Private International Law
INTRODUCTION TO PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW PRIVATE PRIVA TE IN TERNATIONA L LAW
“Private international law is the boy o! prin"iples# r$les# an at ti%es# poli"ies that ini"ate how a !orei&n ele%ent in a le&al proble% or isp$te sho$l be ealt with ith' (ortensen )**+ The "o%%on law has traitionally "lassi!ie %$lti,state "ases as &ivin& rise to one or %ore o! three i!!erent iss$es1. Juri Jurisd sdic icti tion on o
Whether the lo"al "o$rt# or .!or$%/# has the power to hear an eter%ine the "ase# or whether the "onta"ts the "ase has with another state or "o$ntry li%it or otherwise restrain the !or$% "o$rt/s power or willin&ness to e"ie the "ase
2. Recogni Recognition tion and and enforcem enforcement ent of foreig foreign n judgmen judgments ts o
Where the "ase has pro"eee to 0$&%ent in the other state or "o$ntry# whether that 0$&%ent "an be re"o&nise or en!or"e in the !or
%$. !"oic "oicee of #a$ #a$ o
Even i! the !or$% "o$rt has# an will# e1er"ise the 0$risi"tion to e"ie the "ase# whether it will e"ie the "ase in a""oran"e with the law o! the !or
%$o
2lex fori3# or in a""oran"e with the law o! the other state or "o$ntry Is the !or$% or !orei&n law to be .the law o! the "a$se/ 2 lex causae3 that
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isposes o! the "ase# an how oes the !or$% "o$rt "hoose one or the other4 This 5$estion is nat$rally only i%portant i! appli"ation o! the !or$%/s law is li6ely to &ive a i!!erent res$lt to the appli"ation o! the !orei&n law 7 that is# where there is .a "on!li"t o! laws/
real property in Brisbane
Private international law has its histori"al evelop%ent in "ivil law8 Lex fori is the law o! the !or$% an lex causae is law o! the "a$se9law o! the %atter in isp$te8 It is so%eti%es "alle the ispositive law 2as oppose to pro"e$ral law83 law83
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Private International Law
real property in Indonesia
The "o$rt will still apply its pro"e$ral laws as to how the parties "o%e abo$t b$t it %ay apply so%e other law to resolve that isp$te e& lex causae is not the law o! :l# it is the law o! Inonesia8 In A$stralia# there is a PIL r$le whi"h says isp$tes over real property are to be eter%ine by the lex situs 2pla"e where the property is sit$ate38 The law where real property is will eter%ine the ri&hts an $ties o! people who have isp$tes over ri&hts to property8 lex situ situss is Inonesian law# is private The %e"hani %e"hanis% s% by whi"h the "o$rt "o$rt eter% eter%ine iness the lex international law8
:LD
There is a "on!li"t o! laws 7 two sets o! laws an ea"h set wo$l &ive a i!!erent o$t"o%e when applie to the !a"ts o! the "ase8
J%RI&'I!TI ON
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Private International Law
real property in Indonesia
The "o$rt will still apply its pro"e$ral laws as to how the parties "o%e abo$t b$t it %ay apply so%e other law to resolve that isp$te e& lex causae is not the law o! :l# it is the law o! Inonesia8 In A$stralia# there is a PIL r$le whi"h says isp$tes over real property are to be eter%ine by the lex situs 2pla"e where the property is sit$ate38 The law where real property is will eter%ine the ri&hts an $ties o! people who have isp$tes over ri&hts to property8 lex situ situss is Inonesian law# is private The %e"hani %e"hanis% s% by whi"h the "o$rt "o$rt eter% eter%ine iness the lex international law8
:LD
There is a "on!li"t o! laws 7 two sets o! laws an ea"h set wo$l &ive a i!!erent o$t"o%e when applie to the !a"ts o! the "ase8
J%RI&'I!TI ON
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Private International Law
The locus delicti is the pla"e o! the tort8 ;$risi"tion is the !irst iss$e that has to be aresse8 The !irst 5$estion is "an the "o$rt whi"h has a !orei&n ele%ent be!ore it aresses that !orei&n ele%ent8
Part 0$sti!i"ation 2poli"y3 was eli%ination o! !or$% shippin&
The "hoi"e o! law pro"ess is the pro"ess by whi"h a "o$rt e"ies whi"h o! these two "o%petin& laws the "o$rt will apply to a "ase8 Wherever these torts o""$r# the law that &overns that a"tion are &overne by the law where yo$ ne&li&ently per!or%e8
The e!enant was Rena$lt 2
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Caleonia# an the !or$% was the N=W=C ;$risi"tion o P spent so%e ti%e in hospital in N=W 7 on&oin& %ei"al treat%ent was
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s$!!i"ient $ner N=W r$les to !in 0$risi"tion Choi"e o! law 2a !orei&n or interstate law3 o What r$le is applie to e"ie the %atter to eter%ine whether Rena$lt was o
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ne&li&ent in the %an$!a"t$re or esi&n4 Not &oin& to t$rn to N=W law 7 &oin& to t$rn to the law o!
