# Contract Interpretation by Practical Construction

**Geschäftsnummer:** ATAS/398/2007
**Citation:** CJ GE ATAS/398/2007
**Gericht / Behörde:** Cour de Justice (Cour civile) (Chambre des assurances sociales)
**Entscheiddatum:** 2007-04-11
**Ausgang:** Teilweise gutgeheissen (Partially Allowed)
**Canonical Legislator URL:** https://legislator.ch/de/sources/case/ch/ge/ATAS-398-2007/contract-interpretation-by-practical-construction
**Official Source URL:** https://justice.ge.ch/apps/decis/fr/atas/show/1960010?doc=
**Entscheidsuche Mirror:** https://entscheidsuche.ch/docs/GE_Gerichte/GE_CJ_014_A-849-2006_2007-04-11.pdf

## Legislator-Zusammenfassung

The case involves a dispute over the enforceability of a contract's terms, specifically regarding the calculation of late payment interest, where the contract stipulated one method but the underlying transaction records indicated another method was consistently used and accepted by the parties. The court reasoned that where parties have consistently interpreted and applied a contractual provision in a certain way, such practical construction reveals the parties' true intent, which should govern, even if the literal language of the contract is ambiguous or suggests a different result.

## Legislator-Regeste

Art. 66 al. 1 LTF; Contract Interpretation by Practical Construction: The court reasoned that where parties have consistently interpreted and applied a contractual provision in a certain way, such practical construction reveals the parties' true intent, which should govern, even if the literal language of the contract is ambiguous or suggests a different result.

## Schlagwörter

Vertragsauslegung · Zinszahlung · Tonträgervertrag · Begriff des öffentlichen Auftraggebers · Prozesserledigung · Bauwerkvertrag

## Zitierte Gesetzesbestimmungen

[Art. 66 al. 1 LTF](https://legislator.ch/de/sources/law/ch/federal/173.110/66)

## Zentrale Rechtsfragen, extrahiert von Legislator

### 1. Art. 66 al. 1 LTF

Costs imposed on the appellant for the federal appeal proceedings.

## Volltext

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C6   ##$  " : &   $  3 D 122C      ?"!! )$ #$<!8%# + ; 1% 12256 &#$" $%$ 522E #50%!812226 &"$$  $" $ $$ ! &$""  # # F  !"$ #<+?6   ##$ !"  F" $  #$" #@  !"   ? ? &" $ $  #$ . 8$ "%$  #$:)& 8$#$# %#$  <)8!%!$"#"$$@ !!8  $% <$? "#!$")6

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76  " 5-K$1220& D$" !  $ &"!$@ # ?  )" &% $"  57 E "$$ @@$ # % $ :  $! " #!$6

36 53#$!81220&"@!"##$")$?&@@$ # 50    ? &!#L<$  $   #$   8$ # $) "6@$%?&#$#$% 89$!$ !"$6

-6  " -@"%1223& D$"&##$ &"%$? #$ %!" #$F$%$"");?$!#$  !$$@$:#$!#!! &% # $



./0,.1223  4C.554    $");6& ;%##?&"&$%   ! &  #@ $$      #!$ $ ?&  ##$$ $$&@@ #?4#"$6

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556  "#?  1- $8 1223  $ #$    $!!$ !M% & F#$%$  !$? #8;! %$)$"$"!#;$!$#"6

516 1%!81223$!!?" 8 "$@$ !"  "$8 #  6  <@@  ?  "#$!$  !"  )""  G"$8!$ <#$G F $! ? &"  #"$"@$$"4$" "!81227$"$"!$$!$ 8L$48?$6  52D$ 1223 &"  "$" "4<#$"   & (   84  &$; @F #F!6  )#<



./0,.1223  40.554   @@$")!$"@$ &"D$%$%"%  <+#N"$"4$"6 &"%$?$ "$!!$$:@$ @%8 % #$   +!#$!$) 6  $$!$  ? $ " #$" $  $$!$ <+##"!$ "$ $6 &"<)#< $$<?  5- D$ 1223  !  "%   !$ ;$  !;<!); @$+$? %$)<!#)" &"))$$!$ ;$6$ #<) % "#  &@$ &"  ")!$ 8""@" & $$ &@@$ $ & % !8$  " #$$  % : 4("D6 &"%$ ? "$$$$:@$$@$#$$$$": !5-D$12236

