This book explores the underlying principles of the law of compensation. To this end, it examines the meaning of four essential concepts: ‘damage’ (schade), ‘benefit’ (voordeel), ‘damage... Show moreThis book explores the underlying principles of the law of compensation. To this end, it examines the meaning of four essential concepts: ‘damage’ (schade), ‘benefit’ (voordeel), ‘damage attribution’ (schadetoerekening) and ‘benefit attribution’ (voordeelstoerekening). As a result of this examination, a three-step approach to compensation law cases becomes apparent. Although this approach is in my opinion widely followed in legal practice, it is usually not made explicit. By doing so, I hope to help legal practitioners clarify andrefine their reasoning and argumentation in compensation law cases and offer guidance in addressing the many challenging questions that arise in this area of law. Show less
Background: Nymphaeid macrophytes, rooting in the sediment of water bodies and characterized by floating leaves, play an important role in wetland ecosystems. The present research deals with the... Show moreBackground: Nymphaeid macrophytes, rooting in the sediment of water bodies and characterized by floating leaves, play an important role in wetland ecosystems. The present research deals with the effects of limited space, limited nutrient availability, water temperature and an unexpected inundation on the production, turnover and plasticity of floating leaves of the globally widespread species Nymphoides peltata (Fringed waterlily).Methods: The effects of these environmental conditions were studied in two plots in outdoor concrete tanks (CT1, CT2, mesocosms simulating occurrence in small ponds) and in two plots in the floodplain oxbow lake Bemmelse Strang (BS1, BS2). Plot CT1 was situated in a stand coexisting with helophytes, plot CT2 in a monospecific stand, plot BS1 in the center and plot BS2 at the open water border of a monospecific stand. All floating leaf blades within the plots were marked at appearance at the water surface and subsequently length, width and damage of each leaf and maximum and minimum water temperatures were measured bi-weekly. Area and biomass of leaf blades were calculated based on leaf length and width and were used to calculate turnover rates and production.Results: The growth period started in May and ended mid-October with continuous production of floating leaves during nearly the whole vegetation period. In the tanks the water level was very stable, but the lake underwent an inundation by river water, causing a sudden loss of existing leaves. Considering environmental conditions and based on the assumed ranking from low to high nutrient availability, the ranking of the plots was CT1, CT2, BS1, BS2. This order was found for maximum leaf life span and maximum leaf length, and the reverse order was found for number of leaves, new leaves per day and duration of the vegetation period. Turnover rates appeared to be relatively similar for plots CT1, CT2 and BS1, but for the deeper border plot BS2 lower ratios were found. These results indicate that increased enclosure with expected nutrient limitation causes (1) the production of high numbers of small leaves with larger totals for leaf area and biomass, (2) a shift towards increased sexual reproduction by the production of more flowering stem leaves. Show less
In large-scale infrastructure projects, the Dutch government allows its citizens to suffer some damage and nuisance ('facilitated damage'). The government then aims to settle claims and compensate... Show moreIn large-scale infrastructure projects, the Dutch government allows its citizens to suffer some damage and nuisance ('facilitated damage'). The government then aims to settle claims and compensate that damage; it also tries to restore the trust relationship between victimized citizens and the government. How can government arrive at a trust-building compensation policy if it has facilitated damage for a group of citizens in a large-scale infrastructural project, for the sake of the public interest? In this research, an interdisciplinary theoretical framework of trust-building compensation policy is designed based on legal, public administrative and political science insights. Subsequently, on the basis of three extensive case studies – the construction of the North/South metro line in Amsterdam, the expansion of Schiphol Airport, and the consequences of gas extraction in Groningen – the study analyzes to what extent these theoretical insights have an effect in practice: did they help to build or recover trust in government? The aim of the study is to provide practical and concrete guidelines for lawyers and policymakers involved in compensation policy, so that they know how not to damage trust in the government in the future. Show less
The object of the study concerns the assessment of non-pecuniary damages (pain and suffering). Non-pecuniary damage cannot be computed in any way whatsoever. The law meanwhile demands rulings on... Show moreThe object of the study concerns the assessment of non-pecuniary damages (pain and suffering). Non-pecuniary damage cannot be computed in any way whatsoever. The law meanwhile demands rulings on non-pecuniary damages to be consistent although no two cases are (entirely) the same. The author would prefer a court faced with the issue of the extent of the actual non-pecuniary damage to focus on the amounts in non-pecuniary damage laid down in a Judge-made regulation, the product of judicial cooperation or coordination. The author understands coordination to mean any activity geared towards harmonizing the judicial and/or extrajudicial determination of non-pecuniary damages. A judge-made regulation could avert the risk of incoherence between court rulings and inefficiency. A risk that lies both in the inherent arbitrariness attached to the translation of non-pecuniary damage into financial compensation for such damage, and in the related risk of arbitrariness that is imminent as the legislator the Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeal give few directions about the desirable amounts and method of determination of non-pecuniary damages by other courts. Show less
Als een ICT-leverancier geen exoneratie in een overeenkomst met zijn klant opneemt, is hij in principe onbeperkt aansprakelijk als hij schade toebrengt bij de uitvoering van een ICT-project. Een... Show moreAls een ICT-leverancier geen exoneratie in een overeenkomst met zijn klant opneemt, is hij in principe onbeperkt aansprakelijk als hij schade toebrengt bij de uitvoering van een ICT-project. Een exoneratie is een clausule in een contract waarmee een leverancier zijn aansprakelijkheid uitsluit of beperkt. Rechters moeten terughoudend zijn met het opzij schuiven van exoneraties die zijn overeengekomen tussen professionele ICT-partijen. Ook als een ICT-leverancier een exoneratie overeenkomt, kunnen er omstandigheden zijn waardoor een rechter die exoneratie terzijde schuift. Deze omstandigheden worden geanalyseerd in dit proefschrift. Eén van de omstandigheden waaronder een leverancier geen beroep mag doen op zijn exoneratie is als hij opzettelijk of met bewuste roekeloosheid schade toebrengt aan zijn klant. Als hiervan geen sprake is, zijn er nog een aantal andere omstandigheden op grond waarvan exoneraties doorbroken kunnen worden. In het proefschrift wordt betoogd dat als geen sprake is van opzet of bewuste roekeloosheid, rechters terughoudend moeten zijn met het opzij schuiven van exoneraties die zijn overeengekomen tussen professionele partijen. Professionele partijen moeten vrij zijn om in hun contracten onderling risico's te verdelen. Exonereren is eigenlijk niets anders dan het verdelen van aansprakelijkheidsrisico's. Show less
