Damages for non-conclusion of contract

Problematika odškodninske odgovornosti za nesklenitev pogodbe izpostavlja vprašanje, kakšne so obveznosti in pravice strank pred njeno sklenitvijo. Pomemben doprinos k sklenitvi pogodbe predstavljajo predhodna dogovarjanja, pripravljanja in sklepanje kompromisov, kar razumemo pod pojmom pogajanja. Zaradi samega namena pogajanj jih zakonodajalec ni uredil do te mere, da bi preveč omejeval želje in ravnanja strank preden sklenejo pravni posel. V Obligacijskem zakoniku (OZ) zasledimo le nekaj temeljnih določb, ki urejajo to področje. 20. člen OZ predstavlja vodilo pri razumevanju pogajanj in določa v katerih primerih stranka odgovarja za škodo. Poleg tega nas pri presoji ali morebiti gre za nepoštena pogajanja usmerjajo temeljna načela obligacijskega prava, tj. načelo vestnosti in poštenja, načelo prepovedi povzročanja škode itd. Zakon sicer dopušča možnost odstopa od pogajanj brez sankcij, vendar zgolj takrat, ko so za to podani upravičeni razlogi. Med pogajanji mora torej vsaka stranka postopati tako, da drugi stranki ne povzroča škodo. V nasprotnem primeru pravila o odškodninski odgovornosti nepošteni stranki, ob zahtevku nasprotne stranke, nalagajo dolžnost povrnitve povzročene škode. Širši pogled na to problematiko, skupaj z odgovorom na vprašanje v zvezi z dokaznim bremenom glede posameznih predpostavk odškodninske odgovornosti, ponuja sodna praksa. Pogajanja pa niso edini institut vezan na fazo pred sklenitvijo pogodbe, saj zakon predvideva še nekaj sorodnih institutov, ki so si tako v razmerju do pogajanja kot tudi med seboj podobni, a se kljub temu v določenih lastnostih razlikujejo.The issue of liability regarding non-conclusion of a contract points out a question of rights and obligations of the contractual parties before the conclusion itself. Previous agreements, preparations and compromises consumed in so called negotiations, represent an important contribution to concluding a contract. Due to very purpose of negotiations between two contractual parties negotiations remain fairly undefined by the legislator in order not to overly limit will, wishes and actions of the parties before contract is concluded. In Slovenian Civil Code there is therefore only a few statutory provisions regarding negotiations, while its 20th provision represents guidance towards understanding the very principle of negotiations while stating cases in which the contractual party stands liable for damage caused in the sphere of other party by actions performed by the first. In order to estimate dishonest negotiations one must follow the very meaning of the fundamental principles of negotiations such as principle of conscientiousness and honesty, principle of prohibited induction of damage and so on. The Code allows the possibility of negotiation withdrawal, but only in case of existence of justified reasons. Therefore must each party act in such a way during the negotiations not to cause damage to the other. Otherwise, according to provisions regarding civil liability dishonest party bares the duty of compensation of damage caused by their actions. A profounder understanding to the concerning topic one acquires through judicial practice, including answering the procedural question of burden of proof regarding supposition of civil liability. Provisions in the Civil Code predict other similar institutes, which are in basis alike, not only compared to negotiations but also to each other. On the other hand these institutes are different due to specific characteristics