 208 Article 2:403 Duration of Preliminary Cover 209 Comments 209 uration of the Preliminary Cover 209 Notes 209 Germany 209 France 210 Section Five: Insurance Policy 210 Article 2:501 Contents 210 Comments 211 Insurance Policy 211 Evidence 211 Parol Evidence Rule 211 Preliminary Insurance Contracts 211 Notes 212 Issue of a Document 212 Information to Be Provided – Detailed Requirements 212 Mixture: General Provision with Some Details 212 Means of Proof 213 Constitutive Eff ect 213 Issue of General Contract Terms 213 Cover Notes 214 Written Form 214 Article 2:502 Eff ects of the Policy 214 Comments 214 Notes 215 Legal Presumption of Approval 215 Term for Contradiction 216 Preconditions for Presumption 216 Signature as Means of Protection 216 Legal Presumption of Contract in Accordance with Application 217 Section Six: Duration of the Insurance Contract 217 Article 2:601 Duration of the Insurance Contract 217 Comments 217 Comparative Survey 217 Structure of the Rule 218 Duration of the Contract Period 218 Effects of Violation 218 Personal Insurance 219 Notes 219 Maximum Period 219 Personal Insurance 220 Article 2:602 Prolongation 220 Comments 221 The Need for Prolongation 221 Prolongation and Renewal 221 Adjustment of Contract 221 Form of Notice 221 Term of Notice 222 Notes 222 Statutory and Contractual Prolongation 222 Period of Prolongation 223 Prolongation and Renewal 223 Article 2:603 Alteration of Terms and Conditions 224 Comments 224 The Need for a Rule for Alteration 224 The Need for a Special Rule for Insurance Contracts 224 The Concept Underlying Article 2:603 224 Minimum Standards for an Alteration Clause 225 Notes 225 Article 2:603 para. 1 225 Article 2:603 para. 1(a) – Commencement of Alteration 226 Article 2:603 para. 1(b) – Notice 226 Article 2:603 para. 1(c) – Right of Termination 226 Article 2:604 Termination after the Occurrence of an Insured Event 227 Comments 227 The Need for Termination 227 Statutory and Contractual Rights to Terminate 227 Time Limits 227 Other Rights to Terminate 228 Application to Group Insurance 228 Notes 228 Article 2:604 para. 1 228 Article 2:604 para. 2 – Reasonableness 229 Article 2:604 para. 3 – Expiration of the Right of Termination 229 Article 2:604 para. 4 – End of Cover 229 Section Seven: Post-contractual Information Duties of the Insurer 230 Article 2:701 General Information Duty 230 Comments 230 The Need for Information During the Period of Insurance Cover 230 Information to Be Given in All Cases 230 Information about Changes in the Contract 231 Updating Information 231 Manner of Communication 231 Notes 231 Survey 231 Life Insurance 232 Legal Expenses Insurance 232 Further Post-contractual Information Duties under National Law 233 Article 2:702 Further Information upon Request 234 Comments 234 Purpose 234 Limits 234 Information on Changes in Standard Terms of Insurance 234 Manner of Communication 235 Remedies 235 Note 235 Chapter Three: Insurance Intermediaries 235 Article 3:101 Powers of Insurance Agents 235 Comments 236 Legal and Contractual Authority of the Insurance Agent 236 Minimum Authority 236 Imputation of the Agent’s Knowledge 237 Liability of the Agent 237 Notes 237 First Sentence of Article 3:101 para. 1 – Statutory Powers 237 Second and Third Sentences of Article 3:101 para. 1 – Contractual Limitations 238 Article 3:101 para. 2 – Minimum Powers 238 Article 3:101 para. 3 – Imputation of the Agent’s Knowledge 238 Article 3:102 Agents of Insurers Purporting to Be Independent 239 Comments 239 Rationale 239 Scope 239 Actual Authority of “Pseudo-brokers” 239 Note 240 Chapter Four: The Risk Insured 240 Section One: Precautionary Measures 240 Article 4:101 Precautionary Measures: Meaning 240 Comments 240 General Remarks 240 