Prescription is a major legal defence that bars civil actions after the expiry of the prescription period on the claim. This book thoroughly examines the law of 16 selected jurisdictions and extensively analyses in comparative perspective the elements of prescription, their interrelations, and the policy considerations (including economic analysis). While the book focuses on prescription of tort claims the analysis, comparisons and conclusions...

This volume explores how differences between tort and contract affect the foundations of liability, the nature and amount of the compensation, the extent of liability and whether defences and limitation periods corresponding to the distinct causes of action give rise to substantially different outcomes.

In recent decades, the liability of public authorities has been one of the main areas of development in tort law in Europe, with major reforms implemented or considered at a national level, and a steady stream of major court decisions. During the same period, ‘Member State liability’ has also been recognised in the law of the EU, and the interplay of principles of national and EU law – and additionally the ‘just satisfaction’ jurisprudence of ...