Pre-Contractual Liability: The Novelties into the Civil Legislation and Judicial Practice

Abstract

As a result of the reform of the civil law, the rules of law of obligations, including contract law, were significantly changed. Some of the most discussed novelties of civil legislation have become new rules on pre-contractual liability. At present, the provisions concerning the regulation of relationships involving parties accountable at the stage prior to the conclusion of the contract are included in the general part of the contract law. In this regard, the question of the definition of the legal nature of pre-contractual liability, its terms and conditions has acquired particular relevance not only from theoretical, but also from a practical point of view. Is it possible to make a conclusion about the formation in national law of a unified concept of pre-contractual liability merely on the basis of the analysis of the previous and new rules of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation? In addition to the issues relating to the nature of pre-contractual liability, the relevant issues also concern the identification of legal grounds and conditions for holding persons liable for bad faith bargaining, the definition of the concept of contract negotiations, identification of their starting and final points, the ratio of rules contained in Art. 434.1of the Civil Code with rules in Art. 431.2, 421, 178, 179 of the RF Civil Code and some others, as well as the issues of determining the amount of damages in unfair bargaining. Based on the analysis of the new provisions of legislation, judicial practice, doctrine, it is possible to conclude that the pre-contractual liability in domestic law is not uniform in nature. Despite the fact that the rules on pre-contractual liability are covered in the general part of contract law, the reasonable conclusion is the impossibility of recognition of pre-contractual liability as purely contractual, as in the case of not concluded contract the legal relationship does not arise at all. Depending on the grounds and conditions of liability for violations at the pre-contractual stage, it can be expressed in the form of contract (if the contract eventually was concluded) or non-contractual (quasi-contractual, tort) liability. The author concludes that, in some cases, pre-contractual liability is incurred in connection with the conclusion or an abuse of the right of refusal from conclusion of the contract, the right to an independent negotiation and resolution of their continuation.