University of Oxford, Faculty of Law

BCL/MJur HT 2001

Gerhard Dannemann

Problems in Contract and Tort (German and English Law Compared)

Reading List and Annotated Course Outline

This course covers, through comparison between German and English law, some basic and some particular problem areas of the laws of contract and tort. This includes general issues such as structural differences and general approaches towards contact and tort, but also specific areas, where great emphasis will be placed on the comparison of similar cases as decided by both English and German courts.

No previous knowledge of German law, or any knowledge of German language, will be required. While all teaching on the course is comparative, it will focus more on German than on English law, thus presupposing some knowledge of the Common Law of contract and torts. MJur students in particular are encouraged to familiarise themselves with English contract and tort law either by taking the appropriate undergraduate subjects, or by reading some essential literature which is indicated below.

There will be eight two-hour seminars during Hilary Term, which include one guest lecture by Professor Peter Schlechtriem. In addition, a minimum of three tutorials in total will be given during Hilary and Trinity Term. All teaching on this course is interactive, and students are encouraged to contribute their experience with their own legal systems.

Course Overview

1.Introduction

2.Formation and Policing of Contracts

3.Irregularities of Performance and Remedies

4.Developments in the Law of Obligations in Germany and Europe

5.General Approaches Towards Tort Law: Fault, Illegality, Protected Interests, Duties of Care

6.Physical Harm, Privacy

7.Causation and Remoteness

8.The Contract/Tort Divide and Negligently Inflicted Economic Loss

(This outline is tentative; the final course outline may vary.)

Course Materials

The course is based on: The German Law of Obligations, Vol. I: The Law of Contracts and Restitution, by BS Markesinis, W Lorenz and G Dannemann (1997); Vol. II, The German Law of Torts, 3rd ed., by BS Markesinis (1997).

Other reading includes:

C von Bar, The Common European Law of Torts, Vol. I (1999), Vol. II (2000)

J Beatson and D Friedmann, Good Faith and Fault in Contract Law (1995), in particular chs. 7, 14

G Dannemann, An Introduction to German Civil and Commercial Law (1993)

German Law Archive, http://iuscomp.org/gla

W van Gerven, J Lever, P Larouche, C von Bar and G Viney, Torts: Scope of Protection (1998)

S Goren, The German Civil Code, 2nd ed. (1994) (translation)

N Horn, H Kötz and H Leser, German Private and Commercial Law (1982)

H Kötz, European Contract Law, Vol. I (1998)

P Marsh, Comparative Contract Law: England, France, Germany (1994)

E McKendrick, Contract Law, 3rd ed. (1997)

A. Mullis and K. Oliphant, Torts, 2nd ed. (1997)

Principles of European Contract Law, Part I and II, ed. by O Lando and H Beale (1999)

Principles of International Commercial Contracts, UNIDROIT (1994)

GH Treitel, The Law of Contract, 10th ed. (1999)

GH Treitel, Remedies for Breach of Contract: A Comparative Account (1988)

K Zweigert and H Kötz, An Introduction to Comparative Law, 3rd ed. (1998)

Week 1: Introduction

G Dannemann, Some Comparisons between Common Law and Civil Law, in: Joint Ventures in English and German Law, ed. by E Micheler and D Prentice (2000) pp. 1-11

* MLD ch. 1

Kötz ch. 1

* Zweigert and Kötz pp. 132-156, 180-217, 256-275

Students who are less familiar with English law should also read McKendrick pp. 1-12. Newcomers to German law might first want to read Dannemann, Introduction, pp. 1-7 for an overview.

Topics include:

Common Law and Civil Law

The German Civil Code

General Approaches Towards Contract Law

Week 2: Formation and Policing of Contracts

Kötz Ch. 2, 4, 5, 9

* MLD ch. 2 and 3, including cases 1-37

Principles of European Contract Law ch. 2 and 4

* Zweigert and Kötz pp. 323-430; 456-469

Statute: BGB §§ 116-157, parts of which are available at: 

http://iuscomp.org/gla/statutes/BGBrest.htm

Students who are less familiar with English law should also read McKendrick pp. 15-119 and 286-306. Newcomers to German law might first want to read Dannemann pp. 11-27 for an overview.

