Jusletter

The Law of Contracts in the Age of the Coronavirus Pandemic

Is the Statutory Risk Allocation pursuant to the Swiss Code of Obligations still adequate?

  • Auteur-e: Valentin Jentsch
  • Catégories d'articles: Articles scientifiques
  • Domaines juridiques: Droit privé, Droit des obligations, Droit européen
  • DOI: 10.38023/69079844-6c2f-41c4-850b-9d1f36086c7f
  • Proposition de citation: Valentin Jentsch, The Law of Contracts in the Age of the Coronavirus Pandemic, in : Jusletter 7 septembre 2020
La pandémie de coronavirus entraîne un certain nombre de problèmes contractuels. Cet article examine la contribution que les institutions juridiques générales – impossibilité subséquente, demeure, adaptation à de nouvelles circonstances, résiliation d’obligations de durée pour de justes motifs – peuvent apporter pour faire face à la pandémie et si la Suisse a besoin d’un droit contractuel extraordinaire en temps de pandémie. Compte tenu du rôle central des parties contractantes, l’érosion croissante du principe général de droit « pacta sunt servanda » par le pouvoir législatif, judiciaire et exécutif de l’État est considérée de manière critique.

Table of contents

  • 1. Introduction to the Law of Contracts and the Coronavirus Pandemic
  • 2. Remedies for Breach of Contract under the Swiss Code of Obligations
  • 2.1. Permanent Default of a Non-Performing Party: Subsequent Impossibility of Performance
  • 2.1.1. General and Specific Rules for Sale Contracts on Subsequent Impossibility without Fault
  • 2.1.2. General and Specific Rules for Sale Contracts on Subsequent Impossibility with Fault
  • 2.2. Temporary Default of a Non-Performing Party: Delay of Performance
  • 2.2.1. General and Specific Rules for Sale Contracts on Delay of Debtor
  • 2.2.2. General and Specific Rules for Sale Contracts on Delay of Creditor
  • 2.3. Is the Time ripe for a Uniform Breach of Contract Action in Swiss Law?
  • 3. Adaption and Termination of Contracts under the Swiss Code of Obligations
  • 3.1. Adaption due to a Change of Circumstances: Clausula rebus sic stantibus
  • 3.1.1. No General Rules on Adaption of Contracts under Changed Circumstances
  • 3.1.2. Specific Rules on Adaption of Contracts for Work or Services
  • 3.2. Termination for Cause: Termination, for a Compelling Reason, of Permanent Contracts
  • 3.2.1. No General Rules on Termination of Permanent Contracts with or without Notice
  • 3.2.2. Specific Rules on Termination of Lease Contracts, Employment Contracts, or Partnerships
  • 3.3. Should the Swiss go German, when it comes to Adaption and Termination of Contracts?
  • 4. Do we need an Extraordinary Law of Contracts in Times of Pandemic?
  • 4.1. First Element: Mandatory Renegotiation Duties for Contracting Parties
  • 4.2. Second Element: Protective Measures against Abuse of Contractual Power
  • 4.3. Third Element: Collective Agreements of Relatively Binding Nature
  • 4.4. Forth Element: General Applicability of Collective Agreements
  • 5. Conclusions for the Adequacy of the Statutory Risk Allocation

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