Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid
Anglo-American Contract and Tort law
Interpretation of contracts
‘’ To what extend does the interpretation of Dutch contracts differ from English contracts. ’’
Naam: A.N.Y. van der Looij
Studentnummer: 5610303
Begeleider: Professor H. Beale
Amsterdam, 14th of June 2013
Table of contents
Chapter 1 Preface 3 1.1 Neccessity of interpretation 3 1.2 ‘’Objective’’ and ‘’Subjective’’ interpretation 3 1.3 Unambiguous clauses 4 1.4 Priliminary negotiations 4 1.5 The ‘’contra proferentem’’ rule 4
Chapter 2 Dutch law perspective 5 2.1 The basis: the contract 5 2.2 The codified law X 2.3 The intentions of parties: Haviltex X 2.4 Relevant circumstances X 2.5 An addition to the Haviltex-norm: DSM / Fox X 2.6 The Dutch view after DSM /Fox X 2.7 Vergelijkbare contracten X 2.8 Special explanation rules X 2.9 Hierarchy of rules
Chapter 3 English law perspective X 3.1 The objective meaning as guideline X 3.2 Rainy Sky SA and others v Kookmin Bank facts X 3.3 Leading speech of Patten LJ in Court of Appeal
3.4 Leading speech of Lord Clarke in Surpreme Court X 3.5 Business common sense X 3.6 What if neither option will flout common sense? 3.7 Chalabi v Agha-Jaffar facts
3.8 Applying the Business common sense
Hoofdstuk 4 Comparison & conclusion
Preface
In this thesis I want to discuss the distinctions between the interpretation of Dutch contracts and English contracts. Because of the word limitation this thesis will concentrate on cases and legislation of the Dutch and English law. Therefore the deeper differences of philosophy will not be intercalated and be set aside. For my thesis I used the book ‘’Cases, Materials and Text on Contract Law’’ of H. Beale als guideline and a number of different cases