Judgment No. 17122 of 20/06/2024: Ordinary Revocation and Enforceability of Contractual Clauses

The recent judgment No. 17122 of June 20, 2024, issued by the Court of Cassation, provides important clarifications regarding the ordinary revocation action and the contractual clauses concerning the governing law of contracts. In particular, the decision focuses on the enforceability of such clauses against creditors, highlighting that they cannot limit the rights of those acting in revocation to protect their property interests.

Context and Facts of the Judgment

The case examined involved a deed of transfer of real estate into a company under English law, for which the ordinary revocation action was invoked under Article 2901 of the Italian Civil Code. The Court established that the clause determining the applicable law to the contract, based on Article 3 of the 1980 Rome Convention, has effect solely between the parties and is not enforceable against the prejudiced creditor in the context of an ordinary revocation.

In other words, the Court excluded that internal contractual provisions can limit the action of a creditor seeking to have a harmful act declared ineffective against them. This position is based on the principle that the ordinary revocation action is not equivalent to an action for contractual invalidity, but is aimed at protecting the creditor's assets against fraudulent or harmful acts.

Regulatory and Jurisprudential References

EXISTENCE OF CREDIT, "EVENTUS DAMNI, CONSILIUM FRAUDIS ET SCIENTIA DAMNI") In general. The contractual clause on the governing law of the contract, stipulated under Article 3 of the Rome Convention, having effects only between the parties, is not enforceable against the creditor acting in ordinary revocation under Article 2901 of the Civil Code to have the ineffectiveness of the transaction that contains it declared, also because such action is not equivalent to that of asserting invalidity, nor to that aimed at recovering the asset subject to the transaction, as per Article 10 of the same Convention.

This judgment is set within a well-defined regulatory context, which includes Article 2901 of the Italian Civil Code, governing the ordinary revocation action, and the provisions of Law No. 218 of 1995, which establish the principles of private international law. The Court thus confirmed the applicability of Italian law and the 1980 Rome Convention in cases of disputes related to contractual obligations, establishing that contractual clauses cannot prejudice the rights of creditors.

Conclusions

In conclusion, judgment No. 17122 of June 20, 2024, represents an important reminder of the need to ensure the protection of creditors' property rights. The Court of Cassation clarified that contractual clauses on the governing law cannot be used to evade the ordinary revocation action, thus ensuring greater protection against fraudulent acts. This principle not only strengthens the position of creditors but also contributes to ensuring the security and stability of commercial transactions, in line with the principles of European law.

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