Personal liability of directors, Comparison with French Law

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K13557
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 05060:Civil law-related
• Research Institution: Sophia University (2022); Kanazawa University (2019-2021)
• Principal Investigator: HAYAKAWA Sakuya 上智大学, 法学研究科, 准教授 (30825112)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 役員の対第三者責任

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The French Companies Code　has a provision which provides that the directors of a company are directly liable for damages caused to third parties by acts of the company (L225-251) The Japanese Companies Code has a similar provision (Art. 429). However, the "detached fort" case law of the Court of Cassation (French Supreme Court) significantly limits the situations in which liability for damages under this article can be recognized. In addition, in the event of a company's bankruptcy, the principle of non-cumulation of claims based on case law generally prohibits the pursuit of the liability of the directors together with the liability of the company. As a result, even though the articles allow company directors to be held liable for damages caused to third parties in connection with the management of the company, there is a significant difference in the way the articles are applied in Japan and France.

Free Research Field

会社法、商法

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

会社経営に伴う第三者への賠償責任を会社経営者に認めた条文を設けていながら、日仏ではその運用のあり方に大きな差が生じている。特に会社が破綻した場合、日本では会社法429条がまさに機能すべき場面であるとの評価がなされているのに対して（最高裁昭和44年大法廷判決）、フランスでは責任追及自体が原則として禁止されている。法制度だけではなく、会社が破綻した場合の会社役員の責任の有無やその範囲について日仏の判例・学説を検討することによって、運用の違いを確認した。