The Intent Requirement for the Liability Arising from Immorality under German, Swiss and Turkish Laws

Year 2024, Issue: 74, 307 - 324, 30.05.2024

Günhan Gönül Koşar

https://doi.org/10.26650/annales.2024.74.0013

Abstract

Upon the modernization of the Republic of Türkiye, the Swiss Civil Code and the Swiss Code of Obligations were adopted in 1926. The Turkish provision that regulates liability arising from immorality (Turkish Code of Obligations Art 49/2) requires the tortfeasor to act intentionally. However, it is controversial in Swiss doctrine whether the Swiss Code of Obligations Art 41/2 – the source law of Turkish provision – requires Absicht (malice/pure intent to cause harm) as a different degree of intent. Even though the Turkish Code of Obligations Art 49/2 uses the Turkish term kasıt -intent- (Vorsatz), the debate in the Swiss doctrine spread to Turkish doctrine, and there is a disagreement regarding the degree of intent required in the provision. While some authors state that, in accordance with Swiss law, Absicht (malice) should be required for the application of such a provision with a restrictive nature, other authors find indirect intent (dolus eventualis) sufficient to invoke said provision. In brief, in this paper, the degree of intent required for the liability arising from immorality under Turkish tort law shall be evaluated in comparison with German and Swiss laws.

