German Courts: Art. 34 Nr. 2 Brussels I Regulation

The Court of Appeal (OLG) Zweibrücken held in a recent decision (10.5.2005 – 3 W 165/04) that a foreign judgment cannot be recognized if the defendant was not served with the document which instituted the proceedings (here: "dagvaarding" of a Belgium court) according to Art. 34 Nr. 2 Brussels I.

The decision has been published in IPRax 2006, 487. See for an annotation: Herbert Roth, IPRax 2006, 466, who stresses the significance of Artt. 32 et seq. Brussels I and criticises therefore the plans to abolish the enforcement proceedings and the public policy clause de lege ferenda.