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The Comparative Law Approach: objectives and difficulties for the p.i.l lawyer – a note

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2009

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Notes and Shorter Articles
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Copyright © T.M.C. Asser Press 1976

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References

1. Rabel, , The Conflict of Laws, I, 168.Google Scholar

2. YTC Universal Ltd., v. Trans Europa Compania de Aviation S.A., per Lord Denning M.R., 7 10 1968Google Scholar, unreported, cited by Kerr, J., Evans Marshall & Co. v. Bertola S.A. [1973]1 WLR 349, 364.Google Scholar

3. Schlesinger, , Comparative Law, 19 n. 5.Google Scholar

4. [1971]3 AER 163, CA.

5. Cf. Asser's Textbook Series, Verbintenissenrecht, De Verbintenis in het algemeen (Law of Contract, General Part), Rutten, 4th ed. 1973Google Scholar, stating that although parties are in general free to exclude liability (p. 261) this power is sometimes abrogated or restricted (p. 263) citing art. 1638 X, para. 4 without further comment or qualification. Asser, Verbintenissenrecht, III, Bijzondere Overeenkomsten (Law of Contract, Special Contracts), Kamphuisen, 3rd ed., is more direct: Afwijkende bedingen zijn nietig” (p. 391)Google Scholar, without further comment. Re ‘international’ contracts, in the absence of a choice of law clause (cf. H.R., 8 June 1973, NJ 1973, 400, Mackay II), it is doubtful that a contractual stipulation per se can exclude the application of internal mandatory statutory provisions: H.R., 31 May 1974, S & S 1974, 68, Taranger, Neth. ILR 1974, 327.Google Scholar

6. [1971]3 AER 163, 167 per Salmon L.J., emphasis supplied. See, also, d'Oliveira, Jessurun, Nederlands Juristenblad, 1968, 977Google Scholar with reference to Rheinstein, Die Anwendung ausländischen Rechts im internationalen Privatrecht (The Application of Foreign Law in PIL), 1968, 187Google Scholar to the effect that of 40 p.i.l. decisions appearing in American casebooks, foreign law was incorrectly applied in 32. For a classic example in English law, Ogden v. Ogden [1908]P. 46Google Scholar, CA, where art 148 Code Civil was characterised as procedural so that a marriage was held valid even though under French domestic law it was voidable and had already been annulled in France. Such situations are not readily defensible.

7. Rechtbank, , Utrecht, 30 12 1970Google Scholar, T.M.C. Asser Institute, De Nederlandse Rechtspraak inzake Echtscheiding in het IPR 1963–1971 (Netherlands Judicial Decisions concerning Divorce in PIL), no. 260; WPNR 1974, 55Google Scholar note Verheul.

8. See Blyth v. Blyth [1966]2 WLR 364Google Scholar, HL. The matter is now governed by D.R.A. 1969, s. 2(2), and Civil Evidence Act 1968, s. 9 with Practice Direction (Divorce: Proof of Adultery) (No. 2) of 27 July 1973 [1973]1 WLR 1052.

9. Comparative Law, 2nd ed. 1949, 174.Google Scholar

10. From the second Chorley Lecture, delivered at the London School of Economics, 26 June 1973, reprinted, (1974) 37 MLR 1, 27, emphasis supplied.

11. First Report, 1954, Cmnd. 9068.

12. Law Commission Published Working Paper No. 28 and Law Commission Report No. 48 respectively.

13. Kahn-Freund, (1966) 82 LQR 40, 43.Google Scholar

14. McDougal, (1952) 1 AJCL 24, 30.Google Scholar

15. For further discussion of the above matters see my contribution to Neth. ILR 1974, 265, 270 et seq.

16. Handelingen van de Nederlandse Juristenvereniging, 1971, II, 78, 79.Google Scholar

17. Raad, Hoge, 13 12 1907, W. 8636.Google Scholar

18. The lex fori approach had been subject to serious academic criticism: see, Kollewijn, , Het beginsel der openbare orde in het intemationaal privaatrecht (The Principle of Public Policy in PIL), 87.Google Scholar

19. Since Rechtbank, Leeuwarden, , 23 04 1964, NJ 377Google Scholar; Neth. ILR 1965, 408 note Deelen; Neth. ILR 1974, 90 note Verheul.

20. Rechtbank, Amsterdam, 29 January 1970, NJ 1970, 188; Neth. ILR 1974, 87 note Verheul. See also, Rechtbank, , Amsterdam, 8 08 1973, AK 8126, 25 10 1973, AK 8155.Google Scholar

21. Hof, , Arnhem, , 1 02 1972, NJ 1972, 188Google Scholar; Neth. ILR 1974, 89 note Verheul.

22. Hof, , 's-Hertogenbosch, 3 11 1970, NJ 1971, 159.Google Scholar See also, Rechtbank, , Amsterdam 11 10 1973, AK 8156, 8 11 1973, AK 8228.Google Scholar

23. Raad, Hoge, 23 02 1973Google Scholar, NJ 1973, 366 note Hijmans van den Bergh; Neth. ILR 1974, 90 note Verheul.

24. The position is further confused, at least for the foreign p.i.l. lawyer, by the use of the Dutch p.i.l. device of de antikiesregel (non-selection rule), see, d'Oliveira, Jessurun, De Antikiesregel, 1971.Google Scholar For a recent example see Rechtbank, , Utrecht, 30 12 1970, supra n. 7.Google Scholar

25. Bellet, , Document préliminaire No. 5 de Janvier 1968Google Scholar à l'intention de la Onzième session: Avant-projet de Convention sur la reconnaissance des divorces et des séparations de corps, IV, 1C.