Topics include:

Offer and acceptance

Contractual intention

BGH 17.4.1986, BGHZ 97, 372 = MLD case 31

BGH 7.6.1984, BGHZ 91, 324 = MLD case 34

Balfour v Balfour [1919] 2 KB 571 (CA)

Edwards v Skyways Ltd [1964] 1 WLR 349 (QBD)

Communication and withdrawal

RG 12.7.1922, RGZ 105, 256 = MLD case 8

BGH 3.11.1976, BGHZ 67, 275 = MLD case 9

RG 8.2.1902, RGZ 50, 191 = MLD case 10

BGH 8.4.1957, NJW 1957, 1105 = MLD case 11

Byrne and Co. v Leon van Tienhoven & Co. (1880) 5 CPD 344

"Battle of the Forms"

BGH 20.3.1985, NJW 1985, 1838 = MLD case 16

British Road Services Ltd v Arthur V Crutchley & Co [1968] 1 All ER 811 (CA)

Butler Machine Tool Co. v Ex-Cel-O Corpn [1979] 1 W.L.R. 401, 1 All E.R. 965 (CA)

Form requirements and consideration

RG 21.5.1927, RGZ 117, 121 = MLD case 26

BGH 21.4.1972, NJW 1972, 1189 = MLD case 27

Wakeham v Mackenzie [1968] 1 WLR 1175 (ChD)

Williams v Roffey Bros & Nicholls (Contractors) Ltd [1991] 1 QB 1 (CA)

Pre-contractual liability

MLD cases 19, 20, 112, 126

Box v Midland Bank [1979] 2 Lloyds Rep 391 (QBD)

Walton Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher (1988) 164 CLR 387 (HC Austr.)

Way v Latilla [1937] 3 All ER 759 (HL)

Brewer Street Investments Ltd v Barclays Woollen Co. Ltd [1954] 1 QB 428 (CA)

Illegality and immorality

Tinsley v Milligan [1994] 1 AC 340 (HL)

One-sided illegality

BGH 22.9.1983, NJW 1984, 230 = MLD case 29

St John Shipping Corp. v Joseph Rank Ltd [1957] 1 QB 267 (QBD)

Two-sided illegality

BGH 31.1.1990, BGHZ 111, 308 = MLD case 136

Re Mahmoud and Ispahani [1921] 2 KB 716 (CA)

Contracts facilitating prostitution

BGH 17.4.1970, NJW 1970, 1179 = MLD case 30

Pearce v Brookes (1866) LR 1 Ex 213

Children and parental rights

BGH 17.4.1986, BGHZ 97, 372 = MLD case 31

A. v C. [1985] FLR 445 (CA)

Contracts to prevent prosecution

BGH 7.6.1988 NJW 1988, 2599 = MLD case 32

BGH 23.2.1990, BB 1990, 735 = MLD case 132

Williams v Bayley (1866) 1 LR HL 200

Week 3: Irregularities of Performance and Remedies

Beatson and Friedman ch.7 and 399

* MLD ch. 6-8, including cases 67-129

Principles of European Contract Law ch. 8 and 9

Treitel, Remedies for Breach of Contract

* Zweigert and Kötz pp. 470-536

Statute: §§ 241-361 BGB

Students who are less familiar with English law should also read McKendrick pp. 255-306 and 341-354. Newcomers to German law might first want to read Dannemann pp. 27-32 for an overview.

Topics include:

Impossibility in German law and English law equivalents

OLG Hamburg 31.1.1910, Seuff. Arch. 65, 160 = MLD case 67

RG 27.2.1912, RGZ 78, 427 = MLD case 68

RG 3.2.1914, RGZ 84, 125 = MLD case 69

BGH 30.11.1972, BGHZ 60, 14 = MLD case 72

RG 10.2.1917, RGZ 89, 203 = MLD case 115

Coutourier v Hastie (1856) 5 HLC 673 (HL)

McRae v Commonwealth Disposals Commission (1951) 84 CLR 377 (HC Austr.)

Sheik Bros v Ochsner [1957] AC 136 (PC)

J Lauritzen AS v Wijsmuller BV (The “Super Servant Two”) [1990] 1 Lloyd's Rep 1 (CA)

Cooper v Phibbs (1867) LR 2 HL 149

Griffith v Brymer (1903) 19 TLR 434 (KBD)

Taylor v Caldwell (1863) 3 B&S 826

Frustration of Contract

RG 4.5.1915, RGZ 86, 397 = MLD case 98

RG 21.9.1920, RGZ 100, 129 = MLD case 99

RG 28.11.1923, RGZ 107, 78 = MLD case 103

BGH 16.1.1953, MDR 1953, 282 = MLD case 105

BGH 14.10.1959, NJW 1959, 2203 = MLD case 108

BGH 8.2.1984, NJW 1984, 1746 = MLD case 113

BGH 14.10.1992, NJW 1993, 259 = MLD case 114

RG 10.2.1917, RGZ 89, 203 = MLD case 115

Fibrosa Spolka Akcyjna v Fairbairn Lawson Combe Barbour Ltd [1943] AC 32 (HL)

Krell v Henry [1903] 2 KB 740 (CA)

Griffith v Brymer (1903) 19 TLR 434 (KBD)

