Bill of exchange lawsuit

A special and simple special lawsuit specific to bills and checks. Originally, "exchange lawsuits" were permitted under the old Civil Procedure Code, but they were abolished in 1926 (Taisho 15) when the law was revised because they were not functioning properly. However, in response to the sharp increase in dishonored bills and checks and the conspicuous delays in lawsuits, they were revived in 1964 at the request of the business community, and are currently stipulated in Part 5 of the Civil Procedure Code, "Special Provisions on Bill and Check Suits" (Civil Procedure Code, Articles 350-367). Bill lawsuits are permitted only for claims for payment of money by bills and checks and claims for damages at the statutory interest rate attached thereto (Civil Procedure Code, Article 350). In addition, the Act facilitates the realization of the rights of holders of bills and checks by prohibiting counterclaims (Article 351 of the same Act), by limiting evidence (Article 352 of the same Act), allowing for prompt judgments to be made, and by issuing a declaration of provisional execution without the need for security and granting a title of debt (Article 259, paragraph 2 of the same Act).

[Toda Shuzo]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

手形・小切手に特有かつ簡易な特別訴訟。もともと旧民事訴訟法で「為替(かわせ)訴訟」が認められていたが、1926年（大正15）の改正に際し、為替訴訟が十分な機能を発揮していなかったとして廃止されていた。しかし、手形・小切手の不渡り事故が激増し、訴訟の遅延も目だつものがあったことにかんがみ、実際界の要望により1964年に復活し、現在は民事訴訟法第5編「手形訴訟及び小切手訴訟に関する特則」において規定されている（民事訴訟法350～367条）。手形訴訟は手形・小切手による金銭支払い請求権およびこれに付帯する法定利率による損害賠償請求権についてだけ許される（同法350条）。また、反訴の禁止（同法351条）や、証拠制限（同法352条）により迅速に判決をし、判決には職権で担保をたてないで仮執行の宣言を付して債務名義を与える（同法259条2項）など、手形・小切手所持人の権利の実現の便宜を図っている。

［戸田修三］

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