Private International Law – Prof. Walsh Summer 2005


B. Contractual Obligations



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B. Contractual Obligations

General Rules



3111.  A juridical act, whether or not it contains any foreign element, is governed by the law expressly designated in the act or the designation of which may be inferred with certainty from the terms of the act.

A juridical act containing no foreign element remains, nevertheless, subject to the mandatory provisions of the law of the country which would apply if none were designated.



The law of a country may be expressly designated as applicable to the whole or a part only of a juridical act.

  • The essence of contract is based on consent. “Having taken on this promise, I must fulfill my obligation.” This idea is reflected in the choice of law rule for contract. Autonomy is respected in the creation and recognition of contract. The parties may determine the law applicable as well as the content of the contract. This stands in contrast to the quasi-objective criteria of domicile or nationality.

  • In contract, there is also no need to have any connection to the chosen law or even have a foreign element.

  • Generally, law internationally respects this autonomy principle and therefore both parties will be able to rely on this choice of law. However, this is choice of law, not jurisdiction, and therefore where you are is irrelevant once a court respecting autonomy has taken jurisdiction.

  • The proper law of the contract can be multiple for different aspects of the contract. For example, one single contract may govern obligations to be performed in several different places and have the local law applied in each case. The only risk you take is that many laws might apply or of making the choice clear.

  • The second part of 3111 allows the choice to be “inferred” (although it must be “with certainty”).

  • If there’s no designation + no inference, or if choice of law invalidates the K, then a proximity principle applies



3112.  If no law is designated in the act or if the law designated invalidates the juridical act, the courts apply the law of the country with which the act is most closely connected, in view of its nature and the attendant circumstances.
3113.  A juridical act is presumed to be most closely connected with the law of the country where the party who is to perform the prestation which is characteristic of the act has his residence or, if the act is made in the ordinary course of business of an enterprise, his establishment.

  • Generally, the courts will infer that the parties will not create a contract which defeats itself because of a choice of law. The courts will imply that ignorance led to this situation. This idea came about from situations where currency regulation defeated some unrelated contracts.

  • Otherwise, the facts will lead to a common sense proximity determination (e.g. currency used, domicile, place of contract formation). To assist in this exercise there is a presumption in favour of the law of the residence of the party carrying out the most “characteristic performance” of the contract. This comes from the Swiss PIL and came into being elsewhere in Europe through the Rome convention.

  • Example: In a contract of sale of moveables there is a payment by the buyer and delivery of the goods by the seller. Which is characteristic? The delivery of goods is because the payment is not specific to this contract versus any type of sale or even other types of contracts.

  • The Swiss approach goes further to codify some specific situations. However, it still fails for being too simplistic. It helps, but doesn’t necessarily produce any more certainty. It does little for the impossible task of defining the proximity test. This is why most jur’ns have chosen the expressly designated choice of law as the preferred rule.



Form



3109.  The form of a juridical act is governed by the law of the place where it is made.

A juridical act is nevertheless valid if it is made in the form prescribed by the law applicable to the content of the act, by the law of the place where the property which is the object of the act is situated when it is made or by the law of the domicile of one of the parties when the act is made(…)


3110.  An act may be made outside Québec before a Québec notary if it pertains to a real right the object of which is situated in Québec or if one of the parties is domiciled in Québec.

There are two other issues where a foreign law might apply

1) Form of the contract in general is governed by the place it was made and form of the contract as to validity can be governed by different laws.


  • There are 4 validating factors for issues of form. Why? This is because the requirements of form also go to the intent of parties to form a contract. The general direction of contract law in almost all jurisdictions is to remove formal requirements for the validity of a contract. Instead, the courts are more worried about parties getting out on a formal technicality. They try to avoid vitiating the contract by mere defects in form.



Capacity


3086.  A party to a juridical act who is incapable under the law of the country of his domicile may not invoke his incapacity if he was capable under the law of the country in which the other party was domiciled when the act was formed in that country, unless the other party was or should have been aware of the incapacity.

3087.  A legal person who is a party to a juridical act may not invoke restrictions upon the power of representation of the persons acting for it if the restrictions did not exist under the law of the country in which the other party was domiciled when the act was formed in that country, unless the other party was or should have been aware of the restrictions by virtue of his position with or relationship to the party invoking them.

2) Capacity works in almost the opposite way. As a general rule capacity is governed by the law of your domicile.



  • However, this could introduce uncertainty. So, 3086 adds an awareness element to the inquiry.

  • Example: Swiss comes to Qc and contracts. He cannot then use his incapacity against the Quebecer unless the latter was or should have been aware of the Swiss incapacity



Special Contracts



3114.  If no law is designated by the parties, the sale of a corporeal movable is governed by the law of the country where the seller had his residence or, if the sale is made in the ordinary course of business of an enterprise, his establishment, at the time of formation of the contract. However, the sale is governed by the law of the country in which the buyer had his residence or his establishment at the time of formation of the contract in any of the following cases:

  1) negotiations have taken place and the contract has been formed in that country;

2) the contract provides expressly that delivery shall be made in that country;

  3) the contract is formed on terms determined mainly by the buyer, in response to a call for tenders.

