Identifying Data 2020/21
Subject (*) Obligations and Tort Law Code 612G01016
Study programme
Grao en Dereito
Descriptors Cycle Period Year Type Credits
Graduate 2nd four-month period
 Second Obligatory 6
Language
Spanish
English
Teaching method Face-to-face
Prerequisites
Department Dereito Privado
Dereito Público
Coordinador
Alvarez Lata, Natalia
 E-mail
natalia.alvarez.lata@udc.es
Lecturers
Alvarez Lata, Natalia
Aymerich Cano, Carlos Ignacio
Bello Janeiro, Domingo
Collado Rodríguez, Noelia
Garcia Perez, Marta Maria
Peña Lopez, Fernando
Pérez Dios, Carmen
 E-mail
natalia.alvarez.lata@udc.es
carlos.aymerich.cano@udc.es
domingo.bello@udc.es
noelia.collado@udc.es
marta.garcia.perez@udc.es
fernando.pena@udc.es
carmen.perez.dios@udc.es
Web
General description Esta materia ten como obxectivo dotar ao alumno de aptitudes, coñecementos e competencias que resultan básicas para a súa formación en Dereito privado económico e patrimonial. O manexo competente da estructura e vicisitudes da relación oblrigatoria, como cobertura xurídica primaria dos acuerdos de contenido patrimonial e económico entre os particulares e do problema do dano extracontractual, constitúe un eslabón esencial na formación de cualquier xurista, y é presuposto indispensable para a adecuada comprensión doutras materias pertencentes ao Dereito privado, e ao Dereito público.
Contingency plan 1. Modificacións nos contidos. Sen cambios.
2. Metodoloxías
*Metodoloxías docentes que se manteñen. Todas: pero serán reconducidas á Teams e Moodle.
*Metodoloxías docentes que se modifican. ninguna.
3. Mecanismos de atención personalizada ao alumnado. A través de Teams, Moodle e correo electrónico, no seu caso.

4. Modificacións na avaliación. Non hai modificacións xerais, ainda que as probas obxectivas e outras probas de avaliación realizaránse en entornos dixitais (Teams; Moodle).

*Observacións de avaliación:

5. Modificacións da bibliografía ou webgrafía. Non

Study programme competencies
Code Study programme competences
A1 Knowledge of the main legal institutions
A2 Knowledge of the role of law as a regulatory system of social relations
A3 Grasping the systematic nature of the legal system
A4 Appreciating the interdisciplinary nature of legal problems
A5 Knowing the constitutional principles and values.
A6 Understanding the different manifestations of law in its historical evolution and in its current reality.
A7 Knowing the national and international legal and political structures.
A8 Basic knowledge of legal argumentation.
A9 Ability to handle legal sources (legal, jurisprudential and doctrinal).
A10 Ability to interpret and critically assess the legal system.
A11 Ability to understand and write legal documents.
A12 Management of legal oratory (ability to express themselves properly in public).
A14 Ability to draft legal norms.
B1 Knowledge in an area of study that is based on general secondary education, and is usually found at a level that, although supported by advanced textbooks, includes also some aspects that involve knowledge from the forefront of his field of study.
B2 Ability to know how to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and possess the skills that are usually demonstrated through the elaboration and defense of arguments and the resolution of problems within their area of study.
B3 Ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their area of study) to make judgments that include a reflection on social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
B5 Acquisition and assessment of those learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy
B6 Learning to learn.
B7 Effective problem solving.
B8 Critical, logical, and creative thinking.
B9 Working autonomously on own initiative with a lifelong learning approach.
B10 Teamwork and collaboration.
B11 Ethical and social responsibility.
B13 Computing and ICT skills.
C1 Adequate oral and written expression in the official languages.
C2 Mastering oral and written expression in foreign languages.
C4 Exercising an open, educated, critical, committed, democratic and supportive citizenship for the sake of the common good.
C5 Understanding the importance of entrepreneurial culture and knowing the useful means for enterprising people.
C6 Critically assess the knowledge, technology and information available to solve the problems they face.
C7 Assume as a professional and citizen the importance of lifelong learning.
C8 Valuing the importance of research, innovation and technological development for the socioeconomic and cultural progress of society.

