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Innovative in legal technology

Our firm has never shy been of a challenge. We often blaze new trails in areas untrammelled by others. So we can proudly say that our firm is on the cutting edge when it comes to innovations in legal precedents and doctrine and therefore stands first in legal knowledge and application.

We are delighted to list below a few of the published rulings we have secured.

Administrative law

– Council of State (12th division) no. 224.309, 9 July 2013, CDPK 2014 (abridged), issue 2, 306 and 327; http://www.raadvst-consetat.be (6 September 2014) (police regulations – terraces for cafés and restaurants)

– Constitutional Court no. 22/2015, 19 February 2015 (request for a preliminary ruling), http://www.const-court.be (19 February 2015); Belgian Official Journal 28 April 2015 (first publication) (extract), 23634 and http://staatsblad.be (3 May 2015) (discrimination within police forces)

Labour law

– Labour Court of Brussels dated 28/03/1988, Rechtskundig Weekblad 88-89, 371 (liability of employee – delivery of work)

– Labour Court of Appeal of Brussels dated 17/10/00, Rechtskundig Weekblad 01-02, 127 (dismissal for urgent reason – sexist language use)

– Labour Court of Brussels dated 4 June 2019, Rechtskundig Weekblad 2019-20, 68 and mentioned in VAN EECKHOUTTE, W., Sociaal Compendium. Arbeidsrecht met fiscale notities [Social Compendium. Labour Law with tax annotations], 2664-2756 (93 p.) (manifestly unreasonable dismissal) Labour law with tax annotations], 2664-2756 (93 p.) (manifestly unreasonable dismissal)

Construction law

– Belgian Constitutional Court no. 117/2004 dated 30/06/04, http://www.const-court.be (2 July 2004); A.A. 2004, issue 3, 1351; Belgian Official Journal 5 October 2004 (extract), 70253 and http://staatsblad.be (13 October 2004); TMR 2004, issue 6, 706 and TBP 2005, issue 4-5, 209-379 (Equality and non-discrimination with regard to spatial planning and urban development – integrated physical environment permit for subdividing lands in the Flemish Region)

– Council of State dated 12/02/09, no. 190.356, jura.be and T.Gem. 2010, issue 2.112 (special operating conditions – urban development)

Contracts

– District Court of Hasselt dated 12/10/2002, Revue Générale de Droit Civil 2003, 638 with note by K. Vanderschot – The sanctioning of unlawful damages clauses.

– District Court of Leuven dated 24/02/06, NJW no. 162, 418 (understatement of price – simulation)

– Antwerp dated 23/04/08, Rechtskundig Weekblad 10-11, 586 (commercial lease – eviction compensation)

– Antwerp dated 15/12/2009, Justel N-20091215- (disguised gift)

– Commercial Court of Leuven dated 04/03/11, Rechtskundig Weekblad 11-12, 963 (repurchase in case of non-fulfilment of the contractual clauses)

– District Court of Brussels dated 16/01/12, Rechtskundig Weekblad 14-15, 589 (broker´s fee – real estate agent – breaking off of negotiations on a purchase agreement for real property)

– District Court of Leuven dated 08/05/13, Rechtskundig Weekblad 14-15, 71 (social lease – duty of actual occupation)

Computer law – Ict

– President of the Commercial Court of Leuven dated 01/03/2007, published in Computerrecht (magazine for IT, telecommunications and law), 2008, p.101 et seq

– Constitutional Court dated 27/01/11, A.GrwH 2011, issue 1, 331 (copyrights)

– Antwerp dated 04/06/2015, NJW dated 28/12/2016 (no. 353) p. 918 (parasitic competition – defamation – domain name)

Family law

– Justice of the Peace of Westerlo dated 15/12/00, Rechtskundig Weekblad 01-02, 1037 (artificial application of urgent and temporary measures)

– Brussels dated 26/11/13, Rechtskundig Weekblad 14-15, 266 and Tijdschrift voor Familierecht 2014, 225, note by K. Vereecke (summary proceeding – administration)

