Suoritusviivästys

Suoritusviivästys is a Finnish legal term referring to a delay in fulfilling a contractual obligation. It occurs when a party to a contract fails to perform their agreed-upon duty by the specified deadline. This can apply to a wide range of situations, such as late delivery of goods, non-payment of a debt, or failure to complete a service.

The consequences of suoritusviivästys depend on the nature of the contract and the severity of the delay. Typically, the non-breaching party has the right to claim damages for any losses incurred as a direct result of the delay. These damages can include financial losses, such as lost profits or additional expenses incurred to mitigate the impact of the delay. In some cases, if the delay is significant enough and goes to the core of the contract, the non-breaching party may also have the right to terminate the contract altogether.

However, suoritusviivästys does not automatically lead to liability. The party who has caused the delay may be able to avoid liability if they can prove that the delay was due to an unforeseen circumstance beyond their control, often referred to as force majeure. Examples of such circumstances might include natural disasters, wars, or significant government actions that directly prevent the performance of the contract. The specific conditions for invoking force majeure are often detailed within the contract itself or are governed by general principles of contract law. The concept is central to understanding contractual remedies and obligations in Finnish law.