Conor McAuley Apr 1, 2018:

Thanks for the pointers Nikki and Charlotte.

Nikki Scott-Despaigne Feb 7, 2006:

Noted. Thanks.

Charlotte Allen (asker) Feb 7, 2006:

Thanks, Nikki, interesting reference. I'm trying to build up a stock of 'typical' contracts, court judgments, clauses, etc, and that could be a good source. Also, I just bought a book called 'Legal English' by Rupert Haigh, which has proven to be worth its weight in gold. There's a large section in the middle about speaking legal English, which is a bit irrelevant, but the chapter on contractual language is incredibly practical, and the glossaries at the back are fab. Highly recommended. It lists and explains all the 'herewiths' and 'hereinafters'etc. and gives a really clear explanation of the differences between will/shall/may/may not.

Nikki Scott-Despaigne Feb 7, 2006:

Yep agreed. And the odd archaic bells are ringing up in the belfry. Archaic, but then that's not news in legalese. This may be of interest : http://www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/global_law/french-cases/cassation/...

Charlotte Allen (asker) Feb 7, 2006:

For Nikki, and anyone else who still cares - the proofreader confirmed that 'limbs' is used in this context. Yes, it sounds funny, but then so does most legal language.

Charlotte Allen (asker) Feb 7, 2006:

I would, but it's a very long 'Attendu que...que...que...' paragraph that sets out the facts of the case and the decision of the Court of Appeal that is being contested. The two 'branches' of the 'moyen' are (a) that the CA violated Article 1153-1 of the Civil Code and (b) that it violated Article L. 113-5 of the Insurance Code. Having dealt with the first allegation, the Court of Cassation dismisses this appeal with the following sentence: "que le moyen n�est donc pas fond� en sa premi�re branche et est, par suite, inop�rant en sa seconde branche."
A query has gone to the client (although as they are international loss adjusters, I'm not that confident they will know the answer either), so perhaps something will come of that. I'll keep you posted. BTW, I've already sent the translation to the proofreader, having used 'branches' as a suggested translation.

Nikki Scott-Despaigne Feb 7, 2006:

Pls cld you post the phrase that follows ?