Programme

The course is divided into 4 thematic modules:

(1) Introduction to private law (3 cfu)
The first module of the course deals with the concept of juridical norm and with the sources of law (particular attention is given to the European level of normative production, and to the relevance of the Constitution in private-law relationships).
The course then analyzes the subjects of private law, and the main categories of legal situations abstractly available to them (examining, here, prescription and forfeiture).

(2) The obligation in general (2 cfu)
The second module deals with the law of obligation in general. In particular, the following topics are examined:
(i) the sources of obligations (with specific attention, here, on legal sources different from contracts and torts);
(ii) the main types of obligations (with particular attention to pecuniary obligations);
(iii) modifications of the active and passive side of the debtor-creditor relationship;
(iv) the extinction of the obligation (exact fulfillment and different methods of extinction);
(v) the debtor's liability (with reference to the third module, on contractual remedies).

(3) The contract in general (3 cfu)
The third module deals with the law of contract in general. In particular, the following topics are examined:
(i) the notions of contract and of private autonomy (typical and atypical contracts; references to consumer contract);
(ii) the essential and accidental elements of the contract;
(iii) the conclusion of the contract (with analysis extended to pre-contractual liability and to representation);
(iv) the effects of the contract (in particular: rules for interpretation and integration, and reference to the fourth module);
(v) the simulation;
(vi) contractual invalidities (references to consumer protection);
(vii) damages for non-performance
(viii) termination of the contract.

(4) Protection of rights (2 cfu)
Based on the concepts examined in previous modules, the fourth and final part of the course examines the following topics:
(i) patrimonial liability (in relation to which the following topics are analyzed: real security rights; the judicial means of preserving patrimonial guarantee);
(ii) land registration (with reference to the effects of contract in the the circulation of wealth).

Core Documentation

A) The latest edition of the textbook:
- Mazzamuto (ed), Manuale del diritto privato, Torino, Giappichelli [CAPITOLI: I, II, III, IV, XIII (only § 13), XIV, XV (§ 3 excluded), XVI, XVIII, XIX].

B) Additional materials:
- Codice civile (any updated available edition).

Type of delivery of the course

The course is based on two kind of classes: (i) general lectures, aimed at providing students with the theoretical foundations of the course; (ii) seminarial classes, aimed at providing students with a more interactive, and therefore more critical, perspective of the theoretical concepts (illustration of relevant cases; during the fourth module of the course, simulations of litigation among organized groups of attending students).

Type of evaluation

The assessment method is based on a final written exam. The written exam is composed by: A) 11 multiple-choice questions: for each question, four possible answers are given, only one of them being the correct one. Each correct answer is awarded 1 point; no penalty for wrong or missing answers is given. B) 2 open-ended questions: each answer is evaluated with a grade ranging from 0 to 10 points. For each answer, the minimun pass-grade (6/10) requires proof of the fundamental language skills and substantial knowledge that are strictly necessary to provide a basic description of the legal doctrines under analysis. For each answer, the maximum grade (10/10) implies proof of exhaustive knowledge of the private law basics, excellent command of technical language and systematic view, showing full capability of linking together relevant principles and rules of the legal system, connected with the specific doctrine under analysis. The exam lasts 40 minutes. The use of the civil code or other supporting texts is not allowed. The result is communicated to each student with a personalized message via the GOMP system. After receiving the result, each student has 7 days to reject the grade; after this deadline the vote is considered accepted and is therefore definitively recorded.

Programme

CONTENTS
“Istituzioni di Diritto Privato” is a unitary course, articulated in two part: a general one and a special one. The “General Part” represents the content of “Istituzioni di Diritto Privato I”, which firstly introduces students to the general foundations of the legal system, essential for the comprehension of what “Law” means, and how it operates in the society as a regulatory framework for interpersonal relationships. The analysis of legal sources emphasizes the current relevance of the European Law and of the Constitution, demonstrating that the study of Private Law should not be confined to the national civil code. Furthermore, the course is focused on the scholar’s classification of legal conditionsand on the legal persons (in particular with regard to individuals and personality rights). The programme includes moreover a complete analysis of the law of obligations and the law of contract in general, including: a) the other sources of the obligation (unilateral promises, negotiorum gestio, undue payment, unjust enrichment); b) collateral securities (not the personal sureties, which will be studied in the course of “Istituzioni di Diritto Privato II”); c) land registration (in the broader context of disposal of rights).