Caleonia Re"o&nition or en!or"e%ent o! a !orei&n or interstate 0$&%ent o I! yo$ o apply
those a%a&es Ass$%in& that Rena$lt has no assets in N=W# how o yo$ &et those a%a&es4 Re"o&nition or en!or"e%ent o! a !orei&n or interstate 0$&%ent >opin& that a
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Private International Law
Will judgment be enforced?
Recognition or enforcement of a foreign or interstate judgment
CON
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LAW that resolves isp$te
O< LAW
Private International Law
Private international law is not 0$st abo$t a "on!li"t o! s$bstantive laws# b$t also abo$t a "on!li"t between i!!erent =tates/ "on!li"t o! law r$les ie a "on!li"t o! "on!li"t o! laws8
PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW – rules of choice of law eg. lex loci delecti Procedura# ru#es will
always be the law o! the !or$%9 lex fori8 There is never a 5$estion o! a :l "o$rt applyin& "ivil pro"e$re laws o! Cali!ornia8 >owever# a :l "o$rt %ay apply !orei&n su(stanti)e #a$ or lex causae8 Pri)ate internationa# #a$ ru#es s$"h as lex loci delecti an lex situs are r$les o! "hoi"e o! law8 :l "o$rt has i!!erent pro"e$ral r$les to a
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En&lish testatri1 ies while o%i"ile in
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(ay be that the En&lish "o$rt has 0$risi"tion to hear this %atter
Private International Law
(ay also be the "ase that the
What happens when two "o$rts both try an aress the sa%e
%atter Ass$%in& En&lish "o$rt only has 0$risi"tion En&lish !or$% o Uner En&lish law an
owever#
property =$bstantive law o! En&lan i!!ers !ro%
o
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applyin& ow oes the "o$rt e"ie whi"h o! the two is &oin& to apply4 o T$rns to the "on!li"t o! law r$les9"hoi"e o! law r$les Uner British law# s$""ession to %ovables is eter%ine o o
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s$bstantive law o!
by the o%i"ile o! the testatri1 ie
by nationality o! the testatri1 ie En&lan There!ore# there is a "on!li"t o! s$bstantive law an a "on!li"t o! "hoi"e o! law r$les
=OURCE= O< PIL
Nielson v Overseas Projects Corp of Victoria 2)**?3 ))@ ALR )@
Private International Law
law on how yo$ eal with "on!li"t o! "on!li"t o! laws8 In this "ase# the >CA elevate the &oal o! "onsisten"y in international liti&ation over an above all other &oals o! PIL8 ;$i"ial The %ain so$r"e o! "hoi"e o! law r$les in A$stralia re%ains the "o%%on law8
e"isions
Constit$tional so$r"es The Co%%onwealth Constit$tion in"l$es a n$%ber o! provisions i%portant to private international law 5$estions within the A$stralian !eeration8 International "onventions PIL is abo$t national law o! A$stralia8 =o%e o! this law has its ori&ins in international "onventions# an only be"o%es part o! the s$bstantive law o! A$stralia i! ena"te by le&islation8 UNDROIT an UNICTRAL try to aopt international "onventions that intro$"e $ni!or% le&islation 2s$bstantive law38 >a&$e Conventions oesn/t try to intro$"e $ni!or% s$bstantive laws# it tries to intro$"e $ni!or% "on!li"t o! law r$les8 Le&islation (ost o! A$stralia/s PIL is !o$n in the le&islation !or !a%ily law8 By loo6in& at the i!!erent ways in whi"h PIL is "hara"terise e& "o%%on law vs le&islation8 ="holarly writin& Why the "o$rts aopt these r$les an why they so%eti%es have i!!i"$lties applyin& the r$les8
.(ULTI=TATE/ OR .