Herne Bay Steam Boat Co v Hutton [1903] 2 KB 683 (CA)

Staffordshire AHA vSouth Staffordshire Waterworks [1978] 1 WLR 1387 (CA)

Tsakiroglou & Co Ltd v Noblee & Thörl GmbH [1962] AC 93 (HL)

Positive Violation of Contractual Duty and Anticipatory Breach

RG 6.3.1903, RGZ 54, 98 = MLD case 79

Collateral damage to other property

RG 9.7.1907, RGZ 66, 289 = MLD case 80

BGH 25.9.1968, NJW 1968, 2238 = MLD case 81

BGH 5.4.1967, BGHZ 47, 312 = MLD case 82

H. Parsons (Livestock) Ltd v Uttley Ingham & Co. Ltd [1978] QB 791 (CA)

Anticipatory breach

BGH 19.10.1977, NJW 1978, 260 = MLD case 83

BGH 13.11.1953, BGHZ 11, 80 = MLD case 87

Hochster v De La Tour (1853) 2 E & B 678

Avery v Bowden (1855) 5 E & B 714; (18566 E.&B. 953

Termination of Contract

BGH 6.10.1976, NJW 1977, 35 = MLD case 89

RG 11.4.1902, RGZ 50, 255 = MLD case 124

Behzadi v Shaftesbury Hotels Ltd [1992] Ch 1 (CA)

Hong Kong Fir Shipping Co v Kawasaki Kishen Kaisha Ltd [1962] 2 QB 26 (CA)

Cehavve NV v Bremer Handeelsgesellschaft m.b.H (The Hansa Nord)[1976] QB 44 (CA)

The Borderline Between Specific Performance and Damages

BGH 10.10.1985, BGHZ 96, 111 = MLD case 118

BGH 24.3.1959, BGHZ 30, 29 = MLD case 122

Wolverhampton Corporation v Emmons [1901] 1 QB 515 (CA)

Co-operative Insurance Society Ltd v Argyll Stores (Holdings) Ltd [1997] 2 WLR 898 (HL)

Harbutt's "Plasticine" Ltd v Wayne Tank and Pump Co. Ltd [1970] 1 QB 447 (CA)

Ruxley Electronics and Construction Ltd v Forsyth [1996] AC 344 (HL) 

Tito v Waddell (No. 2) [1977] Ch 106

Surrey County Council v Bredero Home Ltd [1993] 1 WLR 1361 (CA)

Week 4: Development of the Law of Obligations in Europe: Towards Common Principles and Structures

Lecture by Professor Peter Schlechtriem, University of Freiburg i.Br; Heather Grierson Visiting Professor, University of Oxford, for HT 2001.



Week 5: General Approaches Towards Tort Law: Fault, Protected Interests, Illegality, Duties of Care

von Bar, vol. I pp. 1-69

* Markesinis, German Law of Torts, pp. 21-95

* Zweigert and Kötz ch. 40 (VII.E)

van Gerven et al, Torts, pp. 1-43

BGH 21.12.1970, BGHZ 55, 153 = GLT case 11

RG 14.1.1928, RGZ 119, 397 = GLT case 35

BGH 16.12.1958, BGHZ 29, 100 = GLT case 109

Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562 (HL S)

Caparo v Dickman [1989] QB 653 (CA); [1990] 2 AC 605 (HL)

Students who are less familiar with English law should also read Mullis and Oliphant, pp. 1-29. Newcomers to German law might first want to read Dannemann, Introduction, pp. 55-62 for an overview.



Week 6: Personal Injury and Privacy

Personal Injury

* Markesinis, German Law of Torts, pp. 37-40; cases 1-3, 6-7 and notes

* Mullis and Oliphant pp. 30-46, 86-88

Nervous shock 

BGH 11.5.1971, BGHZ 56, 163 = GLT case 1

BGH 4.4.1989, NJW 1989, 2317 = GLT case 2

RG 21.9.1931, RGZ 133, 270 = GLT case 3

Bourhill v Young [1943] AC 92, 110 (HL S)

McLoughlin v O'Brian [1983] 1 AC 410 (HL)

Alcock v Chief Constable of South Yorkshire [1992] 1 AC 310 (HL)

Wrongful birth, wrongful life

BGH 18.1.1983, BGHZ 86, 240= GLT case 6

BGH 27.11.1984, NJW 1985, 671 = GLT case 7

McKay v Essex AHA [1982] QB 1166 (CA)

Macfarlane and Another v. Tayside Health Board [1999] 3 WLR 1301 (HL S)

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199900/ldjudgmt/jd991125/macfar-1.htm

Privacy

Lecture by Professor Peter Schlechtriem, University of Freiburg i.Br; Heather Grierson Visiting Professor, University of Oxford, for HT 2001

