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Passivitet i svensk rätt - en avtalsrättslig studie

Endstrasser, Ema LU (2018) JURM02 20182
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract
The aim of this thesis is to investigate the grounds on which passivity causes contractual effect in the form of binding agreement or loss of contractual rights, according to Swedish law. The analysis pertains to passivity norms as they are found in the Contracts Act, the Limitations Act and the Commercial Agents Act as well as in the unwritten passivity norms developed in case law. The investigation of passivity as legal act, as dispositive fact, and as interpretation factor, is based on the relevant legal sources such as legislation, precedents, and doctrine.

Passivity effects can be substantive and procedural. The procedural effects imply that the burden of evidence is shifted to the passive part and thus implies presumption impact.... (More)
The aim of this thesis is to investigate the grounds on which passivity causes contractual effect in the form of binding agreement or loss of contractual rights, according to Swedish law. The analysis pertains to passivity norms as they are found in the Contracts Act, the Limitations Act and the Commercial Agents Act as well as in the unwritten passivity norms developed in case law. The investigation of passivity as legal act, as dispositive fact, and as interpretation factor, is based on the relevant legal sources such as legislation, precedents, and doctrine.

Passivity effects can be substantive and procedural. The procedural effects imply that the burden of evidence is shifted to the passive part and thus implies presumption impact. The substantive effects impact the contract in terms of binding agreement or loss of rights. The substantive effects are the focus of this study. One chapter is devoted particularly to the passivity effects that imply presumption. This is motivated by the seminal importance of NJA 2006 p. 638 which established a passivity norm in relation to the confirmation of contract, with regard to a special regulation in the Commercial Agents Act.

According to the current law, passivity entails effects based on different grounds. In terms of legal act, passivity follows the general principles of legal act impacts and can result both in binding and in the loss of right, in accordance to the theory of the declaration of intent and the principle of reliance. Passivity as dispositive fact results in effects both when applied as statutory norm and as unwritten norm. The statutory passivity norms that are discussed imply contractual effect in the form of binding. Through the unwritten passivity norms that have been formed in practice, passivity as dispositive fact can lead to the loss of right to sanction but also to the loss of contractual right. With regard to the loss of a right resulting from a change of contract, passivity is typically given the effect of a legal act. However, an independent passivity norm has been formed in NJA 2018 p. 171, that entails a loss of contractual right for past time due to passivity as a dispositive fact.

The loyalty principle appears as a significant in case of assessment of passivity that is not based in statutory regulations. Regarding the assessment of passivity as a legal act the principle of reliance appears as significant instead. The thesis thus concludes that passivity can never be the single decisive factor of legal effects, as its importance is measured against the background of an overall evaluation in each specific case. Such an overall evaluation founded in adequate legal principles and legal norms determines the resulting legal effects of passivity. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Uppsatsens syfte är att utreda på vilka grunder passivitet kan leda till avtalsbindning eller förlust av rättigheter inom avtalsförhållanden enligt gällande svensk rätt. Analysen fokuserar både på skrivna regler om passivitet och oskrivna normer som framgår av rättspraxis och doktrin. Passivitet i egenskap av rättshandling, rättsfaktum och avtalstolkningsdatum utreds med stöd av relevanta rättskällor som lagstiftning, praxis och doktrin.

Passivitetsverkningar kan vara materiella eller processuella. De processuella verkningarna innebär vanligen att bevisbördan förskjuts till den passiva parten och medför därigenom presumtionsverkan. De materiella verkningarna grundlägger rättsliga positioner inom avtalsförhållanden, vanligen genom att... (More)
Uppsatsens syfte är att utreda på vilka grunder passivitet kan leda till avtalsbindning eller förlust av rättigheter inom avtalsförhållanden enligt gällande svensk rätt. Analysen fokuserar både på skrivna regler om passivitet och oskrivna normer som framgår av rättspraxis och doktrin. Passivitet i egenskap av rättshandling, rättsfaktum och avtalstolkningsdatum utreds med stöd av relevanta rättskällor som lagstiftning, praxis och doktrin.

Passivitetsverkningar kan vara materiella eller processuella. De processuella verkningarna innebär vanligen att bevisbördan förskjuts till den passiva parten och medför därigenom presumtionsverkan. De materiella verkningarna grundlägger rättsliga positioner inom avtalsförhållanden, vanligen genom att medföra avtalsbindning eller förlust av rättigheter. Tyngdpunkten i denna studie ligger vid materiella passivitetsverkningar. Därutöver berörs även presumtionsverkan i ett särskilt kapitel. Det motiveras av ett betydelsefullt avgörande i NJA 2006 s. 638 varigenom en allmän passivitetsnorm uppställts i fråga om passivitetsverkan i samband med avtalsbekräftelser, med koppling till en särskild bestämmelse i lagen om handelsagentur.

