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  3. Law: Contract(s)

material representation

French translation: déclaration substantielle

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:material representation
French translation:déclaration substantielle
Entered by: Cassandra Delacote

09:04 Feb 8, 2019
English to French translations [PRO]
Law/Patents - Law: Contract(s) / warranties and representations
English term or phrase: material representation
Context:

Each of the representations and warranties given in terms hereof, shall –
be a separate warranty and will in no way be limited or restricted by inference from the terms of any other warranty or by any other words in this Agreement;
continue and remain in force notwithstanding the completion of any or all the transactions contemplated in this Agreement; and
prima facie are deemed to be material and to be a material representation inducing the Parties to enter into this Agreement.

My attempt:
Chacune des déclarations et garanties données en vertu des présentes, constitue -
une garantie distincte qui ne doit en aucune façon être limitée en tirant des conclusions basées sur les conditions d’une autre garantie ou par d’autres mots utilisés dans cet Accord ;
reste en vigueur malgré l’achèvement/ réalisation des transactions envisagées au présent Accord ; et
à première vue sont réputées importantes/déterminantes et considérées comme une déclaration significative, incitant les parties à conclure cet Accord.

I don't think this is a good translation of the above term. However, as warranties and representations is translated as garanties et déclarations, I thought fit to use the word "Déclaration" for representation. (context)

But I would be very grateful for a better translation of the term, if any of the legal experts out there can help me.
Cassandra Delacote
France
Local time: 05:13
déclaration substantielle
Explanation:
In contract law, a material representation is a representation (i.e. declaration, statement of fact) by one person that matters to the other person. In other words, if Person A had not made that representation, Person B probably would not have entered into a contract with Person A. If it turns out that the representation was false, then B can cancel the contract.

Here's a link -- the whole definition is illuminating, but definition (3) is the contract law definition that we're talking about here: https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/material

I don't like "déterminante" because it's just a touch too strong. Any contract may contain many material representations, and to my ear it sounds odd to say that, for instance, twenty different representations are all "déterminante." That word works if only one central representation is the truly determinative one, but that isn't how contracts usually work -- there are several material representations.

To me it sounds more natural, given that we're almost always talking about several different representations, to say each representation is "substantielle."

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Note added at 6 hrs (2019-02-08 15:15:29 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

PS to Cassandra: about your proposed translation of the whole text, I don't like "réputé" for "deemed" in this context. I know it is one of several possible correct translations of "deemed," but in a contract law context, it's not strong enough. "Présumé" or "jugé" works better.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2019-02-08 15:18:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

PPS to Cassandra: "prima facie" can be left in the original Latin in your translation. "A première vue" is a correct translation, but I don't think it captures what prima facie means in UK/US law. For example, if I make a prima facie case against you, then I win unless you are able to rebut the points I have made. I have seen French texts with "prima facie" in Latin in this context, and would be inclined to do it that way for this translation.

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/prima-facie.asp
Selected response from:

Eliza Hall
United States
Local time: 23:13
Grading comment
a difficult choice between the 2 options, but this is the one I ended up using. Thank you to Eliza and all who contributed.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +1déclaration substantielle
Eliza Hall
4 +1déclaration déterminante
Kévin Bacquet


  

Answers


10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
déclaration déterminante


Explanation:
Je suis d'accord pour "déclaration". La traduction de "material" pose toujours des difficultés et "déterminante" convient au contexte. L'idée ici est que ce sont des déclarations qui ont du poids (pas faites à la légère)

Kévin Bacquet
France
Local time: 05:13
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 96

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Evelyne Schoeser (X): Plutôt que "déterminante", je dirais "essentielle", qui est plus courant dans ce contexte.
1 hr
agree  Germaine: Réflexion faite, j’utiliserais "est réputée importante... considérée comme déterminante..." (plutôt que significative) (Notez le singulier; on renvoie à chacune des déclarations ET garanties)
5 hrs
neutral  Eliza Hall: I think both "déterminante" and Evelyne's "essentielle" are a little bit too strong here.
6 hrs
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
déclaration substantielle


Explanation:
In contract law, a material representation is a representation (i.e. declaration, statement of fact) by one person that matters to the other person. In other words, if Person A had not made that representation, Person B probably would not have entered into a contract with Person A. If it turns out that the representation was false, then B can cancel the contract.

Here's a link -- the whole definition is illuminating, but definition (3) is the contract law definition that we're talking about here: https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/material

I don't like "déterminante" because it's just a touch too strong. Any contract may contain many material representations, and to my ear it sounds odd to say that, for instance, twenty different representations are all "déterminante." That word works if only one central representation is the truly determinative one, but that isn't how contracts usually work -- there are several material representations.

To me it sounds more natural, given that we're almost always talking about several different representations, to say each representation is "substantielle."

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2019-02-08 15:15:29 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

PS to Cassandra: about your proposed translation of the whole text, I don't like "réputé" for "deemed" in this context. I know it is one of several possible correct translations of "deemed," but in a contract law context, it's not strong enough. "Présumé" or "jugé" works better.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2019-02-08 15:18:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

PPS to Cassandra: "prima facie" can be left in the original Latin in your translation. "A première vue" is a correct translation, but I don't think it captures what prima facie means in UK/US law. For example, if I make a prima facie case against you, then I win unless you are able to rebut the points I have made. I have seen French texts with "prima facie" in Latin in this context, and would be inclined to do it that way for this translation.

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/prima-facie.asp

Eliza Hall
United States
Local time: 23:13
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 40
Grading comment
a difficult choice between the 2 options, but this is the one I ended up using. Thank you to Eliza and all who contributed.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Daryo
3 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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