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Экзамен зачет учебный год 2023 / product_liability_in_comparative_perspective.pdf
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22

MICHAEL BRO OKE AND IAN FOR RESTER

Collecting all language versions of the legislation and preparing translations of other material

The parties were greatly helped by the fact that the judge having the conduct of the litigation, Mr Justice Burton, was known to speak French comfortably and, as it turned out, other European languages very adequately. It was not necessary to go to the expense of preparing translations of all the material in various foreign languages. This was particularly convenient as to French, the language of most of the travaux pr´eparatoires. However, translations of the entirety of two of the judgments of the BGH were prepared, as well as translations of the Arnhem district court judgment and Swedish travaux pr´eparatoires which accompanied the promulgation in Swedish law of the Directive. The full texts of the academic commentators relied upon were made available and translations prepared of sentences or paragraphs which seemed particularly relevant. (All counsel spoke French, and some spoke moderate German and Italian.)

The request for a reference in 1999

In October 1999, the claimants invited the judge to make a preliminary reference to the European Court of Justice on a number of questions as to the true and proper construction to be placed on the Directive. This application was rejected. His order indicated that he felt the request was premature in that it was not yet certain what questions would turn out to be the relevant ones. A year later the trial started before the same judge. By then the scene had been set for a very full comparative analysis of how the Directive should be construed and applied to the facts relating to the claimants’ infection through blood transfusions with the hepatitis C virus.

The non-issues

Three points of general importance hovered in the wings of the trial but did not in the end arise for decision. They are worth mentioning in passing and may crop up in future cases.

Product

On the generic pleadings the claimants’ allegation that blood and blood products were ‘products’ within the meaning of the CPA was not admitted by the defendant. The defendant’s position on the pleadings had support