Originally from International Arbitration Court Decisions - 3rd Edition

FRANCE

DECISION BY THE FRENCH COUR DE CASSATION, FIRST CIVIL CHAMBER RENDERED ON 6 DECEMBER 2005 IN CASE 1660 FS-P+B

Subject Matter:
Liability of arbitrators who have failed to render an award before the deadline for the arbitral proceedings.

Finding:
The arbitrators cannot rely on their immunity and are therefore personally liable when the deadline is reached before an award has been rendered. They have the duty to file a request before the judge for an extension of the time-limit for making the award, if the parties to the arbitration do not extend the deadline by mutual agreement, and neither of them files such a request to the State court.

Parties:
Claimants: 1. Louis Juliet 2. Benoît Juliet
Respondents: 1. Paul Castagnet (arbitrator) 2. Pierre Couilleaux (arbitrator) 3. Adolphe Biotteau (arbitrator)
Place of Court Proceedings: Paris, France
Applicable Law:
French Civil Code, Article 1442, French Law on Domestic Arbitration, Article
1456 of the French New Code of Civil Procedure.

THE DECISION
Cour de Cassation – Première Chambre civile
Audience publique du 6 décembre 2005
Cassation
Président : M. Jean-Pierre Ancel
Conseiller rapporteur : Mme Anne Pascal
Arrêt n° 1660 FS-P+B – N° de pourvoi : 03-13116