Delay in receipt - Juryouchitai

In cases where the performance of an obligation requires the receipt or other cooperation of the creditor, the debtor has provided the debtor with the essential principle of the obligation, but the creditor does not or cannot cooperate, resulting in a delayed performance. This is also called the creditor's delay. There is some debate as to whether the legal nature of this delayed receipt is a type of default or a legal liability based on the principle of good faith. The Civil Code only states that the creditor is responsible for the delay as an effect of delayed receipt (Article 413), so the content is not clear, but it is generally interpreted as follows: (1) The debtor is relieved of responsibility for non-performance, and contractual interest will not accrue. (2) If the debtor becomes unable to perform after the delayed receipt, the impossibility of performance is still attributable to the creditor, even if it is due to force majeure. (3) The debtor's duty of care in the performance of the obligation is reduced, and he or she is only liable for willful or gross negligence. (4) The debtor can claim from the creditor for the increased storage and payment costs due to the delayed receipt. In addition, from the standpoint of viewing delayed receipt as a type of breach of contract, the following effects will also be recognized: (5) the debtor may claim damages caused by the delay, and (6) the debtor may terminate the contract.

[Toshio Takeuchi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

債務の履行につき受領その他債権者の協力を必要とする場合において、債務者が債務の本旨に従った提供をしたにもかかわらず、債権者が協力をしないか、できないために、履行が遅延している状態にあることをいい、債権者遅滞ともいう。この受領遅滞の法的性質が、債務不履行の一種か、それとも信義則に基づく法定責任かについては争いがある。民法は、受領遅滞の効果として、単に債権者が遅滞の責に任ずべきものとしているだけなので（413条）、その内容は明確ではないが、一般的には次のように解されている。(1)債務者は不履行に基づく責任を免れ、約定利息は発生しなくなる。(2)受領遅滞の後に不能となるときは、不可抗力に基づく場合にも、なお債権者の責に帰すべき履行不能となる。(3)債務者は債務の履行につき注意義務を軽減され、故意または重過失についてのみ責任を負うこととなる。(4)債務者は受領遅滞のために増加した保管費用・弁済費用を債権者に請求できる等。なお、受領遅滞を債務不履行の一種とみる立場からは、(5)遅滞によって生じた損害賠償を請求できる、(6)債務者は契約を解除しうる、という効果も認められることとなる。

［竹内俊雄］

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