Problematyka stosowania art. 358[1] § 3 k.c. w ubezpieczeniu osobowym

Abstract

The article analyses the admissibility of the court revaluation of payments made under personal insurance with respect to judicial practice and scientific opinions. Article 358 1 § 3 of the Civil Code 1 allows a court of law to intervene in a contract or issue a relevant ruling, if the purchasing power of the currency changed significantly after the contractual obligation arose. To this end, a court of law has to assess the „significance” of the change and specify the measure to be used for revaluing a claim, if necessary. Besides, it should weigh the interest of both parties in each case, respecting the principles of community life. Within the area of insurance relations, court revaluation aims to compensate for inflation (deflation), thus protecting the interests of both contractual parties. The contractual parties in the insurance industry are insurance companies specialised in selling insurance policies on a mass scale and consumers, i.e. individuals in need of special protection. Court practice allows the revaluation of payments made under personal insurance (especially dowry insurance and deferred annuities). The admissibility of revaluing payments that have already been made and of multiple revaluations raises some doubts, though.