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European Tort Law 2005 pp 602–612Cite as

Comparative Overview

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Part of the book series: Tort and Insurance Law ((TILY,volume 2005))

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References

  1. A first (and significantly shorter) overview was published earlier this year: B.A. Koch, Mainstreams in the Development of European Tort Law: A Front-Line Snapshot, The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance — Issues and Practice 31 (2006) 270.

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  2. See infra no. 18.

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  3. I. Strnad/ R. Lampe, Slovenia, YB 2002, 364 (no. 1 ff.).

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  4. I. Kull, Estonia, YB 2004, 248 (no. 1 ff.); see also id., Estonia (supra 251), no. 1 ff.

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  5. H. Gabartas/ M. Laučienė, Lithuania, YB 2004, 405 (no. 1).

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  6. J. Hrádek, Czech Republic (supra 186), no. 1 ff.

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  7. E. Bagińska, Poland, YB 2002, 329 (no. 1); id., Poland, YB 2003, 316 (no. 1); id., Poland, YB 2004, 462 (no. 1).

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  8. A. Menyhárd, Hungary, YB 2002, 252 (no. 1).

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  9. See, e.g., A. Menyhárd, Hungary, YB 2002, no. 1: “The aim of the codification is not to introduce revolutionary changes to Hungarian private law...”; I. Strnad/R. Lampe, Slovenia, YB 2002, no. 1: “The Slovenian Code of Obligations rests on the continuity of the law of obligations...”; but see H. Gabartas/M. Laučienė, Lithuania, YB 2004, no. 1: “The new Lithuanian Civil Code has significantly modified formerly known institutes of civil law...”.

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  10. Secondary victims can only claim damages for non-pecuniary loss if they themselves have suffered some personal injury (such as mental trauma), not for mere bereavement: H. Sandell, Sweden, YB 2001, 442 (no. 1 ff.); id., Sweden, YB 2002, 393 (no. 1 ff.).

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  11. H. Sandell, Denmark, YB 2001, 124 (no. 1).

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  12. V. Ulfbeck, Denmark, YB 2002, 136 (no. 2).

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  13. J. Norio-Timonen, Finland, YB 2001, 176 (no. 1 ff.); id., Finland, YB 2002, 166 (no. 1 ff.); id., Finland, YB 2003, 144 (no. 1 ff.); S. Hakalehto-Wainio, Finland, YB 2004, 264 (no. 1–2).

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  14. J. Norio-Timonen, Finland, YB 2001, no. 3; case examples are given by J. Norio-Timonen, Finland, YB 2002, no. 18 ff.

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  15. J. Fedtke, Germany, YB 2001, 229 (no. 1 ff.); id., Germany, YB 2002, 206 (no. 1 ff.).

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  16. P. Loser, Switzerland, YB 2002, 407 (no. 1 ff., with the translated text of the draft in the Appendix 423 ff.); id., Switzerland, YB 2004, 583 (no. 1).

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  17. B. C. Steininger, Austria (supra 118), no. 1 ff. (with a translation of the proposed text 142 ff.).

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  18. O. Moréteau, France (supra 270), no. 1 ff.

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  19. I. Kull, Estonia, YB 2004, no. 8 ff.; D. Droshout, Belgium, YB 2002, 89 (no. 12 ff.); id., Belgium, YB 2003, 60 (no. 1 ff.); A. Dulak, Slovakia, YB 2003, 351 (no. 7 ff.); E. Bagińska, Poland, YB 2004, no. 1 ff.; H. Gabartas/M. Laučienė, Lithuania, YB 2004, no. 10; A. Bitāns, Latvia (supra 380), no. 1 ff.

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  20. M. Faure/ T. Hartlief, The Netherlands, YB 2002, 305 (no. 12).

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  21. J. Hrádek, Czech Republic (supra 186), no. 63 ff.; J. Fedtke, Germany (supra 281), no. 7 ff.; E. Quill, Ireland (supra 348), no. 32 ff.; E. Bargelli, Italy (supra 368), no. 8 ff.; cf. R. Lampe, Slovenia (supra 516), no. 30–32.

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  22. See, e.g., B.C. Steininger, Austria, YB 2003, 34 (no. 27 ff.); V. Ulfbeck, Denmark, YB 2003, 105 (no. 24–26); M. Faure/T. Hartlief, The Netherlands, YB 2003, 278 (no. 37 ff.); id., The Netherlands, YB 2004, 420 (no. 6 ff.); id., The Netherlands (supra 186), no. 56; E. Bagińska, Poland, YB 2003, no. 7 ff., no. 30 ff.; J. Ribot, Spain, YB 2004, 538 (no. 43 ff.).