Keywords

Malice, Direct intent, Indirect intent, Liability, Immorality

References

• Altop A, Türk, İsviçre ve Alman Hukuklarında Bankaların Verdikleri Banka Bilgilerinden Dolayı Hukuki Sorumlulukları (Filiz 1996). google scholar
• Antalya OG, Borçlar Hukuku Genel Hükümler Volume II (2nd edn, Legal 2018). google scholar
• Ateş D, Borçlar Hukuku Sözleşmelerinde Genel Ahlaka Aykırılık (Turhan 2007). google scholar
• Ayan M, Borçlar Hukuku Genel Hükümler (11th edn, Seçkin 2016). google scholar
• Badur E and Turan Başara G, ‘Aile Hukukunda Sadakat Yükümlülüğü ve İhlalinden Kaynaklanan Manevi Tazminat İstemi’ (2016) 65 (1) Ankara University Law Faculty Journal 101. google scholar
• Barlas N, ‘Başkasının Sözleşme İlişkisine Müdahale Sebebiyle Sorumluluk’ in Engin Bİ, Baysal B and Aydın Ünver T (ed), Prof. Dr. Rona Serozan’a Armağan (OnikiLevha 2010) 424. google scholar
• Baysal B, Haksız Fiil Hukuku (Onikilevha 2019). google scholar
• Baysal B, Zarar Görenin Kusuru (Müterafik Kusur) (Onikilevha 2012). google scholar
• Bieri R, ‘Sittenwidrige Schadigung nach Art 41 Abs. 2 OR Einblick in eine ‘Mauerblümchen’-Bestimmung des Haftpflichtrechts’ (2008) Aktuelle Juristische Praxis 549. google scholar
• Brehm R, Berner Kommentar, Die Entstehung durch unerlaubte Handlungen, Art. 41 - 61 OR Schweizerisches Zivilgesetzbuch, Das Obligationenrecht (4th edn, Stampfli 2013). google scholar
• Ceylan ZŞ, ‘Yargıtay Kararları Işığında Zina Sebebiyle Boşanmada Manevi Tazminat İstemi’ (2022) Erciyes Unviversity Law Faculty Journal 49. google scholar
• Çağlayan Aksoy P, Hukuka ve Ahlaka Aykırılık Unsurları Çerçevesinde Salt Malvarlığı Zararlarının Tazmini (Onikilevha 2016). google scholar
• Erdem M and Makaracı Başak A, Aile Hukuku (1th edn, Seçkin 2022). google scholar
• Eren F, Borçlar Hukuku Genel Hükümler (26th edn, Yetkin 2021). google scholar
• Deutsch E, ‘Grundmechanismen der Haftung nach deutschem Recht’ in Klein FE (ed), Colloquium über die Grundlagen und Funktionen des Haftpflichtrechts (Helbing and Lichtenhahn 1973) 47. google scholar
• Fellmann W and Kottmann A, Schweizerisches Haftpflichtrecht (Stampfli 2012). google scholar
• Feyzioğlu FN, Borçlar Hukuku Genel Hükümler Cilt I (Fakülteler Matbaası 1976). google scholar
• Förster C, Beck’sche Online-Kommentare zum BGB (63th edn, 2022). google scholar
• Fuchs M, Deliktsrecht (7th edn, Springer 2009). google scholar
• Fuhrer S, ‘Computerviren und Haftung’ (1991) 87 Schweizerische Juristen-Zeitung 129. google scholar
• Guhl T and others, Das Schweizerische Obligationenrecht mit Einschluss des Handels-und Wertpapierrechts (9th edn, Schulthess 2000). google scholar
• Gönül Koşar G, Haksız Fiil Sorumluluğunda Kusur ve Etkisi (Onikilevha 2020). google scholar
• Gümüş MA, Borçlar Hukukunun Genel Hükümleri (Yetkin 2021). google scholar
• Gürpınar D, Sözleşme Dışı Yanlış Tavsiyede Bulunma, Öğüt veya Bilgi Vermeden Doğan Hukuki Sorumluluk (Güncel Hukuk 2006). google scholar
• Güven OS, ‘Kusur Kavramı ve Çeşitleri (I)’ (1981) 20 Yargıtay Dergisi 570. google scholar
• Hatemi H and Gökyayla E, Borçlar Hukuku Genel Bölüm (5th edn, Filiz 2021). google scholar
• Honsell H, Isenring B and Kessler MA., Schweizerisches Haftpflichtrecht (5th edn, Schulthess 2013). google scholar
• Huguenin C, Obligationenrecht- Allgemeiner und Besonderer Teil (5th edn, Schulthess 2014). google scholar
• İnan AN and Yücel Ö, Borçlar Hukuku Genel Hükümler (4th edn, Seçkin 2014). google scholar
• Kahveci K, ‘İnançlı İşlemlerde El ve İşbirliği ile Hareket Kavramı’ (2021) 23 (1) Dokuz Eylül University Law Faculty Journal 257. google scholar
• Kaneti S, Haksız Fiilde Hukuka Aykırılık Unsuru (Kazancı 2007). google scholar
• Kapancı KB, Ahlaka Aykırı Bir Fiille Kasten Verilen Zararın Tazmini (TBK m. 49 f. II) (Vedat 2016). google scholar
• Keller A, Haftpflichtrecht im Privatrecht, Band I (6th edn, Stampfli 2002). google scholar
• Kessler MA, Basler Kommentar, Obligationenrecht I: Art. 1-529 OR (6th edn, Helbing and Lichtenhahn 2015). google scholar
• Kılıçoğlu AM., Borçlar Hukuku Genel Hükümler (26th edn, Turhan 2022) google scholar
• Kötz H and Wagner G, Deliktsrecht (13th edn, Vahlen 2016). google scholar
• Markesinis BS and Unberath H, The German Law of Torts, A Comparative Treatise (4th edn, Hart 2002). google scholar
• Müller C, CHK- Handkommentar zum Schweizer Privatrecht (3rd edn, Schulthess 2016). google scholar
• Oftinger K and Stark EW, Schweizerisches Haftpflichtrecht Erster Bd.: Allgemeiner Teil (4th edn, Schulthess 1995). google scholar
• Oftinger K and Stark EW, Schweizerisches Haftpflichtrecht Zweiter Band: Besonderer Teil - Erster TeilBd.: Verschuldenshaftung, gewöhnliche Kausalhaftungen, Haftung aus Gewasserverschmutzung (4th edn, Schulthess 1995). google scholar
• Oğuzman MK and Öz T, Borçlar Hukuku Genel Hükümler Cilt: II (14th edn, Vedat 2018). google scholar
• Öztan B and Ozanemre Yayla HT, ‘Yargıtay Hukuk Genel Kurulu’nun 22.3.2017 Tarih 2017/4-1334 Esas ve 2017/545 Karar Sayılı Kararı Üzerine Eleştirel Bir Yaklaşım’ (2017) 3 Ankara Barosu Dergisi 197. google scholar
• Paksoy MS, Sözleşmeyi İhlale Yöneltme (Onikilevha 2018). google scholar
• Reisoğlu S, Türk Borçlar Hukuku Genel Hükümler (25th edn, Beta 2014). google scholar
• Rey H and Wildhaber I, Ausservertragliches Haftpflichtrecht (5th edn, Schulthess 2018). google scholar
• Roberto V, Schweizerisches Haftpflichtrecht (Stampfli 2002). google scholar
• Rusch AF, ‘Scheinvaterregess’ in Fankhauser R and others (eds), Brennpunkt Familienrecht (Dike 2017) 477. google scholar
• Saymen FH and Elbir HK, Türk Borçlar Hukuku Umumi Hükümler Birinci Cilt (İsmail Akgün Matbaası) 1958. google scholar
• Schwarz AB, Borçlar Hukuku Dersleri I. Cilt (Kardeşler Basımevi 1948). google scholar
• Schwenzer I, Schweizerisches Obligationenrecht Allgemeiner Teil (7th edn, Stampfli 2016). google scholar
• Schwenzer I and Schönenberger B, ‘Civil Liability for Purely Economic Loss in Switzerland’, in XVth International Congress of Comparative Law (Publications of the Swiss Institute of Comparative Law 1998) 353. google scholar
• Serozan R, Medeni Hukuk Genel Bölüm Kişiler Hukuku (8th edn, Vedat 2018). google scholar
• Stark EW, Ausservertragliches Haftpflichtrecht Skriptum (2nd edn, Schulthess 1988). google scholar
• Staudinger A, Handkommentar zum BGB (6th edn, Nomos 2009). google scholar
• Tandoğan H, Türk Mes’uliyet Hukuku (Akit Dışı ve Akdi Mes’uliyet) (1961 reprinted edn, Vedat 2010). google scholar
• Tekinay SS and others, Tekinay Borçlar Hukuku Genel Hükümler (7th edn, Filiz 1993). google scholar
• van Dam C, European Tort Law (2nd edn, Oxford 2013) google scholar
• Wagner G, Münchener Kommentar zum BGB (8th edn, C.H.BECK 2020). google scholar
• Werro F, Commentaire romand, Code des obligations I Art. 1-529 CO (2nd edn, Helbing and Lichtenhahn 2012). google scholar