The Enforceability of Promises in European Contract Law (The Common Core of European Private Law)

Civil law and common law systems are held to enforce promises differently: civil law, in principle, will enforce any promise, while common law will enforce only those with 'consideration'. In that respect, modern civil law supposedly differs from the Roman law from which it descended, where a promise was enforced depending on the type of contract the parties had made. This 2001 volume is concerned with the extent to which these characterizations are true, and how these and other differences affect the enforceability of promises. Beginning with a concise history of these distinctions, the volume then considers how twelve European legal systems would deal with fifteen concrete situations. Finally, a comparative section considers why legal systems enforce certain promises and not others, and what promises should be enforced. This is the second completed project of The Common Core of European Private Law launched at the University of Trento. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 5 Title......Page 7 Copyright......Page 8 Contents......Page 9 General editors’ preface......Page 13 Contributors......Page 15 Belgium......Page 17 France......Page 18 Greece......Page 19 Italy......Page 20 Portugal......Page 21 Spain......Page 22 Austria......Page 25 Belgium......Page 26 England......Page 27 France......Page 28 Greece......Page 29 Ireland......Page 30 Italy......Page 31 The Netherlands......Page 32 Scotland......Page 33 Other sections......Page 34 1 Some perennial problems......Page 37 A.Civil law......Page 38 B. Common law......Page 46 II. The questions......Page 51 2 Contemporary solutions......Page 59 FRANCE......Page 60 BELGIUM......Page 64 THE NETHERLANDS......Page 70 SPAIN......Page 72 PORTUGAL......Page 74 ITALY......Page 76 AUSTRIA......Page 77 GERMANY......Page 79 GREECE......Page 81 SCOTLAND......Page 84 ENGLAND......Page 87 IRELAND......Page 94 Summaries......Page 98 General principles:......Page 101 Exceptions......Page 102 FRANCE......Page 103 BELGIUM......Page 107 THE NETHERLANDS......Page 108 SPAIN......Page 109 PORTUGAL......Page 110 ITALY......Page 112 AUSTRIA......Page 113 GREECE......Page 115 SCOTLAND......Page 116 ENGLAND......Page 117 IRELAND......Page 119 Summaries......Page 120 Preliminary comparisons......Page 122 FRANCE......Page 124 BELGIUM......Page 126 SPAIN......Page 127 PORTUGAL......Page 128 ITALY......Page 129 AUSTRIA......Page 130 GERMANY......Page 132 GREECE......Page 134 ENGLAND......Page 135 IRELAND......Page 136 Summaries......Page 137 Preliminary comparisons......Page 139 FRANCE......Page 141 BELGIUM......Page 142 THE NETHERLANDS......Page 143 ITALY......Page 144 AUSTRIA......Page 145 GERMANY......Page 146 GREECE......Page 147 SCOTLAND......Page 148 ENGLAND......Page 149 IRELAND......Page 150 Summaries......Page 151 Preliminary comparisons......Page 153 FRANCE......Page 154 BELGIUM......Page 159 THE NETHERLANDS......Page 160 SPAIN......Page 162 PORTUGAL......Page 163 ITALY......Page 165 AUSTRIA......Page 166 GERMANY......Page 168 GREECE......Page 169 SCOTLAND......Page 172 ENGLAND......Page 173 IRELAND......Page 178 Summaries......Page 180 Preliminary comparisons......Page 185 FRANCE......Page 187 BELGIUM......Page 188 THE NETHERLANDS......Page 189 SPAIN......Page 191 PORTUGAL......Page 192 ITALY......Page 193 AUSTRIA......Page 194 GERMANY......Page 195 GREECE......Page 196 SCOTLAND......Page 198 ENGLAND......Page 199 IRELAND......Page 201 Summaries......Page 202 Preliminary comparisons......Page 205 FRANCE......Page 207 BELGIUM......Page 211 THE NETHERLANDS......Page 212 PORTUGAL......Page 215 ITALY......Page 216 AUSTRIA......Page 217 GERMANY......Page 218 GREECE......Page 219 ENGLAND......Page 221 IRELAND......Page 223 Summaries......Page 225 Preliminary comparisons......Page 227 FRANCE......Page 229 BELGIUM......Page 233 THE NETHERLANDS......Page 236 SPAIN......Page 238 PORTUGAL......Page 239 ITALY......Page 240 AUSTRIA......Page 241 GERMANY......Page 242 GREECE......Page 243 SCOTLAND......Page 245 ENGLAND......Page 246 IRELAND......Page 249 Summaries......Page 251 