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  3. Law: Contract(s)

Vertragsstrafversprechen

English translation: (contract) penalty clause

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Vertragsstrafversprechen
English translation:(contract) penalty clause
Entered by: Kim Metzger

13:40 Nov 13, 2005
German to English translations [PRO]
Law/Patents - Law: Contract(s) / defense pleading
German term or phrase: Vertragsstrafversprechen
I can't come up with anything better than "contract penalty assurance". Your ideas will be appreciated.

Der Tatbestand, der erfüllt sein muss, um die Vertragsstrafe wirksam werden zu lassen (Verwirkungsklausel), ist hinreichend bestimmt.
Das Vertragsstrafversprechen muss lediglich die die Strafe auslösende Pflichtverletzung und die zu leistende Strafe bestimmen oder bestimmbar bezeichnen (BGH LM Nr. 19 zu § 338 BGB). Wird die Strafe infolge des Vertragsbruchs zugesagt, so ist das hinreichend bestimmt (LAG Berlin AP Nr. 4 zu § 338 BGB).

The circumstances that must be met to allow the contract penalty to come into force (forfeiture clause) have been sufficiently established.
The contract penalty assurance must only establish the breach of duty that triggers the penalty and the penalty that is to be paid or specify it so that it can be established (BGH [German Federal Supreme Court] LM no. 19 at Section 338 BGB [German Civil Code]. If the penalty is granted on the basis of "breach of contract", it is sufficiently established (LAG Berlin AP no. 4 at Section 338 BGB).
Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 06:50
(contract) penalty clause
Explanation:
I think this is about a clause in a contract, usually referred to as "VertragsStrafeklausel"

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Note added at 13 mins (2005-11-13 13:53:26 GMT)
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Or "contractual penalty clause", but "penalty clause" on its own should do.


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Note added at 50 mins (2005-11-13 14:30:36 GMT)
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Hi Kim, I agree with mischaw: in this context "bestimmen" means "to define". I would translate the whole sentence as follows:

"The facts required for the contract penalty to take effect (penalty clause) have been clearly/adequately defined."
Selected response from:

Olaf Reibedanz
Colombia
Local time: 07:50
Grading comment
Many thanks to all. In fact it was the verb "bestimmen" that had me stumped and defined was the obvious solution that I had overlooked. I hope Margaret will understand my reasoning in sticking with "penalty clause": since the case will be decided by a German court and Vertragsstrafen are permitted under German law, wouldn't it be disingenuous to avoid coming right out and saying so?
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +4(contract) penalty clause
Olaf Reibedanz
4 +1promise to pay liquidated damages
Margaret Marks
4undertaking in respect of a penalty for non-compliance
Michael Kucharski


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
(contract) penalty clause


Explanation:
I think this is about a clause in a contract, usually referred to as "VertragsStrafeklausel"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 mins (2005-11-13 13:53:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or "contractual penalty clause", but "penalty clause" on its own should do.


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 50 mins (2005-11-13 14:30:36 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Hi Kim, I agree with mischaw: in this context "bestimmen" means "to define". I would translate the whole sentence as follows:

"The facts required for the contract penalty to take effect (penalty clause) have been clearly/adequately defined."

Olaf Reibedanz
Colombia
Local time: 07:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 80
Grading comment
Many thanks to all. In fact it was the verb "bestimmen" that had me stumped and defined was the obvious solution that I had overlooked. I hope Margaret will understand my reasoning in sticking with "penalty clause": since the case will be decided by a German court and Vertragsstrafen are permitted under German law, wouldn't it be disingenuous to avoid coming right out and saying so?

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Stephen Sadie: only penalty clause, shame the space is too small for links
16 mins
  -> yes, I agree, just "penalty clause"
agree  Michael Walker: w/ Stephen, and "bestimmen" in this context is "define". I'm pretty confident about this.
31 mins
  -> I agree, bestimmen = to define
agree  Lori Dendy-Molz: also with "bestimmen = define" here
1 hr
agree  RNolder (X)
3 days 6 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
undertaking in respect of a penalty for non-compliance


Explanation:
Versprechen würde ich hier mit "undertaking" übersetzen.

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Note added at 1 hr 20 mins (2005-11-13 15:00:34 GMT)
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Es geht bei Versprechen mE um die Willenserklärung, Verpflichtungserklärung etc., die einer Vertragsstrafe zugrundeliegen muss, damit letztere wirksam vereinbart wurde.

Michael Kucharski
Local time: 14:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 75
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
promise to pay liquidated damages


Explanation:
You might not like this, but Vertragsstrafe is often translated as liquidated damages, because in English and US law the very word "penalty" risks the agreement being found invalid by a court. Contractual penalties are not allowed (and the word "penalty" is enough to raise the suspicion).
Goren's BGB translation does use "contractual penalty", though (sections 339 et seq. BGB)
I don't really see the problem!

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Note added at 3 days 1 hr 11 mins (2005-11-16 14:51:16 GMT) Post-grading
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Yes, of course, Kim, no problem. I sometimes use it myself.
But when you say "Vertragsstrafen are permitted under German law", don't forget you are saying "Liquidated damages are permitted under German law"!

Margaret Marks
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:50
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 156

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  writeaway: makes sense and anyway the word Versprechen can hardly be ignored. plus I am well aware you're an expert :-)
16 mins
  -> If you say so...
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