Des rives de la Seine à celles du Mississipi: le fabuleux destin de la maxime contra non valentem agere non currit praescriptio (From the Banks of the Seine to Those of Mississipi: The Fabulous Destiny of the Maxim Contra Non Valentem Agere Non Currit Praescriptio)

Revue Internationale de Droit Comparé, Vol. 63, pp. 809-842, 2011

34 Pages Posted: 24 Nov 2011 Last revised: 1 Dec 2011

See all articles by Benjamin West Janke

Benjamin West Janke

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC

François-Xavier Licari

Université de Lorraine

Date Written: November 23, 2011

Abstract

The relationship between Louisiana and France is not limited to written law. It also exists in one important extra-codal principle of prescription law: "contra non valentem agere non currit praescriptio". In this regard, the juridical parenthood is tight. We will show that "contra non valentem" in Louisiana is the fruit of French doctrine and jurisprudence. Furthermore, we will bring to light the noticeable similarity of the maxim’s fate in France and Louisiana. Courts in both jurisdictions proclaimed it as dead, but despite the antagonism it faced, contra non valentem evolved as a major component of prescription’s institution. Finally, we will dispel a deep-rooted myth that contra non valentem does not apply to the domain of acquisitive prescription and reveal another strong convergence between Louisiana and France.

La relation entre la France et la Louisiane ne se limite pas au droit légiféré. Elle se manifeste aussi en ce qui concerne un important principe non écrit du droit de la prescription: "contra non valentem agere non currit praescriptio". En ce domaine, la parenté juridique est étroite. En Louisiane, "contra non valentem" est le fruit de la doctrine et de la jurisprudence françaises. Nous mettrons aussi en lumière la similarité notable entre le destin de la maxime en France et en Louisiane. Dans ces deux pays, les tribunaux l’ont déclarée morte, mais malgré l’hostilité à laquelle elle a été confrontée, elle est devenue une pièce majeure de l’institution de la prescription. En dernier lieu, nous briserons le mythe bien enraciné selon lequel contra non valentem ne s’applique pas en droit louisianais de la prescription acquisitive, révélant ainsi une autre convergence de taille entre la France et la Louisiane.

Note: Downloadable document is in French.

Keywords: Contra Non Valentem Non Currit Praescriptio, Discovery Rule, Extinctive Prescription, Acquisitive Prescription, France, Louisiana

Suggested Citation

Janke, Benjamin West and Licari, François-Xavier, Des rives de la Seine à celles du Mississipi: le fabuleux destin de la maxime contra non valentem agere non currit praescriptio (From the Banks of the Seine to Those of Mississipi: The Fabulous Destiny of the Maxim Contra Non Valentem Agere Non Currit Praescriptio) (November 23, 2011). Revue Internationale de Droit Comparé, Vol. 63, pp. 809-842, 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1963735

Benjamin West Janke

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC ( email )

201 St. Charles Ave
Suite 3600
New Orleans, LA 70170
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.bakerdonelson.com/benjamin-west-janke/

François-Xavier Licari (Contact Author)

Université de Lorraine ( email )

Ile du Saulcy
Metz, F-57000
France

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