Unforeseen circumstances that alter substantially the agreed terms under construction contracts: a look at the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic

The institution of force majeure in regard with the Covid-19 pandemic is analyzed, emphasizing in a methodology to analysis and identify the affectation in deferred execution contracts, especially construction contracts. There is a firmly necessity to consider each one of the contractual duties and...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Valencia Cerasa, José Manuel
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2020
País:Perú
Institución:Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Repositorio:Revistas - Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Idioma:español
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/23256
Acceso en línea:http://revistas.pucp.edu.pe/index.php/derechoysociedad/article/view/23256
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Fortuitous event
Majeure force
Due diligence
Revision of the contract
Unfulfilled contract exception
Hardship
COVID 19
Caso fortuito
Fuerza mayor
Diligencia debida
Revisión del contrato
Excepción de contrato no cumplido
COVID-19
Descripción
Sumario:The institution of force majeure in regard with the Covid-19 pandemic is analyzed, emphasizing in a methodology to analysis and identify the affectation in deferred execution contracts, especially construction contracts. There is a firmly necessity to consider each one of the contractual duties and obligations, as well as the casuistically definition about a genuine unreached contract execution or only a greater difficulty of its accomplishment, examining in this last event the facts related to the agreed diligence standard. Under this last point of view, the article analyzes whether it is allowed for one of counterparts to exclude some part of contract´s object due to excessive onerousness or difficulty of supervening compliance. The pertinence of contract`s breach exception is matter of review, concluding that it`s not always forceable in case of non-satisfaction of proposed and agreed benefits by one of counterparts. The analysis focuses on Chilean regulation, without prejudice that it may be extrapolated to foreign legal scenarios. Also, an examination of the hardship clauses for supervening circumstances is carried out and its application to construction contracts is postulated.