显失公平(unconscionability),法院根据该原则可以以合同缔结中的程序滥用或以与合同内容相关的实体滥用为由拒绝强制执行不公平或压迫性合同,任何一种滥用都是以显失公平为基础的。对合同是否显失公平的基本检验标准是,根据缔约时的环境和通常的商业背景以及特定交易的商业要求,确定合同条款是否不合理地使一方当事人受益,从而压迫另一方当事人或对另一方当事人不公平。如果一方当事人未能对合同内容作出有实质意义的选择却使另一方不合理地受益,则属于显失公平。
美国《统一商法典》〔U.C.C.〕第2-302条规定:1如果法院作为法律问题发现合同或合同的任何条款在缔约时显失公平,法院可以拒绝强制执行,或仅执行显失公平以外的其他条款,或限制显失公平条款的适用以避免显失公平的后果。2由于一方当事人主张或法院认为合同或合同的任何条款有可能属于显失公平时,应给予另一方当事人合理的机会提供证据,证明缔约的商业背景、合同的目的和效果,以帮助法院作出决定。美国《第二次合同法重述》〔Restatement of Contracts,Second〕第208条亦有相同规定。在英国,它是衡平法中的传统术语,与公平〔good conscience〕相反,衡平法院通常对显失公平的交易不予认可。
为了更好的理解该词,以下是其英文释义:Unconscionability (sometimes known as unconscionable dealing/conduct in Australia) is a doctrine in contract law that describes terms that are so extremely unjust, or overwhelmingly one-sided in favor of the party who has the superior bargaining power, that they are contrary to good conscience.
双语例句:
(1)This piece of legislation (in particular, section 5) specifies that if, with respect to a contract for the sale of goods or supply of services in which one of the parties deals as consumer, the consumer may, on the grounds of unconscionability in any part of the contract, request the Court to refuse to enforce the unconscionable part in the contract, limit the application of or revise or alter any unconscionable part so as to avoid any unconscionable result.
该条例(特别是第 5 条)规定,如果任何货品售卖合约或服务提供合约的其中一方是以消费者身份交易,消费者可就合约中任何一项条文,以显失公平为 由, 要求法庭拒绝执行该合约中显失公平的部分,限制任何显失公平部分的适用范围,或修正该等显失公平的部分,以免产生任何显失公平的结果。
(2)The amendment to clause 6(1) is proposed by the Bills Committee. It seeks to clarify that the five judicial guidelines for the court in determining unconscionability are not exhaustive.
第6(1)条的修订是条例草案审议委员会提出的,旨在澄清法庭在裁定是显失公平时所依循的5项司法指引并非详尽无遗。