Table of Contents
Preface v
1 Introduction 1
I The Importance of Comparing 3
II Scope of the Study 5
2 A Mid-Channel Jurisdiction-Jersey as a Mixed Legal System 7
I Introduction 7
II Historical Background 7
III Sources of Law in Jersey: The Particular Position of Jersey Contract Law 10
A Introduction 10
B The Overaching Influence of Pothier 12
i Pothier's Influence on the Common Law 13
ii Pothier and the Jersey Law of Contract 14
C Assessing the Relevance of Modern French Law 15
D The Impact of English Law of Contract 20
E Brief Conclusion on Sources 23
IV The Mindset or Mentalité of a Channel Island Lawyer 25
A Evolution of the Law: The Doctrine of Precedent or Jurisprudence Constante? 25
B Methods of Legal Reasoning 28
C An Outward-looking Mentality 30
D The Appropriate Role of the Judge 31
3 Basic Principles of Contract Law from a Comparative Perspective 33
I Introduction 33
II La Convention Fait la Loi des Parties 33
III Centrality of Consent 36
IV Subjective and Objective Approaches to Contract Law 38
A French Contract Law: The Predominance of the 'Subjective Approach' 39
B English Law: Favouring an Objective Approach 40
C Convergence of English and French Law? 41
D The Legacy of the Civil Law: The Centrality of the Parties' Consent in Jersey 44
E Consequences of Adopting a Subjective Approach 46
F Importance of Context-Procedural Factors 47
V Reciprocity in a Contractual Context 48
VI Good Faith: Preferring a Civil or Common Law Approach? 49
A Reconsidering the English Law Approach to Good faith? 51
B Good Faith and Precontractual Relations 52
C Comparing English and French Law 53
D Drawn between Two Contrasting Approaches: The Jersey Law Position 55
4 The Formation of a Contract 59
I Introduction 59
II Capacity 60
III Consent: The Requirement of a Fundamental Meeting of Minds 61
IV Offer and Acceptance 63
A Defining an Offer 63
i Distinguishing Offer and Invitation to Treat: Display of Goods 63
ii Comparative Law Sources on Display of Goods 65
B The Concept of Acceptance 65
C Certainty of Terms 67
D Contractual Intention 67
i Comparative Law 68
ii Mid-Channel Approaches to Contractual Intention 69
V Contractual Objet 71
A Objet Must be Identifiable 71
B Objet Must be Possible 72
C Objet Must be Licit 73
VI Rejecting Consideration: The Notion of Cause 73
A Introduction 73
B Evolving Approach under French Law 74
C Overview of the Notion of Cause 74
D Abandoning the Notion of Cause: Recent French Reforms 77
E A Mid-Channel Cause 78
F Cause and Consideration: Reflecting Different Systemic Approaches 80
5 Undermining a Contract: Vices de Consentement 83
I Introduction 83
II Vices de Consentement-Defects in Consent 84
III Violence/Physical or Psychological Threats 85
A Comparative Law Backdrop 85
B Physical Compulsion/Duress 87
C Undue Influence: Sources of Law 88
D Undue Influence: Substantive Law 89
IV Dol: Fraud as a Ground for Avoiding a Contract 90
A Introduction-Comparative Law Dimension 90
B The Jersey Law Position: Pothier, Domat and the Older Authorities 91
C Jersey Cases on Dol 92
D Can Dol Result from Silence? 94
i Introduction: The Comparative Law Position 94
ii Controversy in the Channel Islands 95
V Erreur 97
A French Law on Erreur 98
i Introduction 98
ii Mistake as to a Substantial Quality (erreur sur fa substance) 99
iii Mistake as to Identity (erreur sur la personne) 101
iv Comparative Law Comments 101
B Jersey Cases on Mistake 103
i Misunderstandings in the Jersey Cases on Erreur 104
ii Jersey Cases on Misrepresentation 105
iii Reasserting Customary Law 108
VI General Conclusion on Vices de Consentement and Reform Options 111
VII Lésion or Déception d'Outre Moitié du Juste Prix 113
A The Case of Snell v Beadle 114
B Concluding Remarks on Déception d'outre Moitié 118
6 Effects of Contracts 121
I Nature of Obligations between the Parties 121
II The Effects of Contracts beyond the Parties 123
III Terms and Interpretation 125
A Comparative Perspectives 125
B General Principles Regarding Implied Terms 128
C Application in Practice 131
IV Warranties: The Case of Vices Cachés 132
A Vices Cachés-General Principles and Comparative law dimension 132
B Jersey: The Older Authorities 134
C The Jersey Law Approach to Vices Cachés 135
D Warranties under the Statutory Regime 136
E Sales of Goods in the Course of a Business 137
F Private Sales 138
G Conclusion 138
V Exceptions to la Convention Fait la Loi des Parties: Intervening to Modify Contractual Terms 139
A Exemption Clauses 139
B The Position of Penalty Clauses 140
7 Comparing Remedies 144
I Introduction 144
II Remedies and the Law of Obligations: Comparative Perspectives 146
III Mid-Channel Remedies 148
IV Consequences of a Contract Vitiated by a Vice de Consentement: Null or Void? 149
A Drawing on the English Law Notion of Void/Voidable Contracts 149
B French Law Concepts of Nullity 150
C The Position in Jersey: Searching for the Right Language and Concepts 152
D Void and Voidable 153
E Reverting to Nullity? 155
F Conclusion 156
V Remedies for Non-Performance 157
A Specific Performance 157
B Damages 159
C Résolution/Termination for Breach of Contract 160
i Comparative Introduction 160
ii The Jersey Law on Résolution 163
iii Reconciling the Positions 166
VI General Conclusion on Remedies 166
8 Comparative Law Lessons and Reform Issues 169
I Comparative Law Themes 169
A Comparative Law in Action 169
B Comparative Law Lessons 173
II Reforming the Jersey Law of Contract 176
A Introduction 176
B A Restatement of Jersey Contract Law 178
i The Notion of a Restatement 178
ii A Restatement in Jersey 180
iii Clarification by Codification 181
Index 187
