An Examination of the Liability for Compensation for the Breach of Choice of Court Agreements: In the Light of the German Federal Court Decision of 17.10.2019

In the case subject to the decision of the German Federal Court (BGH) dated 17.10.2019, there was an exclusive choice of court agreement in favor of the Bonn courts, because of one of the parties filed a lawsuit in the US courts, the other party had to pay high amounts of litigation costs and attorney fees. In the case, the BGH accepted that the international choice of court agreement was violated, and it was decided that compensation be paid in accordance with the provisions of the law of obligations. This decision could set a precedent for the states included in the Continental European legal system. The reasonings accepted in the decision are of a nature that can also be asserted in terms of Turkish law. With the exclusive choice of court agreement, the parties are obliged to file a lawsuit in the chosen court (prorogation) and not to file a lawsuit in other non-chosen state courts (derogation). Although the dominant approach was accepting of the legal nature of the international choice of court agreement as a procedural law contract in the past, the new jurisprudence confirmed that the choice of court agreement also has a substantive law character. Article 112 of the TCO will have to be applied to the compensation liability under Turkish law in case of a breach of the choice of court agreement. The conditions sought in article 112 of the TCO are as follows: a breach of an obligation, occurrence of damage, existence of a fault and the presence of a causal link. These elements must be present for the breach of the choice of court agreement to lead to a liability for compensation

