Common use of Prior to the Clause in Contracts

Prior to the. 1929 Warsaw Conference In the pre-Warsaw negotiation time, the text prepared by the French govern- ment prior to the 1925 Paris Conference did not make reference to the concept of ‘accident’,11 merely providing that: Le transporteur est responsable des pertes, avaries et retards qui résultent de ses fautes personnelles et du vice propre de l’appareil.12 The draft text adopted at the end of the 1925 Paris Conference did, however, include the term ‘accident’ in the list of damages that could trigger carrier liability: Le transporteur est responsable des accidents, pertes, avaries et retards. Il n’est pas responsable s’il prouve avoir pris les mesures raisonnables pour éviter le dommage; cette preuve est admise même dans le cas où le dommage provient d’un vice propre de l’appareil.13 7 1999 Montreal Convention, Article 1(2). 8 1999 Montreal Convention, Article 33(3)(a). 9 1999 Montreal Convention, Article 33(3)(b). 10 1999 Montreal Convention, Article 52. 11 With the exception provided in Article 8, that an action could be brought in the place where the accident occurred.