Enlig gällande rätt kan passivitet medföra rättsverkningar på flera olika grunder. När passivitet utgör en rättshandling följer passivitetsverkan enligt de allmänna principerna om rättshandlingars bindande verkan och kan medföra både avtalsbindning och rättsförlust inom ett tidigare ingånget avtal. Av stor betydelse för denna typ av passivitetsverkan är viljeteorin och tillitsprincipen. Vad gäller passivitet som rättsfaktum finns både skrivna och oskrivna normer. De lagfästa passivitetsbestämmelser som berörs har avtalsbindning som rättsverkan. Genom de oskrivna passivitetsnormer som formats i praxis kan passivitet leda till förlust av rätt till påföljd men också förlust av en avtalsenlig rättighet. För förlust av en rättighet till följd av ändring av ett avtal måste passivitet typiskt sett kunna ges verkan som en rättshandling. I NJA 2018 s. 171 har det emellertid formats en ny självständig passivitetsnorm som medför förlust av en avtalsenlig rättighet för förfluten tid genom passivitet som självständigt rättsfaktum.

Analysen utvisar att lojalitetsprincipen är betydelsefull för passivitetsverkningar, särskilt vid rättsverkningar på oskriven grund. För bedömningen av om passivitet utgör en rättshandling är istället tillitsprincipen styrande. En slutsats i detta hänseende är att passiviteten aldrig ensam kan bli en utslagsgivande faktor för rättsverkningar, utan tillmäts betydelse mot bakgrund av en helhetsbedömning av omständigheter i varje givet fall. En helhetsbedömning grundad på tillämpliga rättsprinciper och rättsnormer avgör vilka rättsverkningar som följer av passivitet. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Endstrasser, Ema LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Passivity in Swedish law - a study of contract law
course
JURM02 20182
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
avtalsrätt, förmögenhetsrätt, contract law, passivitet, passivity, tillitsprincipen, lojalitetsprincipen, loyality principle
language
Swedish
id
8965876
date added to LUP
2019-02-04 13:12:48
date last changed
2019-02-04 13:12:48
@misc{8965876,
  abstract     = {{The aim of this thesis is to investigate the grounds on which passivity causes contractual effect in the form of binding agreement or loss of contractual rights, according to Swedish law. The analysis pertains to passivity norms as they are found in the Contracts Act, the Limitations Act and the Commercial Agents Act as well as in the unwritten passivity norms developed in case law. The investigation of passivity as legal act, as dispositive fact, and as interpretation factor, is based on the relevant legal sources such as legislation, precedents, and doctrine. 

Passivity effects can be substantive and procedural. The procedural effects imply that the burden of evidence is shifted to the passive part and thus implies presumption impact. The substantive effects impact the contract in terms of binding agreement or loss of rights. The substantive effects are the focus of this study. One chapter is devoted particularly to the passivity effects that imply presumption. This is motivated by the seminal importance of NJA 2006 p. 638 which established a passivity norm in relation to the confirmation of contract, with regard to a special regulation in the Commercial Agents Act.

According to the current law, passivity entails effects based on different grounds. In terms of legal act, passivity follows the general principles of legal act impacts and can result both in binding and in the loss of right, in accordance to the theory of the declaration of intent and the principle of reliance. Passivity as dispositive fact results in effects both when applied as statutory norm and as unwritten norm. The statutory passivity norms that are discussed imply contractual effect in the form of binding. Through the unwritten passivity norms that have been formed in practice, passivity as dispositive fact can lead to the loss of right to sanction but also to the loss of contractual right. With regard to the loss of a right resulting from a change of contract, passivity is typically given the effect of a legal act. However, an independent passivity norm has been formed in NJA 2018 p. 171, that entails a loss of contractual right for past time due to passivity as a dispositive fact.

The loyalty principle appears as a significant in case of assessment of passivity that is not based in statutory regulations. Regarding the assessment of passivity as a legal act the principle of reliance appears as significant instead. The thesis thus concludes that passivity can never be the single decisive factor of legal effects, as its importance is measured against the background of an overall evaluation in each specific case. Such an overall evaluation founded in adequate legal principles and legal norms determines the resulting legal effects of passivity.}},
  author       = {{Endstrasser, Ema}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Passivitet i svensk rätt - en avtalsrättslig studie}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}