Two nation states 2A$stralia an
ENTITIE= owever# in the U=9Canaa# %arria&e is a state power8 There "an be a "on!li"t between
Private International Law
A$stralian "o%%on law 7 no "on!li"t possible between =tates8 In interstate "ases# the o"trine li%its the "hoi"e o! law %etho to "ases where at least one o! the "ontenin& laws is o! stat$tory ori&in8 =tates %oi!y "o%%on law e& Civil Liability Act 200 2:l38 There is "on!li"t only i! on a parti"$lar %atter there is a "on!li"t between# e& a WA stat$te an :l stat$teF WA stat$te an "o%%on lawF "o%%on law an :l stat$te8 PRIVATE AND PUBLI C IN TERNATIONAL LAW =UB;ECT (ATTER Pu(#ic internationa# #a$ 7 the p$bli" law e& nation state# h$%an ri&hts# international "ri%e8 Pri)ate internationa# #a$ 7
the private law e& obli&ations 2"ontra"t# tort an restit$tion3# property 2holin&# trans!er# s$""ession3# persons 2!a%ily law# "orporations law# insolven"y stat$s3# not "ri%e# &overn%ent or a%inistration8 =OURCE Pu(#ic internationa# #a$ 7 "onventional 2treaty3 an "$sto%ary international law 2pra"ti"e o!
nations38 Pri)ate internationa# #a$ 7
the inivi$al nation/s %$ni"ipal law 2
OB;ECTIVE= O< PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW Why oes a "o$rt ever apply a !orei&n law 7 why not si%ply apply the lex fori4 What is the poli"y9theory $nerpinnin& PIL4
ea!onable e"#ectation! of t$e #artie!
CON=I=TENCG
%
Private International Law
The iea that "hoi"e o! law r$les espe"ially are esi&ne to pro%ote "ertainty# prei"tability an $ni!or%ity in the a0$i"ation o! %$lti,state "ases has been an i%portant ass$%ption behin the appli"ation o! !orei&n laws an is a "entral ob0e"tive o! %oern "on!li"ts law8 Ens$rin& "onsistent o$t"o%es in %$lti,state "ases is nat$rally one aspe"t o! the basi" prin"iple o! the r$le o! law that li6e "ases be e"ie ali6e8 The &oal o! "onsisten"y there!ore also ai%s to %ini%iHe the le&al si&ni!i"an"e o! the plainti!!/s "hoi"e o! !or$%# an so is"o$ra&es the pra"ti"e o! !or$% shoppin&8 This involves plainti!!s brin&in& an a"tion in one "o$rt pri%arily to obtain %aterial bene!its that they "o$l not obtain ha they s$e in a %ore appropriate "o$rt- *erre- RobinsonF S-eens Head 8 As an ob0e"tive !or "on!li"ts law# the &oal o! "onsisten"y has been is%isse as both $nrealisti" an# on o""asions# s$bversive o! 0$st res$lts in parti"$lar "ases8 PARTICULAR ;U =TICE Involves &ivin& e!!e"t to the e1pe"tations o! the parties8 The !a"t that a "ase hear in the !or$% has "onta"ts with another "o$ntry or state# %i&ht ini"ate to the 0$&e that appli"ation o! the other "o$ntry/s or state/s law will pro$"e a %ore 0$st o$t"o%e than appli"ation o! the !or$%/s8 INTERNATIONAL AND INTER=TATE CO(ITG Re"ipro"ity e& respe"tin& that another "o$ntry has a separate le&al syste% an that le&al syste% will &ive e!!e"t to o$r laws et"8 Re"o&nisin& that we won/t ne"essarily apply o$r laws to solve a isp$te8 The o"trine o! "o%ity was the basis !or the appli"ation o! !orei&n laws a""orin& to =tory# b$t %ainly $se to e%phasise that a !or% "o$rt ha no obli&ation to apply the law o !another "o$ntry or state8 HILTON V GU#OT 1." US 11/ (1"!)
