The Borrower's Obligations (Art. 1242–1248)
Les obligations de l'emprunteur (Art. 1242–1248)
Obligasyon Moun ki Anprente a (Art. 1242–1248)
Lesson Content
Section II: Obligations of the Borrower
Having defined the loan for use, the Code Henry now turns to the most important practical question: what does the borrower owe? Section II lays out a demanding set of obligations that reflect the code's fundamental respect for property rights.
Article 1242 establishes the basic standard of care. The borrower may only use the thing for the purpose its nature determines or the agreement specifies. They must enjoy it and watch over its conservation as a bon père de famille — a good father of the household — the standard of reasonable care used throughout the Code Henry. Failure to meet this standard exposes the borrower to damages.
Article 1243 imposes strict liability in certain circumstances. The borrower is liable for the loss of the thing — even from extraordinary and unforeseeable events — if they used it longer than the agreed period, or employed it for a purpose other than its intended use. This was a severe rule: once you went outside the bounds of the agreement, you bore the risk of everything that happened, including acts of God.
Article 1244 extends this severity further. If the borrower could have saved the borrowed thing by sacrificing their own property, and failed to do so, they are liable for the loss. Even more dramatically, if the borrower could only save one thing — their own or the borrowed one — and chose to save their own, they are liable. And if the borrowed thing was appraised at the time of lending, the borrower bears the risk unless the agreement provided otherwise.
This article reveals a striking hierarchy of obligations: the borrowed thing took priority over the borrower's own property. The logic was clear — you chose to borrow; the lender trusted you with their property; your duty was to protect it even at your own expense.
Article 1245 provides some relief: the borrower is not liable for deterioration arising without their fault and solely from the normal use for which the thing was borrowed. Ordinary wear and tear was the lender's risk, not the borrower's.
Article 1246 prevents a sharp practice: the borrower cannot retain the borrowed thing to offset debts the lender might owe them. The duty to return was absolute and could not be blocked by claims of compensation.
Article 1247 clarifies expenses: the ordinary costs of using the thing are the borrower's burden and are not reimbursable.
Article 1248 addresses joint borrowing: if a thing was lent jointly to several persons, they are solidarily liable to the lender. This meant the lender could pursue any one of them for the full value — a powerful protection for lenders who lent to groups.
Section II : Des Engagements de l'Emprunteur
L'Article 1242 établit le standard de soin de base. L'emprunteur ne peut se servir de la chose qu'à l'usage déterminé par sa nature ou la convention. Il doit en jouir et veiller à sa conservation en bon père de famille, à peine de dommages et intérêts.
L'Article 1243 impose une responsabilité stricte : l'emprunteur est tenu de la perte de la chose, même par cas extraordinaires et imprévus, s'il s'en est servi plus longtemps que convenu ou l'a employée à un autre usage.
L'Article 1244 va encore plus loin : si l'emprunteur pouvait sauver la chose prêtée en sacrifiant la sienne et ne l'a pas fait, il est responsable. S'il ne pouvait en conserver qu'une et a sauvé la sienne, il est encore responsable.
L'Article 1245 apporte un soulagement : l'emprunteur n'est pas tenu des détériorations arrivées sans sa faute et par le seul effet de l'usage normal.
L'Article 1246 interdit à l'emprunteur de retenir la chose par compensation de ce que le prêteur pourrait lui devoir.
L'Article 1247 précise que les dépenses d'usage ne sont pas remboursables.
L'Article 1248 traite de l'emprunt conjoint : si une chose a été prêtée conjointement à plusieurs, elles sont solidairement obligées envers le prêteur.
Seksyon II : Obligasyon Moun ki Anprente a
Atik 1242 etabli estanda swen debaz. Moun ki anprente a ka sèlman sèvi ak bagay la pou itilizasyon nati li detèmine oswa akò a presize. Li dwe jwi li epi veye sou konsèvasyon li tankou yon bon pè fanmi, sinon li ekspoze a domaj ak enterè.
Atik 1243 enpoze yon responsablite estrik : moun ki anprente a responsab pou pèt bagay la, menm pa ka ekstraòdinè ak enprevi, si li sèvi avèk li pi lontan pase akò a oswa itilize l pou yon lòt rezon.
Atik 1244 ale pi lwen toujou : si moun ki anprente a te kapab sove bagay li te prete a lè li sakrifye pa li a e li pa fè sa, li responsab. Si li te ka sèlman konsève youn e li sove pa li a, li toujou responsab.
Atik 1245 bay yon soulajman : moun ki anprente a pa responsab pou deteryorasyon ki rive san fòt li e pa sèl efè itilizasyon nòmal la.
Atik 1246 entèdi moun ki anprente a kenbe bagay la pa konpansasyon ak sa moun ki prete a ta dwe li.
Atik 1247 presize depans itilizasyon pa ranbousab.
Atik 1248 trete anprent konjwen : si yon bagay prete bay plizyè moun ansanm, yo solidèman oblije anvè moun ki prete a.