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  23. See, e.g., the 2001 Italian statute allowing for damages in cases of excessive duration of a trial: E. Navaretta/ E. Bargelli, Italy, YB 2001, 335 (no. 10 ff.; 38 ff.); E. Bargelli, Italy, YB 2003, 266 (no. 32 ff.). See also J. Hrádek, Czech Republic (supra 186), no. 86 ff.; H. Andersson, Sweden (supra 557), no. 3 ff., no. 25 ff.

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  24. An example for a court properly denying liability is given by A. Pereira, Portugal, YB 2004, 479 (no. 47 ff.). See also H. Sandell, Sweden, YB 2001, no. 28–30.

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  25. J. Ribot, Spain, YB 2004, no. 27 ff.

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  26. B. A. Koch, European Union, YB 2003, 435 (no. 41 ff.).

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  27. On the various responses to the risks of terrorism, see B.A. Koch (ed.), Terrorism, Tort Law, and Insurance (2004); on catastrophic losses in general M. Faure/T. Hartlief (eds.), Financial Compensation for Victims of Catastrophes (2006).

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  28. J. Ribot/ A. Ruda, Spain (supra 528), no. 4–6.

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  29. J. Ribot/ A. Ruda, Spain (supra 528), no. 7–8.

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  30. Cf. M. Faure/ T. Hartlief, The Netherlands, YB 2001, no. 3. For further details on the compensation schemes applied to this case, see M. Faure/T. Hartlief, The Netherlands, in: Faure/Hartlief (fn. 28) 195 (no. 39 ff.).

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  31. See Koch (fn. 28).

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  32. M. Lunney/ K. Oliphant, Tort Law (2nd ed. 2003) 129. Cf., e.g., K. Oliphant, England and Wales (supra 221), no. 27 ff.

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  33. See, e.g., the outrageous amounts awarded to Princess Caroline of Monaco and her family: J. Fedtke, Germany, YB 2004, 300 (no. 11 ff.); cf. id., Germany (supra 281), no. 27 ff. See also A. Pereira, Portugal (supra 483), no. 85 ff.; R. Lampe, Slovenia (supra 516), no. 18 ff.

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  34. B.C. Steininger, Austria, YB 2003, no. 1 ff. Other legislation in this field — though not necessarily equally troublesome — was passed in Latvia last year: see A. Bitāns, Latvia (supra 380), no. 31–32.

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  35. J. Fedtke, Germany (supra 281), no. 32.

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  36. This is indeed answered in the affirmative by Spanish courts: M. García Rubio/ J. Lete, Spain, YB 2002, 380 (no. 27 ff.).

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  37. See, e.g., Y. Lambert-Faivre, L’indemnisation du dommage corporel, http://www.justice.gouv.fr/publicat/syntheseindemcorp.pdf (accessed 10 January 2006).

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  38. See, e.g., B.C. Steininger, Austria, YB 2003, no. 63 ff.; J. Fedtke, Germany, YB 2002, no. 12 ff.; E. Navarretta/E. Bargelli, Italy, YB 2002, 290 (no. 32 ff.); E. Bagińska, Poland, YB 2004, no. 19 ff.; id., Poland (supra 457), no. 74; A. Pereira, Portugal, YB 2002, 345 (no. 21 ff.); P. Loser, Switzerland (supra 578), no. 9–11. One exception may be Spain, where a claim of such kind was denied in a 2002 case, but at least partly acknowledged in a 2003 decision: M. García Rubio/J. Lete, Spain, YB 2002, no. 2 ff.; J. Ribot/A. Ruda, Spain, YB 2003, 383 (no. 50 ff.).

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  39. Cf. E. Bagińska, Poland (supra 457), no. 74 ff. (no. 83).

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  40. See, e.g., E. Bagińska, Poland, YB 2004, no. 19 ff.; A. Pereira, Portugal, YB 2002, no. 21 ff.

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  41. O. Massot, France, YB 2001, 191 (no. 22 ff.).

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  42. P. Brun, France, YB 2002, 179 (no. 17 ff.).

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  43. M. Faure/ T. Hartlief, The Netherlands (supra 414), no. 15–16; A. Menyhárd, Hungary (supra 332), no. 9–11. Cf. E. Bagińska, Poland (supra 457), no. 83. See also a Belgian lower court decision presented by D. Droshout, Belgium, YB 2002, no. 53 ff.

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  44. For the developments before the first yearbook publication, see W.V.H. Rogers (ed.), Damages for Non-Pecuniary Loss in a Comparative Perspective (2001).

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  45. A. Pereira, Portugal, YB 2002, no. 6 ff.; id., Portugal, YB 2003, 333 (no. 50 ff.).

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  46. E. Dacoronia, Greece, YB 2001, 269 (no. 41 ff.); id., Greece, YB 2002, 231 (no. 53 ff.); id., Greece, YB 2004, 327 (no. 46 ff.).

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  47. E. Dacoronia, Greece (supra 306), no. 62 ff. (in particular no. 65, 70, 74).