Co%ity# in the le&al sense# is neither a %atter o! absol$te obli&ation on the one han# nor o! %ere "o$rtesy an &oowill $pon the other8 B$t it is the re"o&nition whi"h one nation allows within its territory to the le&islative# e1e"$tive# or 0$i"ial a"ts o! another nation# havin& $e re&ar both to international $ty an "onvenien"e# an to the ri&hts o! its own "itiHens or o! other persons who are $ner the prote"tion o! its laws8
The nee !or re"ipro"ity as a pre"onition to the appli"ation o! a !orei&n law is 5$estionable be"a$se a "o$rt oes not $s$ally %a6e its own r$les epenent on those o! other "o$ntries8 The better approa"h see%s to be that it is a prin"iple whi"h obli&es the !or$% "o$rt $nilaterally to see6 a reasonable a""o%%oation between the interests o! the !or$% an the
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Private International Law
!orei&n "o$ntry# an the %$t$al interest all "o$ntries have in pro%otin& an har%onio$s international le&al orer8
The "onse5$en"es o! &lobaliHation %$ltistate le&al proble%s are in"reasin&ly "o%%on It is in#erently an #istorically "o%ple1# with ebate theoreti"al $nerpinnin&s Its r$les# as "o%%on law r$les s$pple%ente with le&islative provisions# are in !l$1 PIL is %$ni"ipal law# there!ore it is not $niversal# an i!!ers !ro% =tate to =tate 2in"l$in& i!!eren"es in "on!li"t o! laws itsel! 7 i!!erent =tates %ay have i!!erent
ways o! aressin& a !orei&n ele%ent in le&al iss$es3 ?8 =o%e e&ree o! $ni!or%ity is# however# so%eti%es atte%pte thro$&h international "onventions e& !ague Convention on "xclusive C#oice of Court Agree$ents
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Private International Law
;URI=DICTION INTRO'%!TION
;$risi"tion is the power that a "o$rt has to eal with a parti"$lar "ase8 >owever# a "o$rt will not ne"essarily hear a "ase 0$st be"a$se these r$les o! 0$risi"tion are satis!ie8 There are "ertain %$lti,state "ases a "o$rt has no 0$risi"tion to eter%ine# even when 0$risi"tion is otherwise establishe on one o! the &ro$ns is"$sse in this "hapter8 There are also "onsierations whi"h allow a "o$rt# in the e1er"ise o! its is"retion# to e"line 0$risi"tion in a %$lti,state "ase even tho$&h the "o$rt still has the ri&ht to eter%ine the "ase8
!ourt WIT* jurisdiction dec#ines to e+ercise jurisdiction , $ee- c"/0
1. Jurisdiction at common #a$ o
Very narrow 0$risi"tion# b$t nevertheless "ontin$es to e1ist in A$stralia
2. Jurisdiction in interstate cases o o
De!enant is in another state or territory =pe"ial r$les abo$t A$stralia an the le&al syste%s within A$stralia
. Jurisdiction in internationa# cases o
De!enant is o$tsie A$stralia
;URI=DICTION AT CO((ON LAW @8 The ol En&lish syste% was base on territoria#it 7 the e!enant ha to be present in the territory o! the !or$%8 I! the e!enant was o$tsie o! yo$r territory# yo$ ha no 0$risi"tion even i! he was one o! yo$r "itiHens8 )8 The alternative is consent# or i! the e!enant vol$ntarily s$b%its to the 0$risi"tion o! the "o$rt8 There are a n$%ber o! sit$ations where this %ay be the "ase o A"t$ally not the e!enant o Alternative !or$% %i&ht be harer on the e!enant 2ass$%in& the alternative o
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!or$% has 0$risi"tion3 Where the e!enant "an "o$nter"lai%
Private International Law
In sophisti"ate sales "ontra"ts# they "an have a "hoi"e o! !or$% "la$se whi"h allows the parties to "hoose be!orehan what !or$% the isp$te will be resolve in8 >owever# 0$st be"a$se have s$b%itte in a "ontra"t to a "hoi"e o! !or$% oesn/t %ean the parties have a&ree abo$t the "hoi"e o! law 2"an have "hoi"e o! !or$% "la$se an a "hoi"e o! law "la$se83 CIVIL PROCEDURE PROCE== 2TWO =TAE=3 1. !#aim $rit a33#ication originating summons0 issued , $"en fi#ed and c"ec-ed in court registr o
