Compensation of non-pecuniary damage to persons close to the deceased or to the aggrieved person

In the field of compensation of non-pecuniary damage, one of the most widely discussed issues is whether and based on which prerequisites those close to a person killed or injured ought to be able to claim compensation for non-pecuniary damage. This article attempts to find answers to these questions by comparing Estonian, German and English law as well as relevant European model laws. The article thoroughly examines Estonian case-law and investigates whether Estonian courts have reasonably substantiated the precondition for a claim for compensation of non-pecuniary damage of a close person under Estonian law, i.e. the occurrence of exceptional circumstances. The article shows the actual possibilities of a person close to the deceased or to an aggrieved person to obtain compensation for non-pecuniary damage under Estonian law

Sharing is caring: a legal perspective on sharing language data containing personal data and the division of liability between researchers and research organisations

Peer reviewe

Meta-analysis of epigenome-wide association studies in newborns and children show widespread sex differences in blood DNA methylation

Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The AuthorsBackground: Among children, sex-specific differences in disease prevalence, age of onset, and susceptibility have been observed in health conditions including asthma, immune response, metabolic health, some pediatric and adult cancers, and psychiatric disorders. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation may play a role in the sexual differences observed in diseases and other physiological traits. Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of the association of sex and cord blood DNA methylation at over 450,000 CpG sites in 8438 newborns from 17 cohorts participating in the Pregnancy And Childhood Epigenetics (PACE) Consortium. We also examined associations of child sex with DNA methylation in older children ages 5.5–10 years from 8 cohorts (n = 4268). Results: In newborn blood, sex was associated at Bonferroni level significance with differences in DNA methylation at 46,979 