Agrégateur de flux

Ministry of Defence [MOD] v Iraqi civilians highlights a classic in private international law (statutes of limitation), with an interesting link to State immunity. Procedural issues are considered to be part of the lex fori. Meaning, a court always applies its own procedural rules. For the discussions in the Rome II context, see an earlier posting. However what is less settled is whether statutes of limitation fall under procedure or substantial law. If the former, then they follow the lex fori. If the latter, then they follow lex causae: the law applicable to the substantive matter at issue.

Limitation, which deprives the litigant of a forensic remedy but does not extinguish his right, was traditionally classified by the English courts as procedural. The result was that until the position was altered by statute in 1984, the English courts disregarded foreign limitation law and applied the English statutes of limitation irrespective of the lex causae. This was widely regarded as unsatisfactory, mainly because of the rather technical character of the distinction on which it was based between barring the remedy and extinguishing the right.

The Foreign Limitation Periods Act 1984 changed the position and provided for the English courts, with limited exceptions, to apply the limitation rules of the lex causae. 

Now, in MOD v Iraqi Civilians, on appeal from [2015] EWCA Civ 1241, the civilians claim to have suffered unlawful detention and/or physical maltreatment at the hands of British armed forces in Iraq between 2003 and 2009, for which the MOD is liable in tort. It is agreed between the parties that any liability of the Ministry in tort is governed by Iraqi law. Under article 232 of the Civil Code of Iraq, the standard limitation period applicable to claims of this kind in Iraqi law is three years from the day on which the claimant became aware of the injury and of the person who caused it. The action sub judice was begun more than three years after most of the claimants must have been aware of these matters.

However, Coalition Provisional Authority Order 17, which had and still has the force of law in Iraq, made it impossible for claimants to sue the British government in Iraq. Section 2(1) of the Order provides that coalition forces in Iraq (including British forces) are “immune from Iraqi legal process.” Claimants argue that Order 17 needs to be seen as an ‘impediment’ within the meaning of article 435 of the Iraqi Civil Code, which is one of a number of provisions suspending the running of time in particular cases. It provides:

” Article 435 – (1) The time limit barring the hearing of the case is suspended by a lawful excuse such as where the plaintiff is a minor or interdicted and has no guardian or is absent in a remote foreign country, or where the case is between spouses or ascendants and descendants, or if there is another impediment rendering it impossible for the plaintiff to claim his right.

(2) The period which lapses while the excuse still exists (lasts) shall not be taken into account (for the running of the time limitation).”

Lord Sumption leading, held (at 11) that Order 17 is not a rule of limitation, but a particular form of state immunity, which serves as a limitation on the jurisdiction of the courts. It is therefore necessarily procedural and local in nature. It is not legally relevant, given the claimants have brought proceedings in England, what impediments might have prevented similar proceedings in Iraq [at 13]. Claimants could have always and did eventually sue in the UK. Claimants’ submission, if accepted, would mean that there was no limitation period at all affecting the present proceedings in England, by reason of a consideration (CPA Order 17) which had no relevance to English proceedings because it has no application outside Iraq and has never impeded resort to the English court (at 16).

The Appeal was dismissed. In the wider context of immunity, it is important precedent. Claimants faced with immunity obstacles to litigation in a jurisdiction, must not hesitate to start proceedings elsewhere, where no such obstacles exist. In proceedings before the English courts, any delay in doing so is subject to the ordinary limitation periods of the lex causae.

Geert.

Chose jugée

Séparation des pouvoirs

Tribunal correctionnel de Quimper, 25 avril 2016

Pourvoi c/ Cour d'appel de Montpellier, 2e chambre, 3 novembre 2015

Pourvoi c/ Cour d'appel de Lyon, chambre de l'instruction, 15 mars 2016

Cour d'appel de Bordeaux, chambre sociale, section B, 28 avril 2016

EU Civil Justice. Current Issues and Future Outlook, a cura di B. Hess, M. Bergström, E. Storskrubb, Hart Publishing, 2016, pp. 384, ISBN: 9781849466820, GBP 60.

