Analysis of Judgment No. 10010 of 2024: Specific Performance of the Obligation to Conclude a Contract

Recently, the Court of Cassation issued order No. 10010 on April 12, 2024, addressing important issues regarding the specific performance of contractual obligations. This ruling, issued in the context of litigation over preliminary contracts and inheritance rights, provides significant insights on how to apply Article 2932 of the Italian Civil Code. In particular, the Court confirmed the possibility of obtaining specific performance not only in cases of preliminary contracts but also in other situations where there is an obligation to grant consent for the transfer of goods.

The Context of the Judgment

The central issue addressed by the Court concerned a preliminary contract that was not followed by its definitive conclusion. The heirs of a deceased person contested the failure to execute a sales contract with a reserved domain clause, requesting the transfer of a real estate asset. The Court held, as emerged in the judgment, that:

(COMPROMISE) (DEFINITION, CHARACTERISTICS, DISTINCTION) - SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE OF THE OBLIGATION TO CONCLUDE THE CONTRACT Scope of application - Limitation to the preliminary contract - Exclusion - Hypotheses determining the obligation to consent to the conclusion of a contract - Extension - Case. The remedy provided for, pursuant to Article 2932 of the Civil Code, to obtain specific performance of the obligation to conclude a contract, is applicable not only in cases of preliminary contracts not followed by the definitive contract but also in any other hypothesis from which the obligation to grant consent for the transfer or establishment of a right arises. (In this case, the Supreme Court confirmed the existence, in favor of the heirs, of the right to the transfer of a real estate asset, accrued by the deceased due to sales with a reserved domain clause, and not perfected despite the redemption of the assets).

The Legal Implications

The decision of the Court of Cassation has important implications for legal practice. Firstly, the ruling broadens the scope of application of Article 2932 of the Civil Code, which provides for the remedy of specific performance in various contexts, not limited exclusively to preliminary contracts. This means that, in the presence of contractual obligations that imply the duty to consent to the transfer of rights, parties may request the forced execution of such obligations.

  • Extension of the applicability of Article 2932 of the Civil Code to situations other than preliminary contracts.
  • Possibility of obtaining compensation for contractual non-performance even in the case of unperfected contracts.
  • Recognition of inheritance rights in the context of sales contracts with a reserved domain clause.

Conclusions

In conclusion, order No. 10010 of 2024 from the Court of Cassation represents an important step forward in the protection of contractual and testamentary rights. The ruling clarifies that the remedy of specific performance can be applied in a variety of situations, thus offering greater protection to creditors and heirs. This principle not only strengthens legal certainty but also highlights the importance of careful contract drafting and estate planning.

Bianucci Law Firm