PDF

___

Ahmed M, The Nature and Enforcement of Choice of Court Agreements: A Comparative Study (1st edn, Hart 2017)
Akinci Z, Milletlerarasi Ozel Hukuk Ders Kitabi (1st edn, Vedat 2020) Alangoya Y, Yildirim K and Deren-Yildirim N, Medeni Usul Hukuku Esaslari (8th edn, Beta 2011)
Álvarez González S, ‘The Spanish Tribunal Supremo Grants Damages for Breach of a Choice-of- Court Agreement’ (2009) 6 IPRax Antomo J, SchadensersatzWegenDerVerletzungEinerInternationalenGerichtsstandsvereinbarung? (Mohr Siebeck 2017)
——, ‘Zivilprozessrecht: Schadensersatz Wegen Verletzung Einer Gerichtsstandsvereinbarung’ (2020) 4 EuZW 143 Arslan R and others, Medeni Usul Hukuku (7th edn, Yetkin 2021)
Avsar M, Milletlerarasi Usul Hukukunda Mahkemelerin Yetkisinin Belirlenmesinde Taraflarin Irade Serbestisi (On Iki Levha 2021)
Aybay R and Dardagan E, Uluslararasi Düzeyde Yasalarin Catismasi (2nd edn, İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi Yayınları 2008)
Baysal B, Zarar Görenin Kusuru (1st edn, On Iki Levha 2012)
Bolayir N, Medeni Usul Hukukunda Yetki Sozlesmeleri (Beta 2009)
Born G, International Arbitration and Forum Selection Agreements: Drafting and Enforcing (5th edn, International, Kluwer Law 2016)
Briggs A, Agreements on Jurisdiction and Choice of Law (1st edn, Oxford University Press 2008)
Brownlie I and Crawford J, Brownlie’s Principles of Public International Law (8th edn, Oxford University Press 2012)
Budak AC and Karaaslan V, Medeni Usul Hukuku (5th edn, Filiz 2021)
Caliskan Y, ‘Tahkim Sozlesmesine Aykiriliktan Dolayi Tazminat Talebi’, Milletlerarası Ozel Hukukta Guncel Konular Sempozyumu Anadolu Universitesi Eskisehir 21-22 Nisan 2016 (Yetkin 2016)
Celikel A and Erdem BB, Milletlerarasi Ozel Hukuk (17th edn, Beta 2021)
Demirkol B, Milletlerarasi Yetki Anlasmalari (Vedat 2018)
Dogan V, Milletlerarasi Ozel Hukuk (6th edn, Savaş 2020)
Eksi N, Milletlerarasi Ticaret Hukuku (4th edn, Beta 2020)
Eren F, Borclar Hukuku Genel Hukumler (25th edn, Yetkin 2020)
Giray FK, Milletlerarasi Ozel Hukuk ve Usul Hukukunda Zamanasimi (1st edn, Beta 2020)
Gungor G, Turk Milletlerarasi Ozel Hukuku (Yetkin 2021)
Hay P, ‘Forum Selection Clauses - Procedural Tools or Contractual Obligations? Conceptualization and Remedies in American and German Law’ (2021) 35 Emory International Law Review 1
Huysal B, ‘6100 Sayili Hukuk Muhakemeleri Kanunu Ile Getirilen Yenilikler Isiginda Yabanci Mahkeme Kararlarinin Taninmasi ve Tenfizi Konusunda Bazi Tespitler’ (2012) 32 MHB 71
Irge Erdogan B, Milletlerarasi Usul Hukukunda Yetki Anlasmalari (1st edn, On Iki Levha 2021)
Karsli A, Medeni Usul Hukukunda Usuli Islemler (1st edn, Kudret Basim 2001)
Kilicoglu AM, Borclar Hukuku Genel Hukumler (25th edn, Turhan 2021)
Koc E, Medeni Usul Hukuku Kapsaminda Usuli İslemlerde Irade Bozukluklari (1st edn, Sumer Kitabevi 2021)
Kocayusufpasaoglu N, Borclar Hukuku Genel Bolum Cilt 1 (7th edn, Filiz 2017)
Kuru B, Medeni Usul Hukuku El Kitabi Cilt 1 (Yetkin 2020)
Mankowski P, ‘Ist Eine Vertragliche Absicherung von Gerichtsstandsvereinbarungen Möglich?’ (2009) 1 IPRax 23
Nomer E, Devletler Hususi Hukuku (23rd edn, Beta 2021)
Oguzman MK and Oz MT, Borclar Hukuku Genel Hukumler (19th edn, Vedat 2021)
Papakci A, ‘Durust Davranma ve Dogruyu Soyleme Yukumlulugu’ (2016) 11 Bahcesehir Universitesi Hukuk Fakultesi Dergisi 103
Pekcanitez H and others, Pekcanitez Usul-Medeni Usul Hukuku (15th edn, On Iki Levha 2017)
Pekcanitez H, Tas Korkmaz H and Meric N, Gerekceli Hukuk Muhakemeleri Kanunu (12th edn, On Iki Levha 2021)
Postacioglu I, Medeni Usul Hukuku Dersleri (Sulhi Garan Matbaası 1975) Resch R, ‘Druckmittel Wider Die Sowie Kompensation Nach Missactung Internationaler Gerichtsstandsvereinbarungen Vor Deutschen Gerichten Im Verhältnis Zu Drittstaaten’ [2020] NZG 241
Rielaender F, ‘Schadensersatz Wegen Klage Vor Einem Aufgrund Gerichtsstandsvereinbarung Unzustaendigen Gericht’ (2020) 84 RabelsZ 548
Ries F, Der Schadensersatzanspruch Wegen Der Missactung Einer Internationalen Gerichtsstandsvereinbarung (Duncker&Humblot 2018)
Sanli C, Uluslararasi Ticari Akitlerin Hazırlanması ve Uyusmazliklarin Cozum Yollari (7th edn, Beta 2019)
Sanli C, Esen E and Ataman Figanmese İ, Milletlerarası Özel Hukuk (9th edn, Beta 2021)
Sargın F, Milletlerarasi Usul Hukukunda Yetki Anlasmalari (Yetkin 1996)
Schulze R and others, Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch Handkommentar (10th edn, Nomos 2019)
Takahashi K, ‘Damages for Breach of a Choice of Court Agreement’ (2008) 10 Yearbook of Private International Law 57
Tanriver S, Medeni Usul Hukuku Cilt 1 (2nd edn, Yetkin 2018)
Tekinalp G, Milletlerarasi Ozel Hukuk Baglama ve Usul Hukuku Kurallari (13th edn, Vedat 2020)
Tham CH, ‘Damages for Breach of English Jurisdiction Clauses: More than Meets the Eye’ [2004] Lloyd’s Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly 46
Umar B, Hukuk Muhakemeleri Kanunu Şerhi (2nd edn, Yetkin 2014)
Ustundag S, ‘Medeni Usul Hukukunda Salahiyet Anlasmalari’ (1967) 27 IUHFM 310
——, Medeni Yargilama Hukuku (7th edn, Nesil Matbaacilik 2000)
Uyanik A, Turk Milletlerarasi Usul Hukukunda Yetki Sözlesmeleri (İstanbul Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Yüksek Lisans Tezi 1994)
Vargo JF, ‘American Rule on Attorney Fee Allocation: The Injured Person’s Access to Justice, The’ (1993) 42 American University Law Review 1567
Yunlu S, Yardimci Kisilerin Fiillerinden Sorumluluk (1st edn, On Iki Levha 2019)
Bundesgerichtshof (BGH) III ZR 42/19
LG Bonn, Urteil vom 08112017-16 O 41/16
OLG Köln, Urteil vom 26022019-3 U 159/17