The e!enant %$st be within the 0$risi"tion when the writ is iss$e- Larie arro =eparate !ro% iss$e o! servin& the writ
2. !#aim ser)ed on defendant res3ondent0 , 3ersona## or in case of cor3oration de#i)er to office0 o
;$risi"tion is .per!e"te/ when serve >owever# i! le!t when 6nowin& o! writ or to avoi servi"e# then 0$risi"tion is
o
per!e"te De!enant ta&&e on !li&ht between Te1as an Tennessee when travellin&
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thro$&h Ar6ansas airspa"e- Gra,e a,ar-3r Only at this sta&e "an a "o$rt be "onsiere to have 0$risi"tion over a
o
e!enant ;$risi"tion is per!e"te only when "lai% serve# as only then "an the e!enant be sai to be $ner a $ty to obey the "o$rt/s "o%%an to appear be!ore it8 When oes the e!enant have to be in the territory4 When s$%%ons is iss$e4 When it is serve4 >ow lon& o they have to be in the 0$risi"tion4 What p$rpose is that person within the territory4 LAURIE V ARROLL •
o
L base in Lonon# C base in (elbo$rne Contra"t$al isp$te abo$t %oneys to "o%e o$t o! a theatri"al per!or%an"e C e"ie to s$e L !or so%e o! the pro"ees that sho$l have "o%e o$t o! this
o
"ontra"t C &ets writ iss$e in (elbo$rne b$t is"overs that L le!t (elbo$rne the ay
o
be!ore the writ was iss$e an went to =yney L s$bse5$ently is"overs he is &oin& to be s$e by C an be!ore anythin& "an
o o
o
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happen he &oes ba"6 to the UJ Writ iss$e on @ ;$ne b$t never serve on L
Private International Law
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C trie to obtain s$bstit$te servi"e on )@ ;$ne
>el o
o o
At "o%%on law# at the ti%e the writ was iss$e L was not in the 0$risi"tion o! the "o$rt 2ha le!t (elbo$rne to &o to =yney3 Th$s when the writ was iss$e# the "o$rt ha no 0$risi"tion over L The "o$rt re!$se s$bstit$te servi"e I! D isn/t within the 0$risi"tion when the writ is iss$e# "an/t serve writ I! L le!t A$stralia 6nowin& C wo$l s$e# wo$l !all within the "o$rt/s
o
0$risi"tion D %$st 6nowin&ly evae servi"e by leavin& the 0$risi"tion be!ore the
writ "an be serve >ere# the "o$rt %ay orer s$bstit$te servi"e on the e!enant as physi"al servi"e o! initiatin& pro"ess ha !aile
TERRITORIALITG 7 PRE=ENCE WIT>IN ;URI=DICTION The basi" r$le by whi"h a "o$rt/s 0$risi"tion is establishe at "o%%on law is that the e!enant %$st be a%enable to the "o$rt/s initiatin& pro"ess8 It oes not %atter that the e!enant/s presen"e there is te%porary- o- Inds-ries In, Sarie 8 In &eneral the p$rpose !or whi"h the e!enant is insie the territorial borers o! the !or$% is irrelevant to the 5$estion o! 0$risi"tion8 In so%e 0$risi"tions# D si%ply has to be within the territory 7 there is no len&th o! ti%e e& D valily serve when !lyin& over Ar6ansas airspa"eGra,e a,Ar-3r 8 The e1"eption is i! D is l$re into the 0$risi"tion $ner !alse preten"es %erely to iss$e a writ8 >owever# it is only the %ost e1tre%e "ases that the e1"eption is li6ely to $pset the "o$rt/s 0$risi"tion8 =i%ilar prin"iples apply in personal a"tions a&ainst a "o%pany8 The "o%pany %$st have so%e presen"e insie the !or$%/s territorial bo$ns to be s$b0e"t to the 0$risi"tion o! the !or$% "o$rt8 At "o%%on law# a "o%pany is "onsiere to be present in a pla"e an within the "o%%on law 0$risi"tion o! its "o$rts i! it "arries on b$siness there8 >ollan ; in Na-iona o44er,ia Ban5 6i4borne ienti!ie three "riteria that ten to establish a "o%pany is "arryin& on a b$siness in the !or$%@8 The "o%pany is represente in the !or$% by an a&ent# who has a$thority to %a6e binin& "ontra"ts with persons in the pla"e )8 The b$siness is "on$"te at so%e !i1e an e!inite pla"e in the !or$% 8 The b$siness has been "on$"te in the !or$% !or a s$!!i"iently s$bstantial perio *ERRETT V ROBINSON
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