If no law is designated by the parties, the sale of immovable property is governed by the law of the country where it is situated.
3115.  Failing any designation by the parties, a sale by auction or on a stock exchange is governed by the law of the country where the auction takes place or the exchange is situated.
3116.  The existence and scope of the powers of a representative in his relations with a third person and the conditions under which his personal liability or that of the person he represents may be incurred are governed by the law expressly designated by the person represented and the third person or, where none is designated, by the law of the country in which the representative acted if the person he represents or the third person has his domicile or residence in that country.
Capacity has generally been attached to domicile. However, this rule, unqualified, could result in a fair degree of uncertainty when parties contract abroad.
Could then two parties from country X choose the law of capacity from country Y? Yes in theory, but it might be met by public policy considerations that would limit this ability.
You can choose the law you want, but the mandatory rules of the other country still apply. These are rules of public order that are not waivable by the person subject to the rule. It is not subject to chosen against.
3117.  The choice by the parties of the law applicable to a consumer contract does not result in depriving the consumer of the protection to which he is entitled under the mandatory provisions of the law of the country where he has his residence if the formation of the contract was preceded by a special offer or an advertisement in that country and the consumer took all the necessary steps for the formation of the contract in that country or if the order was received from the consumer in that country.
The same rule also applies where the consumer was induced by the other contracting party to travel to a foreign country for the purpose of forming the contract.
If no law is designated by the parties, the law of the place where the consumer has his residence is, in the same circumstances, applicable to the consumer contract.

Consumer protection laws are an example of mandatory law protected in private international law.
The protection requires one of two requirements to be met:


  1. offer or advertisement AND steps necessary to the formation in the country of residence

  2. order received from the consumer in the country of residence

This is coupled with protections in the jurisdiction rules that say that a choice of law or arbitration cannot be set up against a consumer. Otherwise, a consumer could not get into court to vindicate their rights.



3149.  A Québec authority also has jurisdiction to hear an action involving a consumer contract or a contract ofemployment if the consumer or worker has his domicile or residence in Québec; the waiver of such jurisdiction by the consumer or worker may not be set up against him.
3118.  The designation by the parties of the law applicable to a contract of employment does not result in depriving the worker of the protection to which he is entitled under the mandatory provisions of the law of the country where the worker habitually carries on his work, even if he is on temporary assignment in another country or, if the worker does not habitually carry on his work in any one country, the mandatory provisions of the law of the country where his employer has his domicile or establishment.
If no law is designated by the parties, the law of the country where the worker habitually carries on his work or the law of the country where his employer has his domicile or establishment is, in the same circumstances, applicable to the contract of employment.

Employment law is also mandatory in nature and protected. This is so even when the employee travels.


This prevents taking advantage of flags of convenience and just establishing oneself in such a jurisdiction that has the minimum labour standards. (www.flagsofconvenience.com)
3119.  Notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, a contract of insurance respecting property or an interest situated in Québec or subscribed in Québec by a person resident in Québec is governed by the law of Québec if the policyholder applies therefor in Québec or the insurer signs or delivers the policy in Québec.
Similarly, a contract of group insurance of persons is governed by the law of Québec where the participant has his residence in Québec at the time he becomes a participant.

Any sum due under a contract of insurance governed by the law of Québec is payable in Québec.



Insurance is a gross exception to this rule of autonomy. This is because in many jurisdictions, the entire contract of insurance is mandatory: the form, the content, and the method of performance. This has implications for both parties. There are also fraud situations on the side of the insured. It also exists because if insurance contracts were different for every insurer, they are already complex enough that that would make most of them inaccessible and hard to compare and shop. This ensures that there is some level of equality bt insurer and insured
3120.  The assignability of a claim and relations between the assignee and the assigned debtor are governed by the law governing relations between the assigned debtor and the assignor.



  • So legislature has specifically addressed possibilities where law of contracts may have left a void.

Does the existence of these specific rules weaken the residual rules on mandatory provisions overriding a choice of law agreement? No. The residual rules are clear enough in their intent and therefore in their interpretation. The special rules simply remove from the need for interpretation the most common situations of mandatory law.




  • One of three residual mandatory rules is article 3111, para 2  this provisions means you can have entirely domestic fact patterns and the parties chose laws of anywhere else but then para 2 brings the exception that K still subject to law of country which would apply if none were designated. Which brings us to gen rule of 3112.

  • 3112 expressly says that if I have entirely domestic contract, the most closely connected law is Quebec.

Example: If you have a Quebec fact situation, you can still choose a foreign law. Otherwise, if there is no choice of law agreement, Quebec is obviously the law most closely connected (CCQ 3112). However, if an Ontario fact pattern has a Quebec choice of law, then Ontario mandatory rules are likely still to apply regardless of the choice.


