论合同关系中的法定连带责任

Statutory Joint and Several Liability in Contractual Relations

涉及合同关系中的法定连带责任的合同类型主要有共同合同、建设工程合同、单式联运合同和合伙合同。依据法定连带责任能否由合同当事人约定而排除适用,可以将其区分为“弱法定连带责任”和“强法定连带责任”。就理论层面而言,在合同关系中适用法定连带责任,与合同自由原则和合同相对性原则相交织,尤其在法律规定第三人和合同当事人向合同相对人承担法定连带责任的场合,已然构成对合同相对性的突破。从合同法体系的融贯性角度考量,“强法定连带责任”的成立和适用宜保持谦抑。从法律解释角度出发,有权设立合同关系中“强法定连带责任”的规范宜限于狭义的法律;在法律适用中,须甄别法定连带责任的承担主体、成立条件和责任范围。

The types of contracts applicable to statutory joint and several liability in the contractual relationship mainly include joint contracts,construction contracts,unimodal intermodal transport contracts,and partnership contracts.Based on whether statutory joint and several liability can be excluded by agreement between the contracting parties,it can be categorized into“weak statutory joint and several liability”and“strong statutory joint and several liability”.Theoretically,the application of statutory joint and several liability in contractual relations intertwines with the principles of freedom of contract and relativity of contract,especially where the law stipulates that a third party and the contracting parties bear statutory joint and several liability to the contract s counterpart,thus constituting a breakthrough in the relativity of contract.From the perspective of maintaining consistency within the contract law system,it is appropriate to exercise restraint in the establishment and application of“strong statutory joint and several liability”.From the perspective of legal interpretation,“strong statutory joint and several liability”in contractual relations should be limited to the law in a strict sense.In the application of the law,it is necessary to clarify the liable parties,the conditions for its establishment,and the scope of statutory joint and several liability.