* Markesinis, German Law of Torts pp. 63-68; cases 29-34 and notes

* Bagshaw, Obstacles on the Path to Privacy Torts, in: P Birks (ed.), Privacy and Loyalty (1997), pp. 133ss

BGH 25.5.1954, BGHZ 13, 334 = GLT case 29 =

http://iuscomp.org/gla/judgments/tgcm/z540525.htm

BGH 14.2.1958, BGHZ 26, 249 = GLT case 30 = http://iuscomp.org/gla/judgments/tgcm/z580214.htm

BGH 19.9.1961, BGHZ 35, 363 = GLT case 31 = http://iuscomp.org/gla/judgments/tgcm/z610919.htm

BGH 15.11.1994, BGHZ 128,1 = http://iuscomp.org/gla/judgments/tgcm/z941115.htm

Douglas v Hello! Ltd (CA) http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,484-67856,00.html

http://www.lawreports.co.uk/civjan0.1.htm

Full decision through Casetrack at:

http://www.casetrack.com/

Week 7: Causation and Remoteness

von Bar, Vol. 2 Part 4

Honoré, Causation and Remoteness of Damage (1969), International Encyclopaedia of Comparative Law vol. XI ch 7.

* Markesinis, German Law of Torts pp. 95-108; cases 56-72 and notes

Causation in fact: one rule, two problems, and three red herrings

Baker v Willoughby [1970] AC 467 (HL)

Jobling v Associated Dairies [1982] AC 794 (HL)

Remoteness and causation in law: general notions

Direct consequence

In Re Polemis [1921] 3 KB 560 (CA)

Foreseeability

BGH 23.10.1951, BGHZ 3, 261 = GLT case 60 

Overseas Tankship (U.K.) v Morts Dock and Engineering Co. (The Wagon Mound) [1961] AC 388 (PC)

Jolley (A.P.) v Sutton London Borough Council [2000] 3 All ER 409, [2000] 1 WLR 1082 (HL)

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199900/ldjudgmt/jd000518/jolley-1.htm

Increased risk

BGH 24.4.1952, NJW 1952, 1010 = GLT case 61

Carslogie Steamship Co. v Royal Norwegian Government [1952] AC 292 (HL)

Scope of the rule

BGH 22.4.1958, BGHZ 27, 137 = GLT case 64

BGH 16.2.1972, BGHZ 58, 162 = GLT case 65

Gorris v Scott (1874) LR 9 Ex 125

Close v Steel Company of Wales [1962] AC 367 (HL)

Meah v McCreamer (No. 2) [1986] 1 All ER 943 (QBD)

South Australia Asset Management Corp v York Montague [1997] AC 191 (HL)

Week 8: The Contract/Tort Divide and Negligently Inflicted Economic Loss

* Markesinis, German Law of Torts, pp. 42-59; 61-63; cases 8-19 and 24-26 and notes

von Bar, Vol. I Part 5 I

Typical contractual loss suffered by third party

BGH 19.1.1977, NJW 1977, 2073 = GLT case 19

BGH 29.1.1969, NJW 1969, 789 = GLT case 69

Junior Books Ltd v Veitchi Co. Ltd [1983] AC 520 (HL)

Leigh and Silivan Ltd v. The Aliakmon Shipping Co [1985] QB 350 (CA); [1986] AC 785 (HL)

White v Jones [1995] 2 AC 207 (HL)

Extensions of the number of claimants

Physical injury or damage to property

BGH 28.1.1976, BGHZ 66, 51 = GLT case 90 

Cavalier v. Pope [1906] AC 428

Pure economic loss and liability for negligent misstatements

Statutory basis: § 676 BGB

BGH 12.2.1979, NJW 1979, 1595 = GLT case 15 

BGH 28.8.1982, NJW 1982, 2431 = GLT case 17

BGH 2.11.1983, NJW 1984, 355 = GLT case 18

BGH 10.11.1994, BGHZ 127, 378 = http://iuscomp.org/gla/judgments/tgcm/z941110.htm

BGH 2.4.1998, III ZR 245/96 = http://iuscomp.org/gla/judgments/tgcm/z980402.htm

BGH 26.9.2000, X ZR 94/98 = http://iuscomp.org/gd/courses/zp000926.htm

Hedley Byrne & Co. v Heller & Partners [1964] AC 465 (HL)

Caparo v Dickman [1989] QB 653 (CA); [1990] 2 AC 605 (HL)

Henderson v Merret Syndicates Ltd [1994] 3 All ER 506 (HL)

Smith v Eric S Bush, Harris v Wyre Forste DC [1989] 2 All ER 514, [1990] 1 AC 831 (HL)

South Australia Asset Management Corp v York Montague [1997] AC 191 (HL)

© 2001 G. Dannemann