Preliminary comparisons......Page 253 FRANCE......Page 255 BELGIUM......Page 260 THE NETHERLANDS......Page 261 SPAIN......Page 262 PORTUGAL......Page 263 AUSTRIA......Page 264 GREECE......Page 265 SCOTLAND......Page 267 ENGLAND......Page 268 IRELAND......Page 270 Summaries......Page 272 Preliminary comparisons......Page 273 FRANCE......Page 275 BELGIUM......Page 277 THE NETHERLANDS......Page 278 SPAIN......Page 279 ITALY......Page 280 AUSTRIA......Page 281 GERMANY......Page 282 SCOTLAND......Page 283 ENGLAND......Page 284 IRELAND......Page 286 Summaries......Page 287 Preliminary comparisons......Page 289 FRANCE......Page 291 THE NETHERLANDS......Page 292 SPAIN......Page 293 PORTUGAL......Page 294 ITALY......Page 295 GREECE......Page 296 ENGLAND......Page 297 IRELAND......Page 300 Summaries......Page 301 Preliminary comparisons......Page 302 FRANCE......Page 303 THE NETHERLANDS......Page 305 SPAIN......Page 306 ITALY......Page 307 GERMANY......Page 308 GREECE......Page 309 ENGLAND......Page 310 IRELAND......Page 311 Summaries......Page 312 Preliminary comparisons......Page 314 FRANCE......Page 315 BELGIUM......Page 319 THE NETHERLANDS......Page 320 SPAIN......Page 322 PORTUGAL......Page 323 ITALY......Page 324 AUSTRIA......Page 326 GERMANY......Page 327 GREECE......Page 328 ENGLAND......Page 329 IRELAND......Page 331 Summaries......Page 332 Preliminary comparisons......Page 334 FRANCE......Page 336 BELGIUM......Page 338 THE NETHERLANDS......Page 339 PORTUGAL......Page 340 ITALY......Page 341 AUSTRIA......Page 343 GERMANY......Page 344 GREECE......Page 345 SCOTLAND......Page 346 ENGLAND......Page 347 IRELAND......Page 350 Summaries......Page 351 Preliminary comparisons......Page 353 FRANCE......Page 354 BELGIUM......Page 357 SPAIN......Page 358 PORTUGAL......Page 359 AUSTRIA......Page 360 GERMANY......Page 361 GREECE......Page 362 SCOTLAND......Page 363 ENGLAND......Page 364 IRELAND......Page 366 Summaries......Page 368 Preliminary comparisons......Page 370 1. Obstacles to giving gifts......Page 373 2. Exceptions for meritorious gifts......Page 376 3. Protecting reliance......Page 378 1. Favours that can no longer be performed costlessly......Page 380 a. Promises to loan goods......Page 381 b. Promises to take care of goods......Page 385 2. A broken promise to do a service......Page 387 3. A note on the ‘intention to be legally bound’......Page 389 C. What is left of Roman contract law?......Page 390 II. Promises to pay for benefits received or owed......Page 391 1. Promises to perform contractual obligations that are legally unenforceable......Page 392 2. Promises to pay for benefits received absent a contract......Page 394 B. Promises to pay for benefits to which one has a contractual right......Page 397 A. Open terms and options......Page 401 B. Locus poenitentiae......Page 404 A. The results......Page 407 B. The doctrines......Page 409 C. The search for solutions......Page 414 a. Promises of money or property......Page 415 b. Favours that need not entail expense......Page 418 a. Promises to pay for benefits already conferred......Page 420 b. Promises to pay for benefits to which one has a contractual right......Page 422 a. Open terms and options......Page 424 b. Promises conditional upon success......Page 425 Austria......Page 429 Belgium......Page 432 England......Page 437 France......Page 441 Germany......Page 448 Greece......Page 452 Ireland......Page 457 Italy......Page 460 Netherlands......Page 464 Portugal......Page 467 Scotland......Page 470 Spain......Page 473 United States......Page 476 Index by subject......Page 477 Cover 1 Half-title 3 Series-title 5 Title 7 Copyright 8 Contents 9 General editors’ preface 13 Contributors 15 Table of legislation 17 Austria 17 Belgium 17 England 18 France 18 Germany 19 Greece 19 Ireland 20 Italy 20 Netherlands 21 Portugal 21 Scotland 22 Spain 22 Abbreviations 25 Austria 25 Belgium 26 England 27 France 28 Germany 29 Greece 29 Ireland 30 Italy 31 The Netherlands 32 Portugal 33 Scotland 33 Spain 34 Other sections 34 1 Some perennial problems 37 I. The architecture of contract law 38 A.Civil law 38 B. Common law 46 II. The questions 51 2 Contemporary solutions 59 Case 1: promises