Case law

  • Case Details
    • National ID: 8 Ob 124/08f
    • Member State: Austria
    • Common Name:8 Ob 124/08f
    • Decision type: Supreme court decision
    • Decision date: 13/11/2008
    • Court: Supreme Court
    • Subject:
    • Plaintiff: Unknown
    • Defendant: Unknown
    • Keywords: delivery, proof of damage
  • Directive Articles
    Consumer Sales and Guarantees Directive, link
  • Headnote
    The buyer has to prove that a defect exists or a provided service is defective. The legal presumption regarding the existence of the defect at delivery does not include the general proof of existence of a defect.
  • Facts
    According to the plaintiff's instruction, the defendant carried out the maintenance of the plaintiff's oil heating system. During the course of the work, the defendant had to unscrew a nut at a pressure pipe and then screw it tight again. Two months later, oil leaked out of this nut because a hairline crack had formed itself. It could not be determined whether the hairline crack formed itself because of improper installation of the nut by the defendant or whether it was caused by other circumstances.

    The plaintiff filed a claim on the basis of warranty and compensation.

    The court of first instance dismissed the claim, but the appellate court modified the decision, insofar that it acknowledged the claims on its grounds.
  • Legal issue
    The legal presumption that a defect arising within six months after delivery already existed at delivery does not affect the burden of proof regarding the existence of a defect. The existence of a defect has to be proved by the transferee.

    In this case it could neither be excluded nor proven that the hairline crack of the nut was caused by improper installation by the defendant. The plaintiff had to prove the existence of a defective service, but was not able to do so.

    As the claim had no grounds, it had to be dismissed.
  • Decision
  • Related Cases

    No results available

  • Legal Literature

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  • Result
    The defendant's request was successful and the decision of first instance was restored.