Learning aims
Learning outcomes Study programme competences
Learning the basic principles and rules of the law of obligations A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6
A7
A8
 B1
B2
B3
 C4
C5
C6
C7
Being able to understand and interpret correctly the basic legal rules and materials linked to the law of obligations A5
A9
A10
A11
A12
A14
 B6
B7
B8
B9
B10
 C1
C2
Becoming aware of the differences and common features of the European private law systems. A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6
A7
 B5
 C1
C2
C4
C5
C7
C8
Understanding tort law as a basic tool for managing the cost of accidents from a social point of view A2
A6
A10
 B6
B7
B8
B11
 C6
C7
C8
Acquiring the skills to assess and resolve problems of tort law with technical competence. A9
A10
A11
 B7
B8
B9
B10
B11
B13
 C1
C2
C6
C8

Contents
Topic Sub-topic
LESSON 1: THE CONCEPT OF «OBLIGATION» AND THE «LAW OF OBLIGATIONS» 1.Economic private law and its basic rights: obligations and property rights
2.What is an obligation?
3.Importance of the Law of obligations within the continental legal systems
4.Where are the rules of the law of obligations in the common law systems?
LESSON 2: LAW OF CONTRACT AND LAW OF OBLIGATIONS 1.The place of contract in private law systems
a.Obligations and contract
b.Contract and tort
c.Contract and property
d.General contract rules and specific contracts
2.The principles of contract law: differences between the common law and the continental law
a.Contract as an agreement between parties
b.The doctrine of consideration and the «cause» of the contract
c.The role of the good faith principle
d.The meaning of contract freedom
e.Drafting contracts in continental and common law.
3.«Life of the contract»
a.Contract formation: negotiations and lack of negotiations
b.Contract conclusion: contract validity and content
c.Contract performance.
LESSON 3: PRELIMINARY CONCEPTS AND BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW OF OBLIGATIONS 1. Lack of a common legal vocabulary in the field of the law of obligations
2. DCFR solution for a European model law of obligations
a. Scope of the model rules on obligations (Book III)
b. Definitions: obligation, terms of an obligation, performance, non-performance, reciprocal obligation.
3. DCFR basic principles of the law of obligations
a. The duty of good faith and fair dealing
b. The duty of cooperation between the parties
4. Rules regarding conditions and time limits in obligations
a. Conditional obligations
b. Time limited obligations
LESSON 4: PERFORMANCE AND NON-PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS. REMEDIES FOR NON-PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS 1. Performance, obligation to perform and payment: continental and common law approaches
2. Time, place, currency and method of payment.
3. Who has to perform the obligation? Payment by a third person
4. General remedies against non performance in continental systems
a. The right to enforce performance
b. Specific performance and damages
5. General remedies in common law systems
a. Damages
b. The problem of specific performance
3. Termination
a. Scope of the right to terminate
b. Restitution
LESSON 6: PLURALITY OF DEBTORS AND CREDITORS. CHANGE OF PARTIES 1. Obligations with several parties: continental systems and common law systems
2. Joint, several and joint and several liability
3. The model rules of DCFR regarding plurality of debtors and creditors
4. Change of creditor: requirements and effects regarding creditor and debtor
5. Change of debtor: types, requirements and effects
6. Change of a contractual party
LESSON 6: GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF LIABILITY 1. Scope of protected interest
a. Protection of the person
b. Protection of economic interests: protection against «pure economic loss»
2. Causation
a. The «Certainty of damages» principle
b. Traditional causation theories in the European legal systems
c. Burden of proof
d. The problem of uncertainty over causation
e. Limiting the scope of results: remoteness of damage and «objective zurechnung»
3. The reasons behind the right to damage compensation: Strict liability and negligence liability. The «law and economics» approach
4. Negligence
a. Role of negligence in continental tort law
b. Role of the tort of negligence in common law
5. Strict liability
a. Background of strict liability
b. Types of strict liability regimes: liability based on risk and enterprise liability
c. Negligence influence on certain strict liability concepts and requirements
6. Damages
a. Compensation and punishment: the problem of punitive damages
b. Types of damages: Economic damages and Personal injuries
c. Compensating personal injuries: different approaches
5. Defences in Tort Law
LESSON 10: THE DIFFERENT TORT LAW SYSTEMS IN EUROPE
 1. The French family system
2. The German system
3. The common law system
4. Towards a harmonization in Europe?
a. Different policy approaches and legal cultures
b. The EU influence
c. The achievements of this century: PETL and DCFR
LESSON 11: SPECIFIC LIABILITY REGIMES AND TORTS 1. Liability for other persons and vicarious liability
2. Liability for risky activities and dangerous goods
3. Defective products
4. Environmental liability
5. Public bodies liability
TEMA 9: Concurrencia de acreedores e insuficiencia do patrimonio do deudor. 1. Nociones generales. 2. Los créditos privilegiados. 3. Concurrencia singular de acreedores. 4. Concurrencia universal de acreedores. 5. Ley Concursal.
TEMA 10: A modificación e a extinción da relación obrigatoria. 1. La novación y sus clases. 2. Novación por cambio del acreedor. 3. Novación por cambio del deudor. 4. Novación por cesión de contrato. 5. Extinción de la relación obligatoria.
TEMA 11: Os cuasicontrantos 1. Los cuasicontratos. 2. El enriquecimiento sin causa. 3. La gestión de negocios ajenos sin mandato. 4. El cobro de lo indebido.
TEMA 12: A responsabilidade civil. 1. Concepto y funciones de la responsabilidad civil. 2. Responsabilidad civil contractual y extracontractual. 3. Responsabilidad civil y responsabilidad penal. 4. Los elementos constitutivos de la responsabilidad civil. 5. Los sujetos de la responsabilidad civil. La responsabilidad por hecho ajeno. 6. La prescripción de la acción de reclamación de daños. 7. El seguro de repsonsabilidad civil.
TEMA 13: As responsabilidades civiles especiais. 1. La responsabilidad civil en la circulación de vehículos a motor. 2. La responsabilidad civil por daños causados por productos defectuosos. 3. La responsabilidad civil médica. 4. La responsabilidad por daños causados por animales y en el ámbito de la caza. 5. Los accidentes de trabajo.
TEMA 14: A responsabilidade pola actuación administrativa 1. Introducción. 2. El régimen jurídico de la responsabilidad de la administración pública. 3. El resarcimiento de la lesión. La indemnización. 4. Los procedimientos de responsabilidad patrimonial.