Core Documentation

1) ETTORE BATTELLI, Diritto privato delle persone minori di età, Giappichelli, Torino, 2021 (p.1-155).
2) SALVATORE MAZZAMUTO (a cura di), Manuale di diritto privato, Giappichelli, Torino, 2022, capitoli I-V, XII, XIV-XVI, XVIII-XIX.
(pagine: 4-224; 505-624; 685-824).
(in alternativa) FRANCESCO MACARIO, Introduzione al diritto privato, Bologna, il Mulino, 2021.

A. DI MAJO (eds), Codice Civile, ed. Giuffrè, Milano, latest ediction.

Type of delivery of the course

The lectures will be accompanied by seminars on specific topics as well as a constant teaching tutoring aimed at monitoring and verifying the level of understanding, by attending and non-attending students, of the topics covered.

Type of evaluation

The assessment of learning takes place through an oral test assessed by the minimum mark of 18/30, corresponding to the basic knowledge of all parts of the program and of the technical language, to the maximum mark of 30/30 with honors, which is equivalent to excellent mastery of the topics, appropriate or excellent property of language, appropriate or excellent analytical ability and practical resolution of legal issues. In order to verify the level of achievement of the indicated educational objectives, attending and non-attending students will have to answer at least three questionsasked orally on different topics which are the subjects of the program, with reference to the recommended texts and to the lectures held.

Programme

Syllabus
Introduction to Law (legal sources and norms)
Classes of rights
Subjects of law: individuals and legal entities
Obligations and Contracts
Prescription and forfeiture

Istituzioni di diritto privato is a unitary course, articulated into two part: a general one and a special one. The “General Part” is the object of the programme of Istituzioni di diritto privato I, which firstly introduces to the students the general foundations of the legal system, essential for the comprehension of what is “Law”, and how it operates in the society as a regulatory framework for interpersonal relationships. The analysis of legal sources highlights the current relevance of the European Law and of the Constitution, demonstrating that the study of private law can not be confined to the norms of the civil code. The course is then focused on the doctrinal classification of the different kinds of rights and on the discipline of subjects of law (with particular reference to individuals and personality rights). The programme also includes the complete analysis of the law of obligation and contract in general, encompassing: a) sources of obligation (unilateral promises, negotiorum gestio, undue payment, unjust enrichment); b) real guarantees (not the personal ones, that are part of the course of Istituzioni di diritto privato II); c) system of land registration (in the broader context of the circulation of rights).

Core Documentation

Last edition between:
- Macario, Introduzione al diritto privato, Bologna, il Mulino, 2021, in course of publication

or
- Bessone (a cura di), Istituzioni di diritto privato, Torino, Giappichelli (Introduction; Part I, V, VI, XI);

- Mazzamuto (a cura di), Manuale del diritto privato, Torino, Giappichelli (Part I, II, VI [no chap. XVII], VII)

- Rescigno, Manuale di diritto privato, Milano, IPSOA (Part I, II, III, VII, VIII [only chap. I,II, III]);

- Trabucchi, Istituzioni di diritto civile, Padova, Cedam (Part I, II, III, VIII, IX [no sez. III], XI [no par. 410, 411, 412], XII [only sez. I]);

- Zatti, Colussi, Lineamenti di diritto privato, Padova, Cedam (Part I, III, IV, VI [only cap. 30], XII [only cap. 50, 51]);

Other materials:

- Codice civile: gli studenti potranno utilizzare una qualunque edizione in commercio purché aggiornata con le ultime novità legislative.