of gifts 60 Case 60 Discussions 60 FRANCE 60 BELGIUM 64 THE NETHERLANDS 70 SPAIN 72 PORTUGAL 74 ITALY 76 AUSTRIA 77 GERMANY 79 GREECE 81 SCOTLAND 84 ENGLAND 87 IRELAND 94 Summaries 98 Preliminary comparisons 101 General principles: 101 Exceptions 102 Case 2: promises of compensation for services rendered without charge 103 Case 103 Discussions 103 FRANCE 103 BELGIUM 107 THE NETHERLANDS 108 SPAIN 109 PORTUGAL 110 ITALY 112 AUSTRIA 113 GERMANY 115 GREECE 115 SCOTLAND 116 ENGLAND 117 IRELAND 119 Summaries 120 Preliminary comparisons 122 Case 3: promises to pay debts not legally due 124 Case 124 Discussions 124 FRANCE 124 BELGIUM 126 THE NETHERLANDS 127 SPAIN 127 PORTUGAL 128 ITALY 129 AUSTRIA 130 GERMANY 132 GREECE 134 SCOTLAND 135 ENGLAND 135 IRELAND 136 Summaries 137 Preliminary comparisons 139 Case 4: a promise to come to dinner 141 Case 141 Discussions 141 FRANCE 141 BELGIUM 142 THE NETHERLANDS 143 SPAIN 144 PORTUGAL 144 ITALY 144 AUSTRIA 145 GERMANY 146 GREECE 147 SCOTLAND 148 ENGLAND 149 IRELAND 150 Summaries 151 Preliminary comparisons 153 Case 5: promises to store goods without charge 154 Case 154 Discussions 154 FRANCE 154 BELGIUM 159 THE NETHERLANDS 160 SPAIN 162 PORTUGAL 163 ITALY 165 AUSTRIA 166 GERMANY 168 GREECE 169 SCOTLAND 172 ENGLAND 173 IRELAND 178 Summaries 180 Preliminary comparisons 185 Case 6: promises to do a favour 187 Case 187 Discussions 187 FRANCE 187 BELGIUM 188 THE NETHERLANDS 189 SPAIN 191 PORTUGAL 192 ITALY 193 AUSTRIA 194 GERMANY 195 GREECE 196 SCOTLAND 198 ENGLAND 199 IRELAND 201 Summaries 202 Preliminary comparisons 205 Case 7: promises to loan goods without charge 207 Case 207 Discussions 207 FRANCE 207 BELGIUM 211 THE NETHERLANDS 212 SPAIN 215 PORTUGAL 215 ITALY 216 AUSTRIA 217 GERMANY 218 GREECE 219 SCOTLAND 221 ENGLAND 221 IRELAND 223 Summaries 225 Preliminary comparisons 227 Case 8: a requirements contract 229 Case 229 Discussions 229 FRANCE 229 BELGIUM 233 THE NETHERLANDS 236 SPAIN 238 PORTUGAL 239 ITALY 240 AUSTRIA 241 GERMANY 242 GREECE 243 SCOTLAND 245 ENGLAND 246 IRELAND 249 Summaries 251 Preliminary comparisons 253 Case 9: promises to pay more than was agreed I 255 Case 255 Discussions 255 FRANCE 255 BELGIUM 260 THE NETHERLANDS 261 SPAIN 262 PORTUGAL 263 ITALY 264 AUSTRIA 264 GERMANY 265 GREECE 265 SCOTLAND 267 ENGLAND 268 IRELAND 270 Summaries 272 Preliminary comparisons 273 Case 10: promises to pay more than was agreed II 275 Case 275 Discussions 275 FRANCE 275 BELGIUM 277 THE NETHERLANDS 278 SPAIN 279 PORTUGAL 280 ITALY 280 AUSTRIA 281 GERMANY 282 GREECE 283 SCOTLAND 283 ENGLAND 284 IRELAND 286 Summaries 287 Preliminary comparisons 289 Case 11: promises to do more than was agreed; promises to waive a condition 291 Case 291 Discussions 291 FRANCE 291 BELGIUM 292 THE NETHERLANDS 292 SPAIN 293 PORTUGAL 294 ITALY 295 AUSTRIA 296 GERMANY 296 GREECE 296 SCOTLAND 297 ENGLAND 297 IRELAND 300 Summaries 301 Preliminary comparisons 302 Case 12: promises to take less than was agreed 303 Case 303 Discussions 303 FRANCE 303 BELGIUM 305 THE NETHERLANDS 305 SPAIN 306 PORTUGAL 307 ITALY 307 AUSTRIA 308 GERMANY 308 GREECE 309 SCOTLAND 310 ENGLAND 310 IRELAND 311 Summaries 312 Preliminary comparisons 314 Case 13: options given without charge 315 Case 315 Discussions 315 FRANCE 315 BELGIUM 319 THE NETHERLANDS 320 SPAIN 322 PORTUGAL 323 ITALY 324 AUSTRIA 326 GERMANY 327 GREECE 328 SCOTLAND 329 ENGLAND 329 IRELAND 331 Summaries 332 Preliminary comparisons 334 Case 14: promises of rewards 336 Case 336 Discussions 336 FRANCE 336 BELGIUM 338 THE NETHERLANDS 339 SPAIN 340 PORTUGAL 340 ITALY 341 AUSTRIA 343 GERMANY 344 GREECE 345 SCOTLAND 346 ENGLAND 347 IRELAND 350 Summaries 351 Preliminary comparisons 353 Case 15: promises of commissions 354 Case 354 Discussions 354 FRANCE 354 BELGIUM 357 THE NETHERLANDS 358 SPAIN 358 PORTUGAL 359 ITALY 360 AUSTRIA 360 GERMANY 361 GREECE 362 SCOTLAND 363 ENGLAND 364 IRELAND 366 Summaries 368 Preliminary comparisons 370 3 Comparisons 373 I. Gifts and favours 373 A. Promises of money or property 373 1. Obstacles to giving gifts 373 2. Exceptions for meritorious gifts 376 3. Protecting reliance 378 B. Favours that need not entail expense 380 1. Favours that