Transactions — Settling Disputes by Agreement

Les Transactions — Régler les litiges par accord

Tranzaksyon — Rezoud diskisyon pa akò

Lesson Content

Titre XXIX — Of Transactions (Articles 1382–1389)

A transaction (la transaction) in the Code Henry is not a commercial exchange — it is something far more specific: a settlement agreement. It is the legal mechanism by which two or more parties resolve a dispute, or prevent one from arising, by mutual concession.

Article 1382 defines the transaction as a convention between two or more persons who, by mutual agreement, terminate a dispute or prevent one from arising. In modern legal terms, this is an out-of-court settlement — the parties give up some claims in exchange for certainty and peace.

Article 1383 restricts who can enter into a transaction: only someone with the capacity to dispose of the thing in question. A tutor settling for a minor or interdicted person must follow the rules of the Title on Minority. A tutor settling a guardianship account with the minor who has come of age must follow specific provisions as well.

Article 1384 clarifies that criminal prosecution by the state does not prevent the parties from transacting on the civil interest arising from the offense. The state prosecutes the crime; the victim can still settle privately for compensation.

Article 1385 allows penalty clauses: if the parties fear one might not perform, they can stipulate a penalty against the defaulter.

Article 1386 limits the scope of renunciation: when parties renounce all rights, actions, or claims in a transaction, this covers only those related to the subject matter of the dispute — not unrelated matters.

Article 1387 reinforces this: transactions can only regulate the differences covered by the agreement, whether the parties expressed their intentions specifically or generally.

Article 1388 preserves future rights: a transaction on a right you hold personally does not prejudice actions arising from a similar right you later acquire from another person.

Article 1389 protects third parties: a transaction binds only the contracting parties and cannot prejudice the rights of third parties who did not consent.

Titre XXIX — Des Transactions (Articles 1382–1389)

Article 1382 : la transaction est une convention qui termine une contestation ou en prévient une à naître.

Article 1383 : nul ne peut transiger sans capacité de disposer. Le tuteur suit les règles du Titre de la Minorité.

Article 1384 : les poursuites pénales n'empêchent pas de transiger sur l'intérêt civil.

Article 1385 : les parties peuvent stipuler une peine contre le défaillant.

Article 1386 : la renonciation ne s'entend que des droits relatifs à l'objet du litige.

Article 1387 : les transactions ne règlent que les différends qui y sont compris.

Article 1388 : transiger sur un droit personnel ne préjudicie pas aux droits acquis ultérieurement d'une autre personne.

Article 1389 : la transaction n'oblige que les parties et ne préjudicie pas aux tiers.

Tit XXIX — Sou Tranzaksyon (Atik 1382–1389)

Atik 1382 : tranzaksyon an se yon konvansyon ki fini yon diskisyon oswa anpeche youn fèt.

Atik 1383 : pèsonn pa ka tranzije san kapasite pou dispoze. Titè a swiv règ Tit sou Minorite a.

Atik 1384 : pouswit penal pa anpeche tranzije sou enterè sivil la.

Atik 1385 : pati yo ka stipile yon penalite kont moun ki pa respekte akò a.

Atik 1386 : renonsyasyon an konsène sèlman dwa ki gen rapò ak objè litij la.

Atik 1387 : tranzaksyon yo regle sèlman diferan ki ladann yo.

Atik 1388 : tranzije sou yon dwa pèsonèl pa domaje dwa ou jwenn pita nan men yon lòt moun.

Atik 1389 : tranzaksyon an oblije sèlman pati yo epi pa domaje dwa twazyèm moun.

Quiz

1. What is a 'transaction' under Article 1382? Qu'est-ce qu'une 'transaction' selon l'article 1382 ? Kisa yon 'tranzaksyon' ye dapre Atik 1382?

A commercial purchase or sale Un achat ou une vente commerciale Yon acha oswa yon vant komèsyal A settlement agreement that terminates or prevents a dispute Une convention qui termine ou prévient une contestation Yon akò règleman ki fini oswa anpeche yon diskisyon A court judgment Un jugement du tribunal Yon jijman tribinal A donation between parties Une donation entre parties Yon donasyon ant pati yo

2. Does a transaction bind third parties who did not consent (Article 1389)? La transaction lie-t-elle les tiers qui n'y ont pas consenti (Article 1389) ? Èske yon tranzaksyon oblije twazyèm moun ki pa t konsanti (Atik 1389)?

Yes, all transactions have universal effect Oui, toutes les transactions ont un effet universel Wi, tout tranzaksyon gen efè inivèsèl No — it binds only the contracting parties Non — elle n'oblige que les parties contractantes Non — li oblije sèlman pati ki kontrakte yo Only if registered with the court Seulement si enregistrée au tribunal Sèlman si anrejistre nan tribinal Only if the amount exceeds twenty-four gourdes Seulement si le montant dépasse vingt-quatre gourdes Sèlman si montan an depase vennkat goud

3. Can a victim settle the civil damages from a crime even while the state prosecutes (Article 1384)? La victime peut-elle transiger sur les dommages civils pendant les poursuites pénales (Article 1384) ? Èske yon viktim ka tranzije sou domaj sivil pandan leta pouswiv kriminèlman (Atik 1384)?

No — all claims must wait until the criminal case concludes Non — toutes les demandes doivent attendre la fin du procès pénal Non — tout reklamasyon dwe tann jiskaske pwosè penal la fini Yes — criminal prosecution does not prevent a civil settlement Oui — les poursuites pénales n'empêchent pas une transaction civile Wi — pouswit penal pa anpeche yon règleman sivil Only with the prosecutor's permission Seulement avec l'autorisation du procureur Sèlman ak pèmisyon pwokirè a Only for minor offenses Seulement pour les délits mineurs Sèlman pou ti ofans

All Lessons Lesson 2: Attacking a Transaction — Rescission and Nullity →