– Rb. – District Family Court of Leuven dated 02/10/2019, Rechtskundig Weekblad 2020-21, 830 (personal contact of grandparents – interest of the child)

Tax law

– Belgian Constitutional Court dated 06/04/00, Rechtskundig Weekblad 00-01, 472 (request for a preliminary ruling – customs and excise duties – prosecution)

– Court of Cassation (2nd division) AR P.03.0622.N, 25 May 2004 (Pova Fuel et al. / Minister of Finance), Arr.Cass. 2004, issue 5, 913; http://www.cass.be (22 June 2004); Pas. 2004, issue 5-6, 906; T.Strafr. 2005 (abridged), issue 6, 440 (confiscation)

– Brussels dated 17/03/11, FJF, 2012, 337 (transfer of family company at reduced tax rate)

– Court of Cassation (1st division) AR F.12,0044.N, 16 January 2014 (L.V. / Belgian State), http://www.cass.be (9 February 2014), opinion of THIJS, D.; TBO 2015, issue 1, 31 (right to VAT deduction)

– Rb. – District Court of Leuven (civil) (12th division) no. 16/1228/A, 1 December 2017, FJF 2018 (summary), issue 3, 103 and http://www.monkey.be/ (20 June 2018); TFR 2018 (summary), issue 549-550, 969 and http://tfrnet.larcier.be/ (30 November 2018), note by VANDEBERGH, H. (signs and indications – gift)

– Brussels (Dutch-language) (civil) (6th division) no. 2015/AF/119, 18 June 2019, FJF 2019 (summary), issue 9, 323 and http://www.monkey.be/ (9 January 2020) (personal income tax – stopping work)

– Brussels (Dutch-language) (civil) (6th division) no. 2018/AF/190, 3 March 2020, Fisc.Koer. 2020 (presentation of KELL, L.), issue 8, 184 and http://www.monkey.be/ (1 June 2020), note by KELL, L. (signs and indications – rebuttal)

Insolvency law

– Commercial Court of Ghent dated 10/01/00, Rechtskundig Weekblad 00-01, 699 (judicial composition)

– Brussels dated 14/03/00, Rechtskundig Weekblad 00-01, 697 (bankruptcy and excusability)

– Brussels dated 06/11/01, Rechtskundig Weekblad 03-04, 66 (judicial composition and remission)

– District Court of Leuven dated 13/09/02, Rechtskundig Weekblad 03-04, 1274 (bankruptcy and excusability)

– Antwerp dated 02/04/09, Rechtskundig Weekblad 10-11, 25 (bankruptcy and excusability)

– Constitutional Court no. 22/2019, 14 February 2019 (request for a preliminary ruling) http://www.const-court.be (15 February 2019); Belgian Official Journal 14 October 2019 (first publication) (extract), 94283 and http://staatsblad.be (15 October 2019); JLMB 2019 (summary), issue 19, 915 and http://jlmbi.larcier.be/ (12 June 2019), note by F.G.; RW 2018-19 (summary), issue 29, 1160 and http://www.rw.be/ (3 April 2019); RW 2018-19 (summary), issue 39, 1544 and http://www.rw.be/ (26 June 2019), note (bankruptcy – third-party opposition)

International law

– President of the Commercial Court of Leuven dated 11/05/2006, Juristenkrant 21/06/2006, no. 123 (misleading advertising – international jurisdiction)

– Brussels dated 26/11/13, Rechtskundig Weekblad 14-15, 266 and Tijdschrift voor Familierecht 2014, 225, note by K. Vereecke (international jurisdiction – summary proceeding – administration)

– Antwerp 13 September 2018, RABG 2020, issue 11-12, 944 (international jurisdiction – sales concession)

Market practices:

– Commercial Court of Tongeren dated 26/05/1988, Rechtskundig Weekblad 88-89, 128, and TPR, Overzicht van Rechtspraak wet op de handelspraktijken 1983-1988 [Overview of Case law relating to the Act on Commercial Practices 1983-1988], 289 (verbatim copying of catalogue)

– Commercial Court of Brussels dated 19/10/1994, Jaarboek Handelspraktijken [Commercial Practices Yearbook] 1995, 543 (abuse of dominant position)

– Brussels dated 21/06/1995, Rechtskundig Weekblad 95-96, 853 and AJT, 95-96, 497 and Jaarboek Handelspraktijken en Mededinging [Commercial Practices and Competition Yearbook] 1995/96, 567 (abuse of dominant economic position – refusal to sell)

– Ghent dated 20/10/04, Rechtskundig Weekblad 07-08, 280 (joint offer – real estate agent)

President of the Commercial Court of Leuven dated 11/05/2006, Juristenkrant 21/06/2006, no. 123 (misleading advertising – international jurisdiction)

– Antwerp dated 04/06/2015, NJW dated 28/12/2016 (no. 353) p. 918 (parasitic competition – defamation – domain name)

Environmental law

– Environmental Enforcement Court dated 20/02/14, MHHC 14/15-VK

Procedural law:

– Belgian Constitutional Court no. 165/2002 dated 13/11/02, jura.be mentioned in SMETS, A., Inhoud van het eenzijdig verzoekschrift [Content of the unilateral petition] – Book contributions – In: X., Bestendig Handboek Burgerlijk Procesrecht [Permanent Manual of Civil Procedural Law], VI.2 – 1 – VI.2 – 28 (28 p.) – October 2016 (attachment law)

– Antwerp dated 02/04/09, Rechtskundig Weekblad 10-11, 25 (proof in civil cases – denial of signature)

– Court of Cassation (2nd division) AR P.12.1940.N, 22 October 2013 (J.B. / S.B.), http://www.cass.be (18 November 2013); Pas. 2013, issue 10, 2001 (probative value of expert´s findings)

– Justice of the Peace of Zoutleeuw dated 06/03/14, Rechtskundig Weekblad 14-15, 1030 (lease – claim against driver – daily default fine)

– Justice of the Peace of Leuven dated 07/04/15, Rechtskundig Weekblad 15-16, 516 (local road – acquisitive prescription)

– Vred. – Justice of the Peace of Westerlo 7 March 2018, RW 2017-18, issue 40, 1592 and http://www.rw.be/ (6 June 2018) (lack of capacity – impossibility of discerning who the responsible bodies are)

Criminal law

– Court of Cassation dated 20/10/1992 (Nevens/Omob), Arr.Cass 91-92, 1215, Bull. 92, 1173 and Pas. 92, I, 1173 (handling of stolen property)

– Antwerp dated 20/02/1996, Rechtskundig Weekblad 96-97, 398, with notes by Arnou and Gelders (unlawful search of a vehicle)

– Belgian Constitutional Court dated 06/04/00, Rechtskundig Weekblad 00-01, 472 (request for a preliminary ruling – customs and excise duties – prosecution)

– Court of Cassation (2nd division) AR P.02.0494.N, 4 February 2003 (B.E.), Arr.Cass. 2003, issue 2, 319; http://www.cass.be (5 March 2003); Pas. 2003, issue 2, 265 (fair trial and equality of arms)

– Court of Cassation dated 26/02/02, Arr.Cass. 2002, issue 2, 580; http://www.cass.be (23 April 2002); Pas. 2002, issue 2, 551; RW 2002-03, issue 38, 1504 and http://www.rw.be (7 June 2003), note by BACKX, B. (fair trial – proof in criminal cases)

– Court of Cassation (2nd division) AR P.06.1533.N, 13 February 2007 (A.A.S.H., M.J.A.V.L. / G.D.M., M.B., B.M. et al.), Arr.Cass. 2007, issue 2, 362; http://www.cass.be (23 March 2007); Pas. 2007, issue 2, 314; T.Strafr. 2007, issue 5, 315, note (nullification of decision of the Court of Assizes)