[Dal sito dell’editore] – This seventh volume in the Swedish Studies in European Law series brings together some of the most prominent scholars working within the fast-evolving field of EU civil justice. Civil justice has an impact on matters involving, inter alia, family relationships, consumers, entrepreneurs, employees, small and medium-sized businesses and large multinational corporations. It therefore has great power and potential. Over the past 15 years a wealth of EU measures have been enacted in this field. Issues arising from the implementation thereof and practice in relation to these measures are now emerging. Hence, this volume will explore the benefits as well as the challenges of these measures. The particular themes covered include forum shopping, alternative dispute resolution, simplified procedures and debt collection, family matters and collective redress. In addition, the deepening of the field that continues post-Lisbon has occasioned a new level of regulatory and policy challenges. These are discussed in the final part of the volume which focuses on mutual recognition also in the broader European law context of integration in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice.

L’indice del volume e ulteriori informazioni sono disponibili a questo indirizzo.

Douze prévenus et deux sociétés comparaissent devant le tribunal correctionnel pour escroquerie en bande organisée et blanchiment dans une affaire de fraude à la TVA sur le marché des quotas d’émissions de carbone. Le procès porte sur un détournement de 283 millions d’euros pour un montant global estimé à 1,7 milliard d’euros.

En carrousel matière:  Oui Matières OASIS:  Néant

en lire plus

En distinguant l’usage effectif du pouvoir conféré au président de la Commission européenne pour la révocation de ses membres d’une simple allusion à l’exercice de ce pouvoir, la Cour de justice de l’Union européenne confirme l’irrecevabilité du recours introduit par l’ex-commissaire John Dalli, demandant l’annulation de la décision mettant fin à ses fonctions et la réparation de son préjudice subi. 

En carrousel matière:  Non Matières OASIS:  Néant

en lire plus

Propriété littéraire et artistique

Non renvoyée au Conseil constitutionnel

Assurance de personnes

La Cour de justice de l’Union européenne lance sa première application pour smartphone et tablette

La Cour de justice de l’Union européenne lance sa première application pour smartphone et tablette

La Cour de justice de l’Union européenne lance sa première application pour smartphone et tablette

La Cour de justice de l’Union européenne lance sa première application pour smartphone et tablette

Dal 4 al 9 luglio 2016, si terrà a Ravenna la Summer School su European and Comparative Environmental Law, organizzata dalla Scuola di Giurisprudenza dell’Università di Bologna in collaborazione con la Lewis and Clark Law School (Oregon) e con la Fondazione Flaminia.

L’iniziativa mira a promuovere la conoscenza della cornice giuridica attuale in materia di ambiente, con particolare attenzione alla sua dimensione europea ed internazionale.

Il tema del contenzioso transazionale in materia ambientale verrà approfondito con un ciclo di incontri curati da Alessandra Zanobetti ed Enrico Al Mureden dell’Università di Bologna, e Robert Klonoff della Lewis and Clark Law School.

Il programma completo dei corsi è disponibile qui.

Il corso dà diritto al riconoscimento di 6 crediti per gli studenti universitari, e 18 crediti per gli Avvocati. È previsto un esame finale di verifica delle conoscenze acquisite.

Il termine per l’iscrizione è  il 3 giugno 2016. Ulteriori informazioni e copia del bando sono disponibili a questo indirizzo.

Izsák et Dabis / Commission
Citoyenneté européenne
Le Tribunal confirme que la proposition d’initiative citoyenne européenne visant à promouvoir le développement des zones géographiques peuplées par des minorités nationales ne peut pas être enregistrée

Izsák et Dabis / Commission
Citoyenneté européenne
Le Tribunal confirme que la proposition d’initiative citoyenne européenne visant à promouvoir le développement des zones géographiques peuplées par des minorités nationales ne peut pas être enregistrée