can no longer be performed costlessly 380 a. Promises to loan goods 381 b. Promises to take care of goods 385 2. A broken promise to do a service 387 3. A note on the ‘intention to be legally bound’ 389 C. What is left of Roman contract law? 390 II. Promises to pay for benefits received or owed 391 A. Promises to pay for benefits already conferred 392 1. Promises to perform contractual obligations that are legally unenforceable 392 2. Promises to pay for benefits received absent a contract 394 3. Promises to pay an additional amount when a benefit has already been received and paid for under a contract 397 B. Promises to pay for benefits to which one has a contractual right 397 III. The absence of commitment 401 A. Open terms and options 401 B. Locus poenitentiae 404 IV. Epilogue 407 A. The results 407 B. The doctrines 409 C. The search for solutions 414 1. Gifts and favours 415 a. Promises of money or property 415 b. Favours that need not entail expense 418 2. Promises to pay for benefits received or owed 420 a. Promises to pay for benefits already conferred 420 b. Promises to pay for benefits to which one has a contractual right 422 3. The absence of commitment 424 a. Open terms and options 424 b. Promises conditional upon success 425 Index by country 429 Austria 429 Belgium 432 England 437 France 441 Germany 448 Greece 452 Ireland 457 Italy 460 Netherlands 464 Portugal 467 Scotland 470 Spain 473 United States 476 Index by subject 477 1. Some Perennial Problems -- 2. Contemporary Solutions -- Case 1. Promises Of Gifts -- Case 2. Promises Of Compensation For Services Rendered Without Charge -- Case 3. Promises To Pay Debts Not Legally Due -- Case 4. A Promise To Come To Dinner -- Case 5. Promises To Store Goods Without Charge -- Case 6. Promises To Do A Favour -- Case 7. Promises To Loan Goods Without Charge -- Case 8. A Requirements Contract -- Case 9. Promises To Pay More Than Was Agreed I -- Case 10. Promises To Pay More Than Was Agreed Ii -- Case 11. Promises To Do More Than Was Agreed; Promises To Waive A Condition -- Case 12. Promises To Take Less Than Was Agreed -- Case 13. Options Given Without Charge -- Case 14. Promises Of Rewards -- Case 15. Promises Of Commissions -- 3. Comparisons. Edited By James Gordley. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Professor James Gordley opens this volume with a concise history of the legal status of promises. In the central part of the book legal experts examine how twelve modern European legal systems deal with fifteen concrete situations in which a promise may not be enforceable--situations that include gifts, loans, bailments, houses, rewards, and brokerage contracts. Despite differences in legal doctrine, the volume reveals similarities in the results. This is the second completed project of The Common Core of European Private Law launched at the University of Trento. "Civil law and common law systems are held to enforce promises differently: civil law, in principle, will enforce any promise, while common law will enforce only those with 'consideration'. In that respect, modern civil law supposedly differs from the Roman law from which it descended, where a promise was enforced depending on the type of contract the parties had made. This volume is concerned with the extent to which these characterizations are true, and how these and other differences affect the enforceability of promises."--Jacket Civil law and common law systems are held to enforce promises differently: civil law will enforce any promise, while common law will enforce only those with 'consideration'. This volume is concerned with the extent to which these characterisations are true, and how these and other differences affect the enforceability of promises Legal experts examine how twelve European legal systems deal with situations where a promise may not be enforceable. Despite differences in legal doctrine, similarities in the results are considered. This is the second completed project of The Common Core of European Private Law launched at the University of Trento

this Is The Second Completed Project Of The Common Core Of European Private Law Launched At The University Of Trento.