Rechtspraak

  • Bijzonderheden van de zaak
    • Nationaal ID: Court of Appeal, Arnhem-Leeuwarden, Judgement 200.253.845
    • Lidstaat: Nederland
    • Gangbare benaming:N/A
    • Soort beslissing: Rechterlijke beslissing in beroep
    • Datum beslissing: 19/10/2021
    • Gerecht: Gerechtshof Arnhem-Leeuwarden, locatie Leeuwarden
    • Onderwerp:
    • Eiser:
    • Verweerder:
    • Trefwoorden: duty to notify, lack of conformity, consumer sales
  • Richtlijnartikelen
    Consumer Sales and Guarantees Directive, Article 5, 2. Consumer Sales and Guarantees Directive, Article 5, 2. Consumer Sales and Guarantees Directive, Article 5, 2.
  • Koptekst

    ECLI:NL:GHARL:2021:9819

    The seller, despite the fact that he knew or should have known that the pony was defective, stated that the pony was ‘in perfect health’. In this case, the consumer complained explicitly to the seller several times, and the seller always dismissed the problems with incorrect but reassuring remarks. All these circumstances play a role in the Court of Appeal’s finding that the consumer did not breach her duty to (again) notify a lack of conformity by waiting one and a half years before again complaining about the lack of conformity.

  • Feiten

    This case concerns a pony that had been returned to the seller on account of a veterinary defect of the hind leg and back after it had been sold and delivered. A few days after the pony was returned, the seller offered it for sale again via an internet platform, stating, inter alia, that ‘the horse is in perfect health’. The pony was subsequently sold again, now to the consumer in this case. The consumer noticed that the pony walked in an odd manner and asked the seller about this. The seller dismissed any problems and said that the phenomenon would disappear with proper training. The consumer has the animal examined by the seller’s regular vet, who confirms that training will solve the problem. A few weeks after the conclusion of the sales contract and the delivery of the pony, the consumer again complains about the problems which have not improved or disappeared. Again, the seller assures her that vigorous training will solve the problems.

    Subsequently, for one and a half years, the consumer did not complain anymore to the seller, but used this period for training, further investigation and treatment of the pony. After eighteen months, the problems still existed, and the consumer complained again to the seller. The latter again dismisses the defects and her liability for them. Eventually, a (different) horse vet had to have the pony put down. The consumer claimed compensation on the basis of non-conformity. The court of first instance rejected the claim, because the consumer had breached her duty to notify the lack of conformity (art. 7:23 BW).

  • Juridische kwestie

    Did the consumer breach the duty to (again) notify?

  • Uitspraak

    The Court of Appeal holds that the consumer did not breach her duty to notify. The fact that the seller knew or should have known that the pony was defective, that contrary to this the seller stated that the pony was ‘in perfect health’, that the consumer complained explicitly to the seller several times, and that the seller always dismissed the problems with incorrect but reassuring remarks, all play a role in this assessment. Under these circumstances, the period of one and a half years during which the consumer did not complain does not constitute a breach of the duty to notify.

    The Court of Appeal therefore comes to the question of whether the claimed damages can be awarded. Because the debate in the proceedings focused almost exclusively on the violation of the obligation to complain and the question of whether there was a question of non-conformity. The damage and the causality remained underexposed. After the Court of Appeal has established the non-conformity, the case is referred to the court roll for the drawing up of deeds to further substantiate the alleged items of damages.

    URL: https://uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/inziendocument?id=ECLI:NL:GHARL:2021:9819

    Integrale tekst: Integrale tekst

  • Verwante zaken

    Geen resultaten

  • Rechtsleer

    Geen resultaten

  • Resultaat

    The Court of Appeal refers the case to the court roll for the parties to substantiate and discuss the alleged damage and reserves all other decisions.