Page 349 - Latent Defect or Excessive Price?Exploring Early Modern Legal Approach to Remedying Defects in Goods Exchanged for Money - Bruijn

CHAPTER SEVEN
structure.
7.2.2.1 Structure of the Allgemeine Landrecht für die preußischen Staaten
In accordance with the deductive natural law approach, the first part of the ALR states general rules and principles which are further specified later on in the code. Thus, one has to consult the first part of the ALR, title V, Von Verträge, for general rules applying to all contracts, unless otherwise stated. As these provisions are not decreed for any contract in particular but apply to all, the ALR uses the contractually neutral terms of 'giver' or 'promisor' and 'recipient' to indicate the parties to a contract. Relevant for the subject of this book are the rules pertaining to the giver's safeguarding duties (Gewährsleistung41) and the scope of his liability.42
More sale-specific rules pertaining to defects in the sold object are expounded in the ALR's first part, title XI, first section Von Kaufs- und Verkaufsgeschäften. Here one finds the remedy for lesion beyond moiety (Verletzung über die Hälfte).43 That this remedy is relegated to the section dealing with sales corresponds with the limited field of application it receives in the ALR. Besides sales, this remedy can only be brought in lease. The provisions governing lease are in the ALR's first part, title XXI. Section two of this title deals with long-term lease (Erbpacht). The third section Von dem eingeschränkten Gebrauchs- und Nutzungs-Rechte fremder Sachen contains rules pertaining to defects in lease (Miethe) and to encumbrances in both sales and lease.
7.2.2.2 Gewährleistung in the Allgemeine Landrecht für die preußischen Staaten
Unlike usus modernus-doctrine, the ALR posits a general safeguarding duty
(Gewährleistung) for the promisor for contracts in which all parties have to perform.
'Auch die Leistung der Gewähr gehört zur Erfüllung einese Vertrags. Bey allen lästigen Verträgen, wo nicht besondere Gesetze oder ausdrückliche Verabredungen ein Anderes mit sich bringen, muß ein Theil dem andern dafür haften, daß sich derselbe der gegebnen Sache, nach der Natur und dem Inhalt des Vertrags, bedienen könne'.44
The ALR further specifies Gewährleistung as safeguarding from a lack of qualities the thing normally possesses45, safeguarding from third-party claims46, safeguarding from a lack of promised qualities47, safeguarding from encumbrances48, and safeguarding from defects in separate parts of a larger item (Inbegriff).49 The promisor's duty of Gewährleistung is part of the fulfilment of the contract. A breach of a safeguarding duty
41 German language allows for both Gewahr(s)leistung with or without s.
42 I, V, §§ 317-318 ALR (Gewährleistung); I, V, §§ 287seq. ALR (liability).
43 I, XI, §§ 58-69 ALR.
44 I, V, § 317-318 ALR.
45 I, V, §§ 319-322 ALR.
46 I, V, §§ 323-324 ALR.
47 I, V, §§ 325-328 ALR.
48 I, V, §§ 333-338 ALR.
49 I, V, §§ 339-342 ALR.
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