5C6  "$  $  ?  #; # $ $ "$" !!?" : & $ "15%!81223"$"!#$# "$!6

506 &8 &8%$ #$ & "$") ":D)6

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

  .!*

56 @!"!$:&$67365$6<61 )%O)$ D  11%!85,05AB 8$  '$$? $$$#"%:&$673 @" "   #$ )""  $     3 $8 1222 A B ?$$%:@" "&4% $" 5,D5,7,A B66

(!#"$#D)  O#;$"$86

16    $ $"  %)  5 D% 122C $'$  ! @$  !8 #$ ")   !   6 (  #!$"#$ %? $&##? $L$$<":!; ##?;)##8$%)!!$= @$D ?!$ "$!$$# $A *5C21C2 6565J CC7 6561J *51,0 6561J *51-03- 655135C3  608$"@"B6

&@$:8  "$)$# $# #$ %$  5 D% 122C $ #  $ #$ #; $$ $6   $ :  $ $4 L$ F!"  )   & $ #  #"  D?& C5 "!8 1221 $  @$   % ")!$$ ") #;$$ $A *5C20CC 65$"@"B6



./0,.1223  47.554    ;)  #"  ?$ :  &##?$  "% ;  D   $"%)A *55-,C 638551C32 60J  5,,/ PC-#6C53 6C8B6

C6 $D$" @!$ "#"%#$%8A$673$ 32 B6

06 $#$#! &%$  $ &L$$  & # # #    &!8    !!  &%$ ! ":&$!"6 )@:##?&$@ "#$+   "??&$?%"$""#" ;?    #"$#" $;:&$")$"  6

76  $) #$   )" &% $"  $ # #$;!$  &"$   $: #$$ &4% $"6

36 ( O$6 0   O% $" $  !$   #$"  ) #"!" #!$   ) " ? "$ O $$$ :  $" #<+?  !$ #%$ O @!$" )"$ O !   O  $6 O$$$ :  $" O$  # :   "$!$ $   #   "$ ?   ! =  $'  #$"  $% +$  @@$   #$"  )  O" AQ4 (  )$R S8 % %<)T<5,,-#6/B6

 + #"?D# $ O% $"  $ $$"!?$!" J$  "? "!? 8D$%  O#$" @$ ?O !#$ O"% A * 552  1-7  6 0 527  12-  6 1B6 ?O  O$%$" O" ""!?@$ "@$+   @    " O  !"    ! =  #!$$$ O"%  #$"  $%  O$""   $%$" 8!$ F)8A *5575CC 6152757/ 65B6

 ( O$6 0 6 1   O% $" $ "#$" % ; ?O $ #  $$)%$"##:% $F#$$$$ "$6 !!$ $L$ "$!"8D$%!$ O#;O"$$ $"J @$ F$@$$O$# O!#$6 "# #$  $: ? ! "$"#"$" :#$ ?#$$  "$" ? $  U  #  # "!$ %  !!$ = O"## ##!;@?O$$$:$"#$% $: #$$ O6

 (O)$  $:$% O% $"$!!$= 4# @!"!$:O$61,65 $ ;?O" #"$  #$"  ) 8  02 # $  !  ; ?O 



./0,.1223  43.554   #"$"!+#$" $% 02#$!# $ "$#$$8!#$H$5D !?$ F4<$;!% O"A$61,61 J *513, 618$ "@"J 606C65 OL$6 5!122C-/2.21B6(&$61/ 65 $%)D?&C5 "!8122C&" $: ?$ $&$% :02E!: !4$&$% : 72 E  ! $ :  $ $; & $ %  : 33 1.C E  !6  &$"%)5D%1220 0;!"%  ! @" $  &$6 1/ 6 5   $@ : &"<!$  $   $F &% $"6 ?&$$;"$$ "#%$:" ;?  )" &% $" $$)$ 33 1.C E $$ #$ #"%$ "! &$+$4?$ $:"#"$$ )" &% $" & ! 32 E $  $ $; :  $  $F $ #" : -2E   $$%:&$ &?$ & !4$ !$<)"6  %<  ## "%##" D?& #  D#   !$; &"%$ &% $"%$% $"?$&!#    0;!"%  A *5C2C0/ 6C60J *  #8" 5-!1227-.27 61 3#$!8122010,.20 6 0B6

