违约金司法酌减的依据及其限度  

Basis and Limit of Judicial Discretion for Liquidated Damages Reduction

作　　者：许德风[1] Xu Defeng

机构地区：[1]北京大学法学院

出　　处：《法学》2024年第4期110-123,共14页Law Science

基　　金：国家社科基金重点项目“不当得利法中的获益内容返还范围研究”(批准号:19AFX011)的阶段性成果。

摘　　要：与合同中的本给付义务不同,支付违约金的义务系因违反本给付义务所产生的次给付义务。出于对意思自治的尊重,裁判者在判断应否酌减违约金时,应首先区分本给付义务与次给付义务,避免干涉当事人经充分协商后所达成的有关本给付义务的约定。酌减违约金的最终目的在于贯彻公序良俗与诚实信用等原则,维护合同公正。在具体判断标准上,应对合同进行体系解释,充分考虑违约金约定与合同其他条款的关系,维护非违约方关于合同履行的全部合法利益,对超过本给付义务总额的违约金和不区分情形一揽子适用的违约金给予特别关注。私法并不当然排斥惩罚,在确定违约金应否酌减时,裁判者既应维护合同公正,也应重视违约金预防、惩罚违约行为及鼓励守约的社会功能。对于法律特别允许的惩罚性措施如定金约定等,原则上不应干涉或调整。Unlike the primary obligation in a contract,the obligation to pay liquidated damages or penalties is characterized as a secondary obligation resulting from a breach of the primary obligation.In order to protect individual autonomy,the adjudicator,when determining whether to mitigate penalties,should first distinguish between primary and secondary obligations to avoid interference with price arrangements reached through sufficient negotiation.The ultimate purpose of mitigating penalties is to uphold public policy,good morals,and the principle of good faith,thereby safeguarding contractual fairness.In terms of specific standards,a systematic interpretation of contract terms is necessary,considering the relationship between the amount of penalties and other contract provisions.Special attention should be given to adjusting the“lump-sum liquidated damages clause”that exceeds the total amount of the primary obligation and the“undifferentiated liquidated damages clause”applicable in various circumstances.Factors to be considered in mitigation include the non-breaching party's damages,all legitimate interests related to contract performance,socio-economic conditions,and the preventive and necessary punitive aspects of the clause.Private law does not automatically exclude punitive measures;furthermore,arrangements such as the“forfeit of deposit clause”,expressly permitted by law,should generally remain unaltered.

关 键 词：违约金 司法酌减 定金 本给付义务 次给付义务 惩罚性违约金 

分 类 号：D923.6[政治法律—民商法学]