Introduction to French Business Litigation
Emmanuel Jeuland
Joly
lextenso
AcknowledgmentsV
AbbreviationsVII
Introduction1
Part 1
Overview
Section 1. An Overview of the French Judicial System11
1.1. The Top Three « Supreme Courts' »
11
1.2. Judicial Order
13
1.2.1. Civil Courts
15
1.2.2. Criminal Courts
16
1.3. Administrative Order
17
1.4. Antitrust Authority
18
Section 2. Historical and Cultural Background21
2.1. The judiciary Dominated by an Administrative State : A Historiac Approach
22
2.2. A New Approach of Procedural History in France : A Judicial State
23
Part 2
Jurisdiction in business litigation
Section 1. Domestic Rules of Jurisdiction27
1.1. Subject Matter
27
1.1.1. Material Rules of Jurisdiction : Non-specialized Courts
27
1.1.2. Material Rules of Jurisdiction : Specialized Courts
28
1.2. Territorial Rules of Jurisdiction (Venue)
30
1.2.1. General Principle
30
1.2.2. Specific Rules
31
1.3. Regimes of Jurisdiction
32
Section 2. International Rules of Business Jurisdiction35
2.1. French Subsidiary Rules of International Jurisdiction
36
2.1.1. Principle : Jurisdiction based on the Domicile of the Defendant
36
2.1.2. Optional Rules
37
2.1.3. Exclusive Jurisdiction
38
2.1.4. Privilege Rules
39
2.1.5. Legal Regime
40
2.2. European Rules of International Jurisdiction in French Business Litigation
40
2.2.1. Principles
40
2.2.2. Optional Rules
41
2.2.3. Exclusive jurisdiction
43
2.2.4. Legal Regime
43
2.2.5. Special jurisdiction
44
Section 3. Jurisdiction over Antitrust Cases47
3.1. The National Antitrust Bodies and the European Commission
47
3.2. Cooperation and/or Competition between the National and the EU Bodies ?
48
3.2.1. Cooperation : The Official View
48
3.2.2. The Absence of Clear Delineation
49
3.2.3. The Specific Powers Entrusted to the Commission
50
i. Self-Promotion50
ii. Power to Deny21
3.2.4. Practical Impact for the Complainant : The Limitation Periods
52
Part 3
Evidence
Section 1. Internal Rules of Evidence59
1.1. Transmission of Evidence
59
1.2. Examining Measures
60
1.3. Right to Evidence and Loyalty Principale
61
Section 2. International Rules in Evidentiary Matters65
Section 3. Evidence in Competition Law Proceedings69
3.1. General Principles
69
3.2. The Requirement for a High Standard of Proof
70
3.3. In dubio pro reo
71
3.4. Fair Evidence in Competition Law
72
3.5. Evidence Arising out of Proceedings with the Competition Authorities (« Follow-on »)
73
Part 4
Right of action
Section 1. Internal Rules on the Right of Action77
1.1. The Existence of a Right of Action
77
1.2. Positive Conditions of Admissibility
77
1.3. Negative Conditions of Admissibility
82
1.3.1 Principle of Concentration and Res Judicata83
1.3.2. Mediation Clauses
83
1.3.3. Abuse of Process and Estoppel
84
1.4. Bringing the Action
85
1.4.1. Representation
85
1.4.2. Formal Requirements
86
Section 2. International Rules on Actions87
2.1. International Requirements for Bringing an Action
87
2.2. European Regulation or Directive on Action
90
2.2.1. The Civil law-oriental European Regulations and the Directive
90
2.2.2. The Common law-oriented Directive on Private Enforcement of 26th November 2014
91
2.3. Immunity
95
2.4. Representation by Foreign Lawyers in French Proceedings
96
Section 1. General Rules101
1.1. Due Process and Fair Trial
101
1.1.1. Judiciary Principles
102
1.1.2. The right to Justice (droit au juge)102
1.1.3.Principles of Independence and Impartiality
104
1.2. Functional Principles
105
1.2.1 - The Right to be Heard
106
1.2.2. The Principle of Cooperation
107
1.2.3. The Principle of Cooperation and Fact-Finding
109
1.2.4. Principle of Cooperation and the Rule of Law
109
1.3. Ordinary Proceedings
117
1.3.1. Service of Writ and Registration
118
1.3.1.1. Internal Service of Writ and Registration118
1.3.1.2. International Service of Writ119
1.3.1.2.1. International Regulation 2007119
1.3.1.2.2. The Hague Convention of 1965120
1.3.1.2.3. The Hague Convention, The Diplomatic Track and Bilateral Treaties123
1.3.2. Defendants'Defense
124
1.3.2.1. Three Defenses
124
1.3.2.2. Counterclaim
124
Section 2. Special Rules127
2.1. Case Management in the Civil High Court
127
2.1.1. The Usual Case Management : Scheduling
129
2.1.1.1. Short Track130
2.1.1.2. Medium Track131
2.1.1.3. Long Track131
2.1.2. The Intellectual Case Management
133
2.1.2.1. Powers to Examine the Case134
2.1.2.2. Procedural Powers135
2.2. Basic Case Management in Oral Proceedings
136
2.3. Extraordinary Proceedings
137
2.3.1. Pretrial Proceedings
137
2.3.2. Adversarial Summary Judgments
138
2.3.3. Summary Judgments on Request
138
Part 6
Judgments
1.1. The Concept of Judgment
144
1.2. Different Kinds of Judgments
145
1.2.1. Non-Definitive Judgments
146
1.2.2. Interlocutory Orders
147
1.2.3. The Pre-Arranged Judgment (« Jugement d'expédient »)148
1.2.4. The Judgment of Acknowledgment (« Jugement de donner acte »148
1.2.5. Judicial Contract
148
1.2.6. Measure of Judicial Administration
149
1.3. Effects of Judgment
150
1.3.1. Domestic effects of judgment
150
1.3.1.1. Same Parties156
1.3.1.2. Same Relief (objet de la prétention, petitum)157
1.3.1.3. Same grounds158
1.3.2. International Effects of Judgements
164
1.3.2.1. Outside of International Convention or European Regulation164
1.3.2.2. International Effect of Judgements within the Brussels/Lugano Regime166
1.3.2.3. Effect outside the Lugano and Brussels Regime174
1.3.2.3.1. The Material Effects175
1.3.2.3.2. Normative Effects176
Part 7
Appeal against judgments
Section 1. Appeal in strict Meaning181
Section 2. Pétition of Cassation, « Pourvoi en cassation »183
Section 3. Third Party Application185
Conclusion187
Indicative bibliography in English191
Indicative bibliography in French193
Glossary197
I. English Terms of Civil Procedure
197
II. French Terms of Civil Procedure
204
Index213
I. English Index
213
II. French Index
217