Claim from the contract

Claims from contracts can take many forms. It can be a simple enforcement of a contractual obligation — a claim, but it is often a combination of several decisive issues. Was there a breach of the contract that established the right to terminate it? What performance do the parties owe under the terminated contract? Has one of the parties suffered damage as a result of the failure to fulfil the contractual obligation of the other party? Is this damage covered by the agreed contractual penalty?

From this cross-sectional enumeration alone, it is clear that the key is the correct legal qualification of the whole situation in the context of the contractual relationship, already at the moment when the first problems between the parties are resolved. Many years of experience with various reasons or circumstances of disputes point out that it is not advisable to rely on the good relations of the parties at the time of signing, oral agreement or promise. The best prevention of litigation is a clearly written contract, from which the rights and obligations of the parties are clearly based, and which follows their ideas as far as possible. However, no prevention will guarantee that a dispute will not occur.

Due to the variety of contractual relations, it is difficult to present a comprehensive interpretation, so we mention some of the institutes that we encounter in the context of contract disputes:

The conclusion of the contract is preceded by the so-called negociation, or negotiation of its content. Here it is important to pay attention to the binding nature of the offer or, for example, the pre-contractual liability, which the party may establish the right to compensation in the event that the counterparty ultimately does not conclude a contract with it.

In the event that a Contracting Party fails to fulfil its obligations or deviates from the agreed method of performance, it shall: contractual penaltywhich may constitute a so-called lump-sum compensation. However, the court has the power to reduce the amount of the contractual penalty in the context of a particular claim. In addition, it can also be arranged interest on arrearswhich, in the event of a futile expiration of the period, forms an accessory of the monetary claim. If the parties do not agree on the interest on default or exclude it, the pecuniary claim will be paid by the so-called statutory interest on default, which is equal to the REPO rate set by the Czech National Bank, increased by 8 percentage points.

Contracting parties in certain circumstances are subject to the law right to withdraw from the contract. In this case, the contract is treated as if it never came into existence and it is therefore necessary to return any performance of the parties, otherwise it would be an unjust enrichment. The contractual relationship can also be terminated Termination of the contract for agreed reasons.

A so-called arbitration clause can also be negotiated, on the basis of which a certain arbitration court will settle disputes from a given contract, which has an advantage especially in the speed of dispute resolution.

časté otázky

Co je dobré vědět o této oblasti?

What is maladministration?

The definition of “maladministration” is quite broad, but in general it can be described as a violation of binding rules prescribed by legal norms for the conduct of a public authority in its activities, to which it is obliged and authorized on the basis of generally binding legislation. However, in the case of maladministration, this is not an illegal decision, but the procedure of the authority, which was subsequently reflected in its decision. It is often an unreasonable length of proceedings, where, although the decision given is legal in itself, the time until it is issued is contrary to procedural rules or reasonableness and the parties are therefore entitled to compensation for delays in the proceedings.

What is an illegal decision of the authority?

The right to compensation for damage caused by an unlawful decision has the parties (including omissions) in which a decision was issued, as a result of which they suffered property or non-property damage. However, it is not enough just to disagree with the decision or to seek its annulment or to declare it incorrect at the next instance. Compensation can only be claimed if the decision has been annulled or changed for illegality after it has become legal (or if the decision is non-final but enforceable).

Should I oppose the lawsuit if I recognize the claim?

Even if you accept the claim, it is better to prevent a court decision on it, for example, by paying the debt earlier or by agreeing with the claimant, as the court will usually also impose an obligation on you to pay the costs of the plaintiff's proceedings. However, the plaintiff often has the will to agree to withdraw the action in exchange for at least partial or earlier payment of the debt. It always makes sense to at least attempt an extrajudicial action.

How to claim damage caused by the state?

A claim for compensation for damage caused by the state is applied in a different procedure than a normal claim. The first step is to apply for compensation to the competent authority, often the ministry. If the Office does not grant compensation within 6 months of the submission of the application, judicial enforcement may be initiated. In such proceedings, the injured party is partially advantaged, for example, by a reduced court fee and substantially lower costs in the event of failure.

Where do I file a lawsuit? And where's the appeal?

To file an action, it is necessary to designate a court of substantive and local jurisdiction. The district court (district court in Prague) is usually competent in the case. Local jurisdiction is usually determined according to the defendant's place of residence or domicile in the case of a legal entity.

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JUDr. Vít Kučera, MBA
Vít has extensive experience in representing clients before domestic and foreign courts, especially in commercial disputes. He specializes in preliminary measures, which he also deals with in his publishing activities. Since 2013 he also serves as an arbitrator of the Football Association of the Czech Republic.
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Mgr. Martin Tůma, Ph.D.
Martin mainly deals with commercial cases, including disputes arising from unfair competition, damages or insurance claims. He likes to look for simple solutions to (seemingly) complex problems. He also deals with construction law, in connection with which he represents clients in negotiations with administrative authorities and before the courts.
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Mgr. Kateřina Obertová
Kateřina has been involved in litigation since the beginning of her long legal practice, during which she dealt mainly with disputes arising from civil and commercial law contracts, as well as cases concerning family law or property ownership. In advocacy, he bases himself on clarity and empathy, with which he tries to offer functional and practical solutions to clients.
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JUDr. Ing. Vít Švestka
Vít is a lawyer specializing in solving problems in the field of tax law before the tax authorities and the courts. He also acts as a tax advisor and thus can provide additional valuable advice and experience on how to reduce the risk of initiating proceedings at all. Vít also deals with corporate disputes. In addition to his legal education, he also holds a degree from the University of Economics in Prague, where he also participates in teaching and publishing activities.
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Mgr. Marie Timoščuková
Marie is an expert in labor law. Therefore, he also has extensive experience in representation in labor disputes in the field of labor law, from both sides of the “barricade”, that is, on the part of both employers and employees. Thus, it has not only successfully defended the validity of the dismissal, but also obtained many illegally withheld bonuses to employees.
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Mgr. Vojtěch Adámek
Vojtěch is an experienced lawyer specializing mainly in disputes over claims arising from contracts, including settlement of parties after termination of contracts, debt collection and disputes over compensation for damage (damages). He considers understanding the client's needs and finding effective and pragmatic solutions together, including extrajudicial termination of disputes, as the key to success.
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