The Concept of Precautionary Measure 241 Notes 241 General Remarks 241 Finland and Sweden 242 Austria, Germany, Switzerland 242 United Kingdom 242 France 242 Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands 243 Spain 243 Poland 243 Greece 243 Article 4:102 Insurer’s Right to Terminate the Contract 243 Comments 244 Termination and Non-Prolongation 244 Termination under Other Provisions 244 Manner of Termination 244 Application to Group Insurance 244 Notes 244 Ipso iure Avoidance or Declaration of Termination 244 Termination ex tunc or ex nunc 245 Causation: France and United Kingdom 245 Causation in Other Member State Laws 246 Fault: France, the Netherlands and United Kingdom 246 Fault: Other European Laws 246 Written Notice and Time Limits 246 End of Cover 247 National Peculiarities 247 Article 4:103 Discharge of the Insurer’s Liability 247 Comments 247 General Remarks 247 Causation 248 Fault 248 Notes 248 General Remarks 248 Causation 249 France 249 United Kingdom 249 Italy 249 Belgium and Luxembourg 250 Austria and Germany 250 The Netherlands 250 Further Objective Elements 250 Fault 250 Germany 251 Finland 251 Austria 251 Belgium and Luxembourg 251 Section Two: Aggravation of Risk 252 Article 4:201 Clauses Concerning Aggravation of Risk 252 Comments 252 Allocation of Risk 252 The Need for Rules of Law 252 Aggravation of Risk 253 Clauses 253 Notes 253 Information Requirements 253 Material Aggravation of Risk 254 Aggravation Specifi ed in the Contract 254 Article 4:202 Duty to Give Notice of an Aggravation of Risk 254 Comments 254 The Need for Notification 254 The Manner of Notification 255 Breach 255 Notes 255 Notice in Reasonable Time 255 Insurer’s Duty to Pay Insurance Money 256 Article 4:203 Termination and Discharge 256 Comments 256 Reconsideration of the Risk by Insurers 256 Time for Policyholders to Find Alternative Cover 257 Discharge 257 Application to Group Insurance 257 Notes 257 Expiry of Cover 257 Discharge 258 Section Three: Reduction of Risk 258 Article 4:301 Consequences of the Reduction of Risk 258 Comments 258 Purpose and Scope 258 Materiality 259 Policyholder’s Initiative 259 Notes 259 Reduction of the Premium 259 Termination of Contract 260 Exceptions for Personal Insurance 261 Chapter Five: Insurance Premium 261 Article 5:101 First or Single Premium 261 Comments 261 Scope of Regulation 261 Regulatory Approach 261 First and Single Premium 262 Prerequisites for Giving Effect to a Condition which is Subject to Article 5:101 263 Consequences of Payment or Non-Payment within the Two Week Period 263 Notes 264 Postponement of Cover 264 Protection of the Applicant’s Expectations 264 Article 5:102 Subsequent Premium 265 Comments 265 Scope of Regulation 265 Regulatory Approach 265 Subsequent Premium 266 Prerequisites for Giving Eff ect to a Clause which is Subject to Article 5:102 266 Consequences of Payment or Non-Payment within the Period of Grace 266 Notes 267 Article 5:103 Termination of the Contract 268 Comments 268 Scope of Regulation 268 Regulatory Approach 268 Termination in Case of Non-Payment of a First or Single Premium 269 Termination in Case of Non-Payment of a Subsequent Premium 269 Notice of Termination 269 Effects of Termination 269 Automatic Termination 269 Notes 270 Article 5:103 para. 1: The Right to Terminate 270 Form of Termination 270 Article 5:103 para. 2 271 Article 5:104 Divisibility of Premium 271 Comments 271 The Principle 271 Abolition of a Principle of Indivisibility of Premium 271 Notes 272 Article 5:105 Right to Pay Premium 273 Comments 273 Obligation of the Insurer to Accept Payment 273 Consent of the Policyholder 273 Legitimate Interest of Th ird Party 273 Notes 274 Chapter Six: Insured Event 274 Article 6:101 Notice of