1 La caution a le droit et l’obligation d’opposer au créancier toutes les exceptions qui appartiennent au débiteur ou à ses héritiers et qui ne résultent pas de l’insolvabilité du débiteur. Est réservé le cas d’une dette qui n’oblige pas le débiteur par suite d’erreur ou d’incapacité de contracter, ou d’une dette prescrite.
2 Si le débiteur renonce à une exception qui lui appartient, la caution peut néanmoins l’opposer au créancier.
3 La caution qui néglige d’opposer des exceptions appartenant au débiteur est déchue de son droit de recours en tant qu’elles l’auraient dispensée de payer, si elle ne prouve qu’elle les ignorait sans qu’il y eût faute de sa part.
4 La caution qui s’est engagée à garantir une dette résultant d’un jeu ou d’un pari peut opposer les mêmes exceptions que le débiteur, même si elle connaissait la nature de la dette.
1 Where the liens and other securities and preferential rights furnished when the contract of surety is concluded or subsequently obtained from the principal debtor for the specific purpose of securing the claim under surety are reduced by the creditor to the detriment of the surety, the latter’s liability is decreased by an equal amount unless it can be proven that the damage is less. Claims for restitution of the over-paid amount are unaffected.
2 Moreover, in the case of contracts of surety for the performance of official and civil service obligations, the creditor is liable to the surety if, as a result of his failure to supervise the employee as required or to act with the diligence that could reasonably be expected of him, the obligation arose or increased to an extent that it would not have otherwise reached.269
3 On being satisfied by the surety, the creditor is required to furnish him with such documents and information as are required to exercise his rights. The creditor must also release to him the liens and other securities furnished when the contract of surety was concluded or subsequently obtained from the principal debtor for the specific purpose of securing the claim under surety or must take the requisite measures to facilitate their transfer. This does not apply to liens and rights of pledge held by the creditor in relation to other claims where they take precedence over those of the surety.
4 Where the creditor refuses without just cause to take such measures or has alienated the available evidence or the pledges and other securities for which he is responsible in bad faith or through gross negligence, the surety is released from his liability. He may demand the return of sums already paid and seek compensation for any further damage incurred.
269 Amended by No II Art. 1 No 12 of the FA of 25 June 1971, in force since 1 Jan. 1972 (AS 1971 1465; BBl 1967 II 241). See also the Final and Transitional Provisions of Title X, at the end of this Code.
Ceci n’est pas une publication officielle. Seule la publication opérée par la Chancellerie fédérale fait foi. Ordonnance sur les publications officielles, OPubl.
This document is not an official publication. Only the publication of the Federal Chancellery is legally binding.