Part 2 National and Regional Reports, Part 2.6 North America: Coordinated by Geneviève Saumier, 68 United States of America: American Perspectives on the Hague Principles

Abstract

This chapter focuses on American perspectives on the Hague Principles. At the state level, Louisiana and Oregon have enacted comprehensive choice of law codifications, which strongly endorse party autonomy. Many other states have enacted statutory provisions that affect party autonomy. At one end of the spectrum, there are provisions that prohibit or restrict outbound choice of law clauses in certain contracts that have enumerated contacts with the enacting state. At the other end of the spectrum, there are statutes designed to ensure enforcement of inbound choice of law clauses in certain commercial contracts with high-dollar value, even in the absence of any connection with the enacting state. Despite the multiplicity of state statutes, many of which pre-empt a judicial choice of law or obviate the need for it, the bulk of American conflicts law for matters other than those governed by the Uniform Commercial Code is found in judicial decisions. In keeping with the common law tradition, American courts play an active role in the development of the law, both in general and regarding party autonomy in particular. One hopes that American courts will take into account the Hague Principles, if only for answering those questions, as few as they may be, whose answer is unclear under American law.