Insured Event 274 Comments 275 Channels of Communication 275 Balancing Interests 275 Notice Periods 276 Contents of the Notice 276 Breach of Duty 276 Notes 277 Article 6:101 para. 1: Duty to Notify 277 Who Owes The Duty to Notify 277 Article 6:101 para. 2: Time Allowed for Notifi cation 277 Contractual Derogations 278 Article 6:101 para. 3: Sanction – Reduction of Insurance Money 278 Contractual Arrangements 279 Article 6:102 Claims Cooperation 280 Comments 280 Information about the Occurrence of the Insured Event 280 Reasonable Requests 280 Breach of Duty 280 Notes 281 Article 6:102 para. 1: Duty to Cooperate 281 Article 6:102 paras. 2 and 3: Sanctions 281 Article 6:103 Acceptance of Claims 282 Comments 282 Settlement 282 Prompt Settlement of Claims 282 Notes 283 Article 6:104 Time of Performance 283 Comments 283 The Importance of Performance 283 Undue Delay 284 The Amount Payable 284 Notes 284 Article 6:104 paras. 1 and 3: Rules on the Time of Payment 284 Article 6:104 para. 2: Partial Payment 285 Article 6:105 Late Performance 286 Comments 286 Compensation 286 Damages 286 The Conceptual Basis of Liability 287 Assessment of Loss 287 Instances of Loss 287 Notes 288 General Rules on Interest 288 Specific Interest Rules for Insurance Law 288 Punitive Interest Rates 288 Chapter Seven: Prescription 288 Article 7:101 Action for Payment of Premium 288 Comments 289 Notes 289 Community Law 289 General Rules for All Claims Arising from Insurance Contracts 289 Specific Rules on Prescription of Premiums 289 General Rules of the Law of Prescription 290 Comparison of Prescription Periods 290 Article 7:102 Action for Payment of Insurance Benefi ts 290 Comments 291 General Period of Prescription and its Commencement 291 Absolute Period of Prescription and its Commencement 291 Notes 292 Introduction 292 A Single Rule without Any Requirement of Knowledge 293 A Double Standard: Knowledge plus Time 293 The Insurer’s Decision on the Claim as Starting Point of Prescription 293 The Duration of the Prescription Periods 293 Exception for Life Assurance Contracts 294 Article 7:103 Other Issues Relating to Prescription 294 Comments 295 Prescription of Claims Not Covered by Articles 7:101 and 7:102 295 Unregulated Issues of Prescription 295 Contractual Derogations 295 Notes 295 General Remark 295 Contractual Derogation 296 Suspension in Case of Negotiations 296 Suspension when Notice or Claim is Lodged 296 Additional Reason for Suspension or Renewal 297 Part Two: Provisions Common to Indemnity Insurance 297 Chapter Eight: Sum Insured and Insured Value 297 Article 8:101 Maximum Sums Payable 297 Comments 297 The Indemnity Principle and the Sum Insured 297 Mitigation Costs 298 The Sum Insured 298 Valued Policies 298 Notes 298 The Indemnity Principle 298 Value Agreements 299 Effect of Value Agreements 299 Fraud or Misrepresentation on the Part of the Insured 300 Article 8:102 Underinsurance 300 Comments 300 Basic Principle: First Loss Cover 300 Permitted Derogation: Proportionate Recovery 300 Alternative Remedies 301 Notes 301 The Principle of Proportionate Reduction 301 Exceptions 301 Contractual Derogations 302 Article 8:103 Adjustment of Terms in Case of Overinsurance 302 Comments 302 Basic Principle: Adjustment of Terms 302 Overinsurance Caused by Multiple Insurance 303 Determination of Insurance Money 303 Alternative Remedies 303 Notes 303 General 303 The Claim for Reduction, Article 8:103 para. 1 303 Termination, Article 8:103 para. 2 304 Article 8:104 Multiple Insurance 304 Comments 304 Background 304 Key Elements of Multiple Insurance 305 The Insured’s Choice 305 Contributions by Different Insurers 306 Notes 306 General 306 Indemnity Principle, Article 8:104 para. 1 307 Full Liability of Each Insurer, Article 