Journal of Private Law

Journal of Private Law

Punitive Damages on French Civil Liability

Author
Abstract
French Supreme Court confirmed on December 1st 2010 that, if a condemnation to pay punitive damages is obviously disproportionate compared to the harm suffered and the contractual breach, it would be contrary to French international public order and would not be enforceable. Indeed, the reasoning of the French Supreme Court echoes the cautious admission of punitive damages by three recent reform drafts of the code civil: Proposal for reform of the law of the obligations and the law of the prescription 2005, Proposal act of civil liability 2010, proposal for reform of the civil liability code 2011. These drafts all contain a punitive damages provision revealing a consensus, among the drafters, about the admissibility of this common law concept within French civil liability. This paper explains the meaning of punitive damages, its recognition and Studies punitive damages in these three reform drafts.
Keywords

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