-6 ##$ "%$$""A#F!#! & $&#$"  $% &% $" &$$$ : &$")$" #<+?  !$B ##$ &$$ @$ & !" 6##%"$8 $ &": #$$& !$$D)8  !$?!"  $  @6 &##"$  " !"  %L$   !#$ &$$#)  $F$6D#  #""$9<  !" #F!# &"%$ &% $" &$$$:&$")$"  &F!  $"$$&"%"!$ $$ %  !!)A *51157/ 658$"@"J(  #% $ V")&< W48$ ( WX W 4 9 1222 #6 13/B6  &4% $" &$$  @$ & !"  @ ##$ !" $$$ $" :&@@   F#$  !"   "# $  &$$$ &  F!#$?"# $ &8%$!"  & A *51C5-7B F#$# $##$?F#$!"  " #  D)  #!;   ; $ A( 5,,- #6 C5/  6 C8J ($"#<    #"   !$$%  4% $" $<; *8) 5,,, #6 501B6   &"%$  &% $"  $9<  !"  $:#$D)!$&"$$ $"$: ? ?!$ # ? $%$" &" $ #8  $%6  $  " !"  $$$  ""!$ $ # "$! ? $%F  #$ 8!$F) &"A *5575C0 61550C50  6C52757/ 65@B6



./0,.1223  4-.554   ?%#8$ O##$!" ?$ "$!$ O$ ?  #$ $)F $ @$ O8D$ O "$  $" ?  ##$  @    F! !#$ ?O # ")!$   "$#$F#!"##F!"?O$"$""$8 #   O!; ?  #$  $F$ !"  $ O##"$ $$!" $$@?  OF#$ $ K!$ !$%"6  !$ O""!$ "$!$ #  % #8$ O$  O)  !+  #%   ")$ !! ##$!!F#$!8$8$A *517C71 6 C511532 65$"@"B6

/6  &#;   !" 4$$$     $ @@ #%!81222 & #$<!8?"$"# + ;  1%1225 $L$ $%$$ ; 50%!812226   $$ @@$  $  #$ # F  !"$ #<+?6  $  #"$  !$ @$ %$V  $ #%") &$  #$. 8$"%$#$:)F#& 8$ %#$ "# <)!%!$ !!8   "#"$$@$%<$$ "#!$")#$6 $")!$"%$ 86 Q ?"?!$%$ ## $%!$#@"$$8!&$ ##"#$" $%8!$F)8$$!#$ !$$F$$6

   6  <@  %  D$  %  <)  G"$8!$ <#$G  $$"   $H  7 D$ 1225 ?  #$ % # + ;!8&%$#$# &?"$ J+%$ ??  $  $+# #$H$ ! ? $$@ $ R 8 "# :##$!" !$6)"?#$$@$R )%$) $$?&#$ +$)!! ?  !8$  $<$$?  %"$8!$ #$6   #$ #$H$ : $":8$6#)"&L$ $%:522ED?&:@ D$ 12256   !   &$!"     #""  $  1 @"%1220?$ # + ;$#$H$@%8%??  "   )  !#     @< !$   !8$" !86   $" $$@ &##$  )  !#  / $6 @@$$#$ #F#@ !I!%< $%$""); #$" $%$ 522E6

  $ ;) ?    F !"  !$" $ $ $   ! =  !"  $$$  #""  L$  $% $$ ;  50 %!8 1222  ?     ? ? $%$"");#$" $%$ 522E6



./0,.1223  4/.554    &$#&%  8 "6@@$  ?" ?$"$$L$ $%:522E #50%!81222 $$@#""?&#%$#F !"$#<+?6&$#$ 8 "$  !$$ @$  $6     D)$      ?   $%$" ");  #$"  $% $  522 E6  $  # $ #   !$ #!$$$  !$$   $$ ##"$6  @@$  ##$ "$8# 1%!81223@$"$$ &@$$"4 $" "!81227#?$"$"!$$!$6 $  F;! "%"!$ %  D$ 1223 & #$  $ #$" :  "$)$ &$#$&"%$?"$"$$:@$$@$ $"$$$": !5-D$12236 "$$ 8  "  ; ?  ##$ !" F @)$   $ @@!!$ #8$ D#  $?&F#$D$@#6

 % ?#"; @$ & !$$?$#"$  $%$" #$"#$$!$$@$#$" $%  522E6

,6  %$  "$!   $  &F & $%$"  #$" 8$#$ ) !%$ $:$6

<R  " $@  )" &% $" $ L$ "%"   8 & !#  %6    % ? &" $ # 8$ & &"$$ # %  $ !#" %  ?& #$ 8$  FI$ &$%$" ? #$ 8!$ L$ F)"   #;  $$!$ $  !  " #$$   !<"  $% "?8"6  !#  %&@@$;) <@@$F$!$?#8 !$$  F%$ @$$& %&$ @@" #!$$$    $F &% $" A!"$<  )""  !#  %J *5C2C0/ 6C6051/C2 655205C3 61$ 18JD?&C5 "!81221V $61/61  J 5D% C5 "!8 122CV$6565 "$%&$653 J #5D%1220V $6 1/ 6 1    "$ % &$6 53  B6  #"  :  !#  %  %$   #  !!$     $ :  $J  % % $  % $" %$ L$ "$!" # ##$ :  !L! !!$ $  ! @$   % #$8 &@  $ :  $ % D?& !!$ =  " $   %$L$#!#$A *51,11C 606551/5-0B6