8:104 para. 2 307 Recourse against Other Insurer(s), Article 8:104 para. 3 308 Chapter Nine: Entitlement to Indemnity 308 Article 9:101 Causation of Loss 308 Comments 309 Limits on Recovery of Indemnity 309 Intention 309 Recklessness 309 Failure to Avert or Mitigate 309 Duty and Causation 310 The Persons Prohibited 310 Notes 310 Survey 310 Intention and Gross Negligence, Article 9:101 para. 1 311 Intention and Recklessness of Th ird Parties 311 Contractual Derogations in Case of Negligence 312 Failure to Avert and Mitigate Loss, Article 9:101 para. 3 313 Article 9:102 The Costs of Mitigation 313 Comments 313 Establishment of a Right to Recover Certain Costs 313 Scope of the Right of Recovery 314 Underinsurance 314 Notes 314 General 314 Reasonable Mitigation Costs, Article 9:102 para. 1 315 The Sum Insured as Limit, Article 9:102 para. 2 315 Chapter Ten: Rights of Subrogation 316 Article 10:101 Subrogation 316 Comments 316 Introduction 316 Need for Indemnity 317 Protection for Insurer 317 Third Party 318 Protection of Th ird Parties in a Close Relationship with the Insured 318 Notes 319 General 319 Basic Principle, Article 10:101 para. 1 319 Protection of Subrogation Rights, Article 10:101 para. 2 320 Protection of the Insured’s Entourage, Article 10:101 para. 3 320 No Subrogation Rights against the Insured, Article 10:101 para. 4 321 Chapter Eleven: Insured Persons other than the Policyholder 321 Article 11:101 Entitlement of the Insured 321 Comments 321 Concept 321 Protection of the Insured and Scope 322 Basic Rule 322 Other Third Party Claims 322 Revocation of Cover 322 Form of Notice 323 Effects of Revocation 323 Notes 323 Article 11:101 para. 1: General Principle 323 Artikcle 11:101 para. 2: Revocation 324 Acceptance 324 Insurance for Whom It May Concern 325 Article 11:102 Knowledge of the Insured 325 Comments 325 Rationale 325 Relation with Article 1:206 326 Elements of the Rule 326 Legal Consequences 326 Notes 327 Imputation to the Policyholder 327 Direct Notifi cation Duties of the Insured 327 Article 11:103 Breach of Duty by One Insured 327 Comments 328 Rationale and Purpose 328 Scope: the Policyholder as an Insured 328 Scope: Group Insurance 329 Relation to Article 1:206 329 Legal Consequences 329 Joint Insurance 330 Note 330 Chapter Twelve: Insured Risk 331 Article 12:101 Lack of Insured Risk 331 Comments 331 Structure and Position of the Rule 331 Non-Existence of Insured Risk 332 Cessation of Insured Risk 332 Transfer of Title 332 Notes 333 General 333 Initial Absence of Risk, Article 12:101 para. 1 333 Subsequent Cessation of Risk, Article 12:101 para. 2 334 Article 12:102 Transfer of Property 334 Comments 334 The Need for a Rule concerning Transfer of Property 334 The Underlying Concept 335 Non-Mandatory Character of the Rule 335 Scope of Application 335 Inapplicability to Transfer of Title by Inheritance 335 The Fiction of an Insurance Contract for the Benefit of a Third Party 336 Application to Group Insurance 336 Notes 336 General 336 The Termination Approach, Article 12:102 para. 1 337 The Substitution Approach 337 Transferable Insurance Policies 337 Passing of Insurance Cover, Article 12:102 para. 2 338 Exceptions, Article 12:102 para. 3 338 Part Three: Provisions Common to Insurance of Fixed Sums 338 Chapter Thirteen: Admissibility 338 Article 13:101 Insurance of Fixed Sums 338 Comments 338 Notes 339 General 339 Content 340 Relationship to Personal Insurance 340 Part Four: Liability Insurance 340 Chapter Fourteen: General Liability Insurance 340 Article 14:101 Defence Costs 340 Comments 341 Underlying Principle 341 Scope of Defence Costs 341 Reasonableness of Defence Costs (Article 9:102) 341 Reasonableness and Sum Insured 341 Free Choice of Defence