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  48. B.C. Steininger, Austria (supra 118), no. 44 ff. See also S. Hakalehto-Wainio, Finland, YB 2004, no. 12 ff. (five months old).

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  49. See, e.g., B.C. Steininger, Austria, YB 2002, no. 52 ff.; id., Austria (supra 118), no. 41–43; J. Norio-Timonen, Finland, YB 2003, no. 28 ff.

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  50. On the other hand, if a strong emotional bond is proven otherwise, the test can also work in favour of the claimant: Cf. B.C. Steininger, Austria, YB 2004, 142 (no. 25 ff.).

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  51. Cf. M. Faure/ T. Hartlief, The Netherlands, YB 2002, no. 24 ff.

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  52. See, e.g., B.C. Steininger, Austria, YB 2001, 58 (no. 51 ff.).

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  53. See, e.g., M. Faure/ T. Hartlief, The Netherlands, YB 2002, no. 24 ff.

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  54. See, e.g., B.C. Steininger, Austria, YB 2001, no. 69 ff. See also the Scandinavian examples mentioned supra no. 7.

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  55. See, e.g., E. Dacoronia, Greece, YB 2002, no. 39, 46 ff.; id., Greece (supra 306), no. 52, 54–55, 57.

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  56. B.A. Koch/ H. Koziol, Comparative Analysis, in: B.A. Koch/ H. Koziol (eds.), Compensation for Personal Injury in a Comparative Perspective (2003) 407 (no. 58). See, e.g., E. Navarretta/E. Bargelli, Italy, YB 2002, no. 23 ff.; E. Bargelli, Italy, YB 2003, no. 3 ff.; I. Strnad/R. Lampe, Slovenia, YB 2002, no. 21 ff., 38 ff.; M. GarcÍa Rubio/J. Lete, Spain, YB 2002, no. 34–36. See also H. Gabartas/M. Laučienė, Lithuania (supra 399), no. 13 ff.

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  57. A. Pereira, Portugal (supra 483), no. 34 ff. But see ibid., no. 31–33.

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  58. See, e.g., the Scandinavian countries mentioned supra no. 7; or I. Strnad/ R. Lampe, Slovenia, YB 2002, no. 21 ff.

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  59. See, e.g., H. Sandell, Denmark, YB 2001, no. 6; id., Sweden, YB 2002, no. 6 (statutory minimum).

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  60. The latter is the case, for example, in England or in the Czech Republic: K. Oliphant, England and Wales, YB 2002, 142 (no. 1); id., England and Wales, YB 2004, 227 (no. 1); J. Hrádek, Czech Republic, YB 2004, 195 (no. 8 ff.). See also the Dutch legislative draft: M. Faure/T. Hartlief, The Netherlands (supra 414), no. 4.

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  61. See, e.g., J. Hrádek, Czech Republic (supra 186), no. 32 ff.; id., Czech Republic, YB 2004, no. 8 ff.

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  62. Koch/ Koziol H. Koziol (eds.), Compensation for Personal Injury in a Comparative Perspective (2003) (fn. 57) no. 69–71. As to the Netherlands, see also M. Faure/T. Hartlief, The Netherlands, YB 2001, 353 (no. 11–13); id., The Netherlands, YB 2002, no. 24 ff.; id., The Netherlands (supra 414), no. 4.

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  63. See only E. Bagińska, Poland, YB 2001, 378 (no. 41 ff.).

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  64. B.C. Steininger, Austria, YB 2002, 66 (no. 31 ff.). Cf. id., Austria, YB 2001, no. 36 ff.

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  65. J. Fedtke, Germany, YB 2001, no. 46 ff.

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  66. Supra fn. 45.

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  67. Http://www.egtl.org.

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  68. J. Spier (ed.), The Limits of Liability: Keeping the Floodgates Shut (1996). See also id. (ed.), The Limits of Expanding Liability: Eight Fundamental Cases in a Comparative Perspective (1998).

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  69. This was already the conclusion in earlier comparative reports: H. Koziol, Comparative Remarks, YB 2001, 517 (no. 29); B.A. Koch, Comparative Remarks, YB 2002, 512 (no. 57).

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  70. But see, e.g., the French legislative measures against awards for wrongful birth mentioned supra at fn. 43.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    Bernhard A. Koch

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  1. European Centre of Tort and Insurance Law and Research Unit for European Tort Law, Landesgerichtsstraße 11, A-1080, Vienna, Austria

    Helmut Koziol

  2. Research Unit for European Tort Law, Landesgerichtsstraße 11, A-1080, Vienna, Austria

    Barbara C. Steininger

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Koch, B.A. (2006). Comparative Overview. In: Koziol, H., Steininger, B.C. (eds) European Tort Law 2005. Tort and Insurance Law, vol 2005. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-31136-3_32

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