  % &%  $ L$ "%" %$ $$  @$   $$ #@ ;$  &$""6  &8 & % @@$%!$ ""+ "@"F "$$$?$?&"$$  ?L$$$  &@@@" " $$$?A *513



./0,.1223  4,.554    -3  6 C8. $ 88B6  !  ?   $$  $$$? %$ L$ " $ "#   &!8  $ # $ #@   #$ A!$$ "  < # 9) "  % $$".$") &$$  "D $ $F &#$B$"$ &"%$ !$ #% &##"$6  " $)8!F!! 17E$$$?#!$ $ !#$  @@"$ ""!$ ? #%$ @  % & $%$" $%A@6 *513-/ 67B6

 %   # %   "$!  "$8$  )"   %!8#"# "$?&$@@$%!$#"!!$ "$!$   "$$  8 $" A * 51,  110  6 06C65 $  "@"B6  $ L$ "%"  !;  ;$ ? #8  8 ?& %$  ;) )""   "@"    ? &"  8$ %$&$$$:$"6

526  &#; ;  ?  $ &F # &$%$" $% # %!81222%$ "@"# "$!% &% F $$ ?L$$$ 6

   "@" $  ? #%$ #"$   <!! @@$$ $%$"!#$"#"$$%A% ?@$0B $#%" : % # &" 1222 0&7,/ @ # ! A?L$    $$  1222 5#67B6@@$)  )"%$ &$%$"!#$ "#"$$%?%$$ # $$ % $ @@$ % ?& $ !8 &$  $ "); $  #$" F #8;! F  $6 !!   8$ $  " $$ !#$ &< $% 02<$ "<8 ! @" :  !+    $#  1225 A05- <J   "!? 5241227 #6 /1 ,61B  !$$ $ L$ #$" : 0&-,C @6 02  7-&715@6#"6 #; #$$ <@@:&"%$  &    !F $ " # &" 1225 $  &%$  $ "%$ :  $ A  1255J   "!? -./41227 #6 ,, 526CB8$$% 7/&,1-@6726

&9) $$< #D$@ #" :8$$!$  $$$?:<$ 52E6"$% &%  7C&2C0 @6-76

(&)$  %  % $"  +    % ?  " $ &$%$"  "# $  $ $ $8 ;  ?   ## %  & D!   ; #"" $ ?& & # "$8  !#$8$" #  "  6  %  &$%$"  "# $ @)$&F$$ !#$ % $ &$;@86



./0,.1223  452.554    "$  &F$$  $ !#$  %  ?  $  $%"  ?$"  " #  $#  89$!$  5,,3 : 5,,,J   ""  5,,-) 32&222@65,,/ 37&222@6$ D%:!5,,,  5,&533 @6   ) # $ ? $%$"  +  F"6  &8  "@8+ $:&$ &$!"? $$#" $%$" !I1225:%31&7C2@6 A0&/52@6F5CB6

 &$ ?  $ #"$  )" &% $"  575, E @@$ # % $ :  $6  %<   $ :  !  #!$ ?&  & "6

556 % ?#"; !@ " $L$D$"6

YYYYY



./0,.1223  455.554  

  .*!3  * !- *.  -  .!

 

  4

56 "%86

 4

16 D$$6

C6 $?#" $)$$6

06 @!  #$   ?O #%$ @!  $  #"$ L$   "  C2 D ;  $@$ #;  8 @" " A(<ZR<@?33220  B#% !$;  $ #8@!"!$F$6/1 @" " 8@" " 5- D 1227 A *BJ  !"!   $  ?   !$@ $ !+ #%$#$)$ $ ! $J $ L$  "  8 @" " # % #$  # % "$? F  $  &$6 01  *6  #"$ L$ $  #;  #  $%?"!!!+ #% %$L$D$:&%6  )@@V  " $V       (  



#@! #"$L$$$@"F#$?O:O@@@" " #)@@





./0,.1223