Lawyer 342 Costs of Criminal Proceedings 342 Multiple Insurance 342 Article 14:102 Protection of the Victim 342 Comments 342 Underlying Principle 342 Scope 343 Agreement on Defence Costs 343 Article 14:103 Causation of Loss 343 Comments 343 Underlying Principle 343 Specific Instructions 344 Relation to Article 6:102 344 Article 14:104 Acknowledgement of Liability 344 Comments 345 Acceptance of the Victim’s Claim 345 Insurer’s Consent 345 Article 14:105 Assignment 345 Comments 345 Interests Involved 345 Rationale 346 Article 14:106 No-Claims-Bonuses / Bonus-Malus-Systems 346 Comments 346 Background 346 Transfer of Bonuses 346 Claims Record 347 Article 14:107 Insured Event 347 Comments 347 Background: Triggers for the Insurer’s Liability 347 New Arrangements for the Insurer’s Liability 348 Different National Solutions 349 The Basic Rule (Article 14:107 para. 1) 350 Consumer Liability Insurance – Mandatory Rule 351 Commercial and Professional Risks – Default Rule 351 Claims Made Clauses 352 Other Clauses 352 Article 14:108 Claims Exceeding the Sum Insured 353 Comments 353 Rationale 353 Proportionality 353 Multiple Events 354 Protection of the Insurer 354 Chapter Fifteen: Direct Claims and Direct Actions 355 Article 15:101 Direct Claims and Defences 355 Comments 355 Rationale 355 Compulsory Insurance 356 Insolvency 356 Liquidation or Winding up 357 Personal Injury 357 Law Governing Liability 357 Limits to the Direct Claim 357 Defences 358 Article 15:102 Information Duties 358 Comments 358 Rationale 358 Information Duty of the Policyholder and the Insured (para. 1) 359 Information Duty of the Insurer (para. 2) 359 Sanctions 359 Information Duty of the Policyholder (fi rst sentence of para. 3) 360 Information Duty of the Insured (second sentence of para. 3) 360 Period for the Provision of Information 360 Analogous Application of para. 3 360 Article 15:103 Discharge 360 Comments 361 Rationale 361 Principle 361 Exceptions 361 Article 15:104 Prescription 361 Comments 362 Rationale 362 Prescription Period 362 Exception: Defence Costs 362 Suspension 362 Chapter Sixteen: Compulsory Insurance 363 Article 16:101 Scope of Application 363 Comments 363 Rationale 363 The duty to insure and the applicable contract law 364 The Origins of Duties to Insure 364 The priority of national requirements, para. 2 365 Part Five: Life Insurance 366 Chapter Seventeen: Special Provisions for Life Insurance 366 Section One: Third Parties 366 Article 17:101 Life Insurance on the Life of a Third Party 366 Comments 366 Rationale 366 Consent requirement: General aspects 367 Consent in Writing 367 Informed Consent 368 Time of Consent 368 Application to Substantial Changes and Other Situations 368 Sanctions 368 Article 17:102 Benefi ciary of the Insurance Money 369 Comments 369 Rationale 369 Scope 370 Designation and Change of Desig

Schon seit ihrer Gründung in den 1970er-Jahren ist die Reihe Germanistische Linguistik (RGL) exponiertes Forum des Faches, dessen Namen sie im Titel führt. Hinsichtlich der thematischen Breite (Sprachebenen, Varietäten, Kommunikationsformen, Epochen), der Forschungsperspektiven (Theorie und Empirie, Grundlagenforschung und Anwendung, Inter- und Transdisziplinarität) und des methodologischen Spektrums ist die Reihe offen angelegt. Das Aufgreifen neuer Trends hat in ihr ebenso Platz wie das Fortführen von Bewährtem. Die Publikationsformen reichen von Monographien und Sammelbänden bis zu Wörterbüchern.

Wissenschaftlicher Beirat (ab November 2011):

Prof. Dr. Karin Donhauser (Berlin)
Prof. Dr. Stephan Elspaß (Augsburg)
Prof. Dr. Helmuth Feilke (Gießen)
Prof. Dr. Jürg Fleischer (Marburg)
Prof. Dr. Stephan Habscheid (Siegen)
Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Harnisch (Passau)