In this way, 3111 is informed by 3112. You must determine 1) the (3112) most closely connected country in order to determine the mandatory provisions and then 2) the (3111) expressly designated law


  • 3076 and 3079 apply to preserve the continued application of Quebec mandatory rules even where there are international elements. 3079 provides for preservation for mandatory rules of a third country.

  • Mandatory rules does not mean the same thing in article 3111 para 2 as it does in articles 3076 and 3079. Not every rules that qualifies as mandatory rule in purely domestic context qualifies under 3076 or 3079. Where Qc legislatures have said rules cannot be waived, then domestic rules apply.

CCQ 3076, 3077 also provide for residual mandatory law. They are preservation rules. Ideally the legislation that wishes to take advantage of this scheme will be explicit. However, in other cases, it can be obvious.


3076.  The rules contained in this Book apply subject to those rules of law in force in Québec which are applicable by reason of their particular object.
3077.  Where a country comprises several territorial units having different legislative jurisdictions, each territorial unit is regarded as a country.
Where a country comprises several legal systems applicable to different categories of persons, any reference to a law of that country is a reference to the legal system prescribed by the rules in force in that country; in the absence of such rules, any such reference is a reference to the legal system most closely connected with the situation.
Example: I want to sublet to someone from Ontario and choose Ontario law. However, the Regie prescribes a specific form for a contract of sublet. Can we sublet according to Ontario law by including a choice of law clause? No. 3109 provides for form in Quebec. The choice of law would override this, but then 3076 would preserve the Regie legislation because its object is clearly to provide a uniform scheme for sublet.
Roy v North American Leisure Group Inc., [2004] Ont C.A. 246 DLR (4th) 306

Facts

  • Appeal by Airtours that Ont law was applicable law.

  • Roy went on vacation, got virus bc of alleged unsafe conditions and failure to warn about these conditions.

  • Roy waited until more 3 years afterwards to sue.

  • R sued NAm Leisure Grp and Airtours in K and tort. NAm accepted Ont law. Airtours says law of England applied.

  • English law would preclude action against Airtours as per 2-year limitation period.

  • Vacation literature indicated English law applied to Airtours. Trial judge said Ont law applied to both Df. bc of R&S connection and bc to apply law of Eng to preclude Roy action against Airtours would be an injustice.

Issue Does Ontario law apply to Airtours?

Holding: NO, the law of England applies to Airtours (Airtours wins)

Reasoning Lang J.

  • Jurisprudence (Tolofson in particular) sets as general rule in tort the choice of substantive law was law of jur’n where activty occurred (lex loci delicti). It provides 3 adv to parties: certainty, ease of application and predictability

  • That Roy would suffer injustice by operation of limitation period does not justify exception to principle informing the choice of law. Tolofson (and Somers) already determined limitation period not to be such an exceptional case.

  • That diff laws needed to be applied to diff Df (Ont law to NAm and Eng law to Airtours) does not justify an exception either.

  • K stipulated law of Eng. That Roy didn’t read that term was not determinative of result. Reasonable measures were taken to draw any unusually onerous terms to their attention.

Ratio

  • Rule for choice of law in tort is lex loci delicti (even in international actions).

  • Exceptions to lex loci delicti rule needs to go beyond mere injustice and prescription is not injustice.

  • It is possible to apply diff laws to diff Defendants.

Comments

  • I think this may be overturned by SCC. Interesting to research if they heard the case.

Comments in Class

  • Action before Ontario Courts but issue of which prescription period applies depends on whether Ont law applies

  • 3 contending laws here for choice of law: law of England (law of K), law of Ontario or law of Bahamas (lex loci)

  • Cruise ship operator had choice of law clause stipulating English law as applicable law.

  • Only under Ontario law is the action not barred by the period of extinctive prescription.

  • Two contractual relationships exist (tour operator, cruise ship operator and owner, each with K to vacationer)

  • The action is brought against the owner and operator.

  • Had lex loci delicti been applied, law of Bahamas would’ve taken precedence.

  • So far as contract choice of law is concerned, consumers (Pl) wanted exception since they didn’t read or understand the clause.

  • Court agreed with this in principle, saying that in certain situations exceptions can be made given so consumer is not bound by onerous and abusive provisions, but that application of English law is neither.

  • Court raised technical issues informed by policy decisions. Explore these by doing comparison w/ CCQ approach to torts (ie 3127)

  • But this is consumer contract. So in Qc they could invoke 3117: can chose foreign law but it cant deprive consumer of protection he’s entitled under mandatory provisions of law of country where he resides.

  • CCQ provision says you are agreeing to choice of law provision that may be unknown and hold you to it but make sure that whatever rules in place of residence will continue to protect consumers. Had this case been brought in Qc court, then Qc court would have applied Qc choice of law rules and said applicable laws included Qc protections and 3 yr prescription would’ve been preserved.

  • Walsh big fan of Qc Civil Code bc it protects consumers in clear and enforceable way.

  • Debate on special consumer protection laws is kind of debate that happens in all PrIL negotiations that ends the negotiations. US, eg, would never agree to this special protection to consumer being preserved.





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