Alfredo Soler Vald

1
Alfredo Soler Valdés-Bango Doctor en Derecho.
Abogado

• 19th IFTTA Conference
• Portugal 10-14th October 2007
• Moral Damages in Spanish Travel Law
• By
• Alfredo Soler Valdés-Bango

2
Alfredo Soler Valdés-Bango Doctor en Derecho.
Abogado

• Travel Law contract in Spain
• No precise legal framework until 1995
• Directive 90/314/EEC on Package Travel (1992)
• Package Travel Act 21/1995, 6th July 1995
• Regional Regulations and guidelines
• Contract conditions

3
Alfredo Soler Valdés-Bango Doctor en Derecho.
Abogado

• International level
• Brussels Convention 1970 (23rd April)
• European Directive 90/314/EEC
• Some National Regulations
• Germany Reisevertrag 651a-m BGB (1979)
• FranceLoi 92-645 and Decret 94-490
• Italy D.Leg. 17 th March1995
• United Kingdom Package Travel Regulations 1992
• Portugal Decreto-Lei nº 209/97

4
Alfredo Soler Valdés-Bango Doctor en Derecho.
Abogado

• Moral damages in travel law contract
• European Directive 90/314/EEC
• Some European Systems
• UK Spoilt, Ruined, damaged holidays (Jarvis vs.
  Swan Tours Ltd. 1973)
• Germany Nutzlos aufgewendeter Urlaubszeit (
  651f BGB 1979)
• Italy Danno da vacanza rovinata (D.leg. 1995,
  17th March, art. 13,2º)
• Belgium (Package Travel and travel agency
  contract Act 1994, art. 19.4º)
• Holland (Package Travel Act 1992, art. 11)

5
Alfredo Soler Valdés-Bango Doctor en Derecho.
Abogado

• Spanish Situation on Moral Damages
• Case law concept Not in Código Civil (Civil
  Code)
• Package Travel Act 1995 does not contain a
  specific paragraph on moral damages
• Case Law
• Spanish High Court (Tribunal Supremo)
• No pronunciation on travel package contract
• Since end 80s Latest 14th July 2006 (suffering
  or mental distress)
• Spanish Regional Courts (Audiencias Provinciales)

6
Alfredo Soler Valdés-Bango Doctor en Derecho.
Abogado

• Case Law
• Honeymoon travel (SAP Castellón 23rd February
  2007)
• Delayed Transport SAP Madrid, 17th May 2007
  (including cancelation of a wedding ceremony)
• School/language holidays
• Loss of luggage (SAP Murcia, 26th April 2007)
• Business Travel/Normal travel (frustración
  expectativas) SAP Madrid 16th January 2007

7
Alfredo Soler Valdés-Bango Doctor en Derecho.
Abogado

• Conditions
• Breach of contract
• Not every but a fundamental one (not a mere
  insatisfaction) (SAP Barcelona 5th April 2007)
• Extension of damages (Which) foreseeable
• Quantum of damages (How much) reasonable and
  limited by International Conventions and
  conventionally