第二,真正的难题是,如果补救成本大于或远大于减价,非违约方提出补救成本的赔偿,违约方是否有权利对补救成本提出抗辩?或者此时受害人只能有权选择减价?如果受害人的补救成本等于或小于减价,当事人选择减价对自己还是对受害人都是有利的,且符合效率原则,此时选择减价,法律也自无禁止的充足理由。如果减价能够实现合同当事人的意图而且不是不合理的且又不违反公共政策,此时法律应当规定受害人只能主张价值损失,而不宜或不能一律肯定救济权或补救成本的优先性。该结论的理由笔者已经在上文中进行过较多讨论,此处不赘。
(四)如果上述救济方式依然不能实现正义或出现过于苛刻的结果,法律可以考虑适用获益赔偿。理由如前所述,此处不赘。
结语
在出现瑕疵履行时,法律通常会赋予补救成本的赔偿,如果救济瑕疵的成本超过价值降低应当如何处理就成为棘手问题。当然美国目前流行的三种规则以及英国的意图检测都有明显缺陷,主要是没有考虑当事人的意图或者损害赔偿的合理性限制,这违反合同及合同法的内在特征和价值。而新的规则可称为”综合性标准“,具体内容包括”意图、合理性规则和政策标准“,这三个标准以意图标准为核心,三种标准相互制约,共同构成判断救济方式的基础根据。我们还认为,目前还存在第三条道路可走,即所获利益赔偿,这可弱化前两种救济方式的苛刻,在某些情况下更能实现当事人的预期。而随着私法封闭体系的崩溃,上述救济方式的选择还要受到国家立法和政策的限制。而我国《合同法》可以完善减价权的规定,同时给获益赔偿以一定的空间,建立瑕疵履行救济的完整体系。
【作者简介】
孙良国,单位为清华大学法学院、吉林大学法学院。
【注释】在我国现行法的违约行为体系中,瑕疵履行不是一种独立的违约行为形态,是不完全履行的一个部分,但学术研究上其依然具有一定的独立意义。参见韩世远:《履行障碍法的体系》,法律出版社2006年版,第107-116页;王利明:《违约责任论》(修订版),中国政法大学出版社2003年版,第178-185页。
补救成本(the cost to remedy)有不同的表达方式,如完成成本(the cost to complete) 、履行成本(the cost of performance)、补救瑕疵的成本(cost to remedy defect)、校正成本(cost of correction)、补救工作的成本(cost of remedial work)等等,笔者在同一意义上使用这些术语。
价值损失(loss in value)有不同的表达方式,如价值差额(difference in value)、价值减少(diminution in value)等,笔者也在同一意义上使用这些术语。
382 P. 2d 109 (Okl. 1962).
205 Minn. 163,286 N.W.235(Minn. 1939).
[1977]1 WLR 1262.
596 N. E. 2d 961 (Ind. Ct. App. 1992).
596 N. E. 2d 961 (Ind. Ct. App. 1992).
230 N. Y. 239.
230 N. Y. 244.
230 N. Y. 245,246, 247,248.
该案的事实是:原告与被告缔约,原告将其土地租给被告,被告采取砂石而且将土地平整如初。被告将最好的砂石采完,但没有平整土地。平整土地的成本估计为6万美元,而土地平整后增加的价值约为1. 2万美元。
117 N. H. 441,374 A. 2d 929, 934(1977).
374 A. 2d 933(N. H. 1977).
AC344.
695 F. 2d 1075 (10th Cir 1983).
890 P. 2d 847(Okla. 1994).
Timothy J. Muris, Cost of Completion or Diminution in Market Value: The Relavance of Subjective Value, Journal of Legal Studiesl2(1983),P.96;Carol Chomsky, Of Spoil Pits and Swimming Pools: Reconsidering the Measure of Damages for Construction Contracts, Minnesoda Law Review75(1991),p. 495.
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