攝影師：Pixabay

 

如果你平常會慶祝聖誕節，你可能是那些喜歡用蠟燭照亮家裡的人之一。那很好！ 但你應該知道，作爲蠟燭愛好者需要承擔負些責任，就像我們將在今天的案例研究中探討的那樣。

 

在2014年12月27日，C女士參加了G女士在家中舉辦的聖誕派對。 在客廳裡，沒有保護措施的蠟燭點燃並散落在地板和矮桌上。為了增添節日氛圍，客人被邀請穿著套裝，而C女士選擇了穿上一件酒椰葉編織製成的套裝。不幸的是，在晚上，C女士的套裝在與一支蠟燭的火焰接觸時著火。 這導致了嚴重的燒傷，她身體表面的31%受到影響，其中29%是深度燒傷。

 

在事件發生後，C女士對G女士提起了法律訴訟，要求G女士賠償她的人身傷害和其他損失。經過漫長的法庭訴訟，Aix-en-Provence的上訴法院最終裁定G女士犯有輕率過失，確定了她對C女士的賠償責任。此外，法院發現C女士其實也犯有過錯，因此有理由將她的賠償權減少了25%。

 

關於G女士的輕率過失，法院參考了法國民法典第1241條，該條規定「每個人不僅應對他們故意行為造成的損害負責，也應對他們的過失行為或輕率行為造成的損害負責。」上訴法院的法官認為，G女士在注意到她的客人在點燃的蠟燭附近走動時，應該以她往常謹慎且明智的女主人身份，保持頭腦冷靜，熄滅蠟燭。 由於她沒有這樣做，她犯下輕率過失。

 

至於C女士的過失，法院提醒稱，根據第1241條，任何被認定有責任的人在受害者有過失的情況下可能免除責任。 上訴法院的法官觀察到，C女士意識到客廳裡有沒有保護措施的點燃蠟燭的存在，應該注意避免接觸，尤其是考慮到她穿著易燃的酒椰葉編織套裝。 法官得出結論，C女士未能確保自己的安全，因此犯有了一項過失，理由充分，減少了她的賠償權益的25%。

 

因此，法院裁定，G女士及其保險公司需賠償C女士75%的損害，反映了法院考慮到C女士自身過失而確定的減少比例。

 

當然，在台灣類似的案件可能會有不同的結果，因為適用不同的責任規則。但無論如何，下次在你家點亮聖誕蠟燭（或任何蠟燭）時，請記住這個案例並注意蠟燭的擺放位置，最重要的是，切勿將蠟燭放置在褲子或裙子擺邊觸及範圍內。

 

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參考資料：

1. CNH News（2023年12月25日)。如果聖誕蠟燭著火了客人的裙子，誰該負責？可於以下網址查閱：Qui est responsable si des bougies de Noël enflamment la jupe d’une invitée ? | CNH News （瀏覽日期：2024年2月2日）；
2. Aix-en-Provence上訴法院，第 16 庭，2023 年 4 月 13 日，22-09522。可於以下網址查閱：Cour d'appel d'Aix-en-Provence, Chambre 1 6, 13 avril 2023, n° 22/09522 | Doctrine（瀏覽日期：2024年2月2日）。

 

聲明: 這篇文章是原創作品，所有引用的文件、數據、照片和資料均已列在文章底部的「參考資料」部分。

 

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Christmas Candles Placement: A Cautionary Tale

 

Photographer: Pixabay

 

If you celebrate Christmas, you might be among those who take delight in illuminating their homes with candles. Good for you, really! But you ought to know that being a candle aficionado comes with responsibility, as we’ll explore with today’s case study.

 

On December 27, 2014, Ms. C. attended a Christmas party at Ms. G.'s place. In the living room, unprotected candles had been lit and scattered on the floor and low tables. Adding to the festive atmosphere, guests were invited to wear costumes, and Ms. C. chose to put on a raffia costume. Tragically, during the evening, Ms. C.'s costume caught fire upon contact with one of the candle flames. This resulted in severe burns, with 31% of her body surface affected, 29% of which were deep burns.

 

Following the incident, Ms. C. pursued legal action against Ms. G. to seek compensation for her bodily injury and other damages. After lengthy court proceedings, the Appellate Court of Aix-en-Provence ultimately ruled that Ms. G. had committed a fault of imprudence, establishing her liability towards Ms. C. Additionally, the court found that Ms. C. had also committed a fault, justifying a reduction of her right to compensation by 25%.

 

Regarding Ms. G.’s fault of imprudence, the court referred to Article 1241 of the French Civil Code, which states that ‘everyone shall be liable for the damage they have caused not only by their intentional act, but also by their negligent conduct or by their imprudence.’ The appellate judges considered that Ms. G., upon noticing her guests walking around her apartment near the lit candles, should have -in her quality of normally cautious and savvy hostess- exercised the presence of mind to extinguish the candles. By not doing so, she committed a fault of imprudence.

 

As for Ms. C.’s fault, the court reminded that anyone found liable under Article 1241 may be exonerated from liability in the event of a fault on the part of the victim. The appellate judges observed that Ms. C., being aware of the presence of unprotected lit candles in the living room, should have taken care to avoid contact, especially considering she was wearing an inflammable raffia costume. They concluded that M. C. had thus failed to ensure her own safety, thereby committing a fault justifying a reduction of her right to compensation by 25%.

 

As a result, both Ms. G. and her insurance company were obligated to compensate 75% of Ms. C.'s damages, reflecting the reduction determined by the court in consideration of Ms. C.'s own fault.

 

Naturally, a similar case would likely yield a different outcome in Taiwan, as different liability rules apply. Regardless, it is prudent to bear in mind this case the next time you light up Christmas candles (or any candles, for that matter) in your space. Remember to be mindful of their placement, and, most importantly, avoid locations within the reach of pants or skirts' hems at all costs.

 

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Reference Materials:

 

1. CNH News (December 25, 2023). Who is responsible if Christmas candles catch a guest's skirt on fire? Qui est responsable si des bougies de Noël enflamment la jupe d’une invitée ? | CNH News (Accessed: February 2, 2024);
2. Court of Appeal of Aix-en-Provence, 16th Chamber, April 13, 2023, 22-09522. Available at : Cour d'appel d'Aix-en-Provence, Chambre 1 6, 13 avril 2023, n° 22/09522 | Doctrine (Accessed: February 2, 2024).

 

Statement: This article is an original work of authorship, and all referenced documents, data, photos, and materials have been listed in the "Reference Materials" section located at the bottom of the article.

 

 

 

by 黃愷蜜 顧問