Planning
Methodologies / tests Competencies Ordinary class hours Student’s personal work hours Total hours
Directed discussion A2 A5 A9 A12 3 3 6
ICT practicals B13 2 4 6
Oral presentation A2 A5 A6 A12 B11 C1 C2 C6 10 20 30
Short answer questions A2 A5 A6 A9 A10 A11 A13 B13 3 6 9
Speaking test A10 A12 2 20 22
Guest lecture / keynote speech A2 A5 A6 B1 C5 C8 20 39 59
Supervised projects A9 A10 A11 A13 B13 0 10 10
 
Personalized attention 8 0 8
 
(*)The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies
Methodologies Description
Directed discussion Esta actividad será realizada de modo presencial y consistirá en la puesta en común de opiniones sobre una materia, o bien en la resolución común de problemas actuales que estén directamente relacionados con el objeto de estudio.
ICT practicals Se trata de adiestrar a los estudiantes en el manejo de las herramientas básicas de las tecnologías de la información y comunicación necesarias para el ejercicio de su profesión y para el aprendizaje. Esta actividad requiere atención personalizada en trabajo presencial y trabajo no presencial.
Oral presentation Los estudiantes deberán defender en el aula los temas y materias que les sean encargadas por el Profesor. Se trata de una actividad presencial de exposición oral pública que no requiere presentación por escrito, pero que precisa trabajo no presencial.
Short answer questions Cada tres semanas (aproximadamente) se realizarán pruebas de respuesta breve las cuales versarán sobre los contenidos expuestos y estudiados hasta ese instante. Dichas pruebas exigen trabajo no presencial.
Speaking test Al final del Curso y en la fecha oficialmente convocada se realizará una prueba oral sobre la totalidad de los contenidos explicados a lo largo del cuatrimestre.
Guest lecture / keynote speech Las sesiones magistrales constituirán la base teórica que facilite los conocimientos esenciales al estudiante sobre la materia.
Supervised projects El Profesor sugerirá el desarrollo de trabajos individuales o en grupo sobre un tema concreto. Dichos trabajos se presentarán por escrito, no habrá exposición oral y exigen trabajo no presencial y atención personalizada.

Personalized attention
Methodologies
ICT practicals
Supervised projects
Description
Professor will be available on-line to hold short training sessions with interested students in both methodologies

Assessment
Methodologies Competencies Description Qualification
Supervised projects A9 A10 A11 A13 B13 La realización de un caso práctico que habrá de entregarse contará el 20% de la asignatura 5
Oral presentation A2 A5 A6 A12 B11 C1 C2 C6 Se valorará la expresión oral, el manejo de los términos, la orientación pedagógica, la utilización de TICS y los contenidos de la exposición propiamente dicha. 5
Directed discussion A2 A5 A9 A12 Se valorará la iniciativa en la intervención, el número de intervenciones y la utilización de argumentos y razonamientos jurídicos adecuados. No se precisa que se aporte la solución ocrrecta. Interesa el debate. 5
Speaking test A10 A12 Al final del Curso se re realizará una prueba oral en la que se valorará la expresión verbal, la utilización de la terminología jurídica y los contenidos expuestos. 5
Short answer questions A2 A5 A6 A9 A10 A11 A13 B13 Se pretende realizar tre pruebas escritas compuestas cada una de ellas por varias respuestas breves. Cada respuesta acertada suma untos. No se descuentan los fallos. En cada prueba se podrá llegar a sumar un total de 10 puntos. 80
 
Assessment comments
Debido á participación nesta materia de diversos profesores, as reglas concretas de avaliación anunciaranse ao inicio de curso para cada grupo.
Nalgún grupo, a avalaliación da proba obxectiva (que poderá ser tipo test) poderá ter un valor de 60% da calificación final, sendo a evaluación continua do 40%.

Sources of information
Basic

A) Handbooks:

- CARTWRIGHT, JOHN: Contract Law: An Introduction to the English Law of Contract for the Civil Lawyer, Hart Publishing (last edition).

- VAN DAM, CEES: European Tort Law, Oxford University Press (last edition).

- DCFR (Draft Common Frame of Reference), outline edition:

 http://ec.europa.eu/justice/policies/civil/docs/dcfr_outline_edition_en.pdf

- PETL (Principles of European Tort Law): http://www.egtl.org/

B) Recommended readings:

Students will be given several papers and judicial decisions to read and analyze along the course. They all will be put at the student’s disposal on Moodle.
Complementary
DÍEZ-PICAZO, L. y GULLÓN BALLESTEROS, A. Sistema de Derecho Civil. Vol. II. Derecho de Obligaciones. Tecnos. Madrid.

LACRUZ BERDEJO, J. L. Elementos de Derecho Civil. Derecho de Obligaciones. Dykinson. Madrid.

LASARTE ALVAREZ, C. Principios de Derecho Civil. Derecho de Obligaciones. Marcial Pons. Madrid.

GONZÁLEZ PÉREZ, J. Responsabilidad patrimonial de las Administraciones Públicas. Civitas. Madrid 2000.

MIR PUIG PELAT, O. La responsabilidad patrimonial de la Administración. Hacia un nuevo sistema. Civitas. Madrid 2002.

Recommendations
Subjects that it is recommended to have taken before
Person's Law/612G01007
Family Law/612G01013

Subjects that are recommended to be taken simultaneously

Subjects that continue the syllabus
Contract Law/612G01024

Other comments
Recoméndase aos estudiantes seguir o sistema de avaliación continua, asistiendo regularmente ás clases (teóricas e prácticas) e realizando as actividades de avaliación marcadas en cada grupo.


(*)The teaching guide is the document in which the URV publishes the information about all its courses. It is a public document and cannot be modified. Only in exceptional cases can it be revised by the competent agent or duly revised so that it is in line with current legislation.