– Court of Cassation (2nd division) AR P.10.0834.N, 26 October 2010 (K.R.D., Belgian State / E.H.J.V.G., S.P. et al.), Juristenkrant 2011 (presentation of VANWALLEGHEM, P.), issue 223, 7; http://www.cass.be (10 November 2010); Pas. 2010, issue 10, 2801 (obligation to provide reasons for wiretapping – irregular monitoring)

– Court of Cassation (2nd division) AR P.14.1149.N, 16 December 2014 (M.G.M.K., E.G.E.L.D., Renovama nv), http://www.cass.be (5 January 2015); NC 2015, issue 5, 447 and http://www.nullumcrimen.be/ (16 November 2015); RW 2015-16 (summary), issue 20, 783 and http://www.rw.be/ (9 February 2016) (reasonable period – Money Laundering Act – confiscation)

– Cass. – Court of Cassation P.13.0845 dated 24/02/15 (CG/Ethias), Arr.Cass. 2015, issue 2, 528; http://www.cass.be (14 March 2015); Pas. 2015, issue 2, 493 (probative value of late official police report)

– Court of Cassation (2nd division) AR P.14.0784.N, 23 June 2015 (B.F.I.J. / lease), Arr.Cass. 2015, issue 6-8, 1708; http://www.cass.be (26 July 2015); Pas. 2015, issue 6-7-8, 1678 (application of the law in time)

(2nd division) AR P.20.1298.N, 16 February 2021 (clearing service), https://juportal.be (15 March 2021)(tachograph – criminal procedure law)

Transportation law

Commercial Court of Hasselt dated 17/10/1996, Rechtskundig Weekblad 96-97, 1101 (CMR – indemnification claim)

(2nd division) AR P.20.1298.N, 16 February 2021 (clearing service), https://juportal.be (15 March 2021)(tachograph – criminal procedure law)

Corporate law:

– President of the Commercial Court of Leuven dated 22/06/99, TBH 2000, 654 (forced takeover of shares)

Traffic law

– District Court of Leuven dated 16/04/1985, Verkeersrecht 1985, 139 (priority in traffic)

– Correctional District Court of Leuven dated 22/06/99, Rechtskundig Weekblad 00-01, 665 with note by F. Goossens (probation in connection with traffic offences)

– Belgian Constitutional Court dated 13/07/01, Rechtskundig Weekblad 02-03, 131 (immediate revocation of driving licence – discrimination)

– District Court of Leuven dated 04/01/02, Verkeersrecht 02, issue 3, 89 (bike path in poor condition – liability of the government)

– Court of Cassation dated 19/03/02, Jura.be – road traffic, Arr.Cass. 2002, issue 3, 830; http://www.cass.be (23 April 2002); Pas. 2002, issue 3, 756; T.Strafr. 2003, issue 1, 30 (immediate revocation of driving licence)

– Court of Cassation (2nd division) AR P.02.1583.N, 8 April 2003 (L.P.), Arr.Cass. 2003, issue 4, 917; http://www.cass.be (23 May 2003); Pas. 2003, issue 4, 764; Verkeersrecht 2003, issue 7, 253 (proof in criminal cases – probative value of an official police report – presumption of innocence)

– Belgian Constitutional Court no. 154/2004 dated 22/09/04, jura.be and Rechtskundig Weekblad 04-05, 936 (revocation of driving licence).

– Court of Cassation (2nd division) AR P.20.0528.N, 6 October 2020 (K M L V D B), https://juportal.be (8 October 2020); RW 2020-21 (summary), issue 23, 898 and http://www.rw.be/ (30 January 2021), note -; VAV 2021, issue 1, 51 (alcohol and drug tests – margin of error).

– Court of Cassation (2nd division) AR P.20.1294.N, 16 March 2021 (D. F. C. D. K.) https://juportal.be (12 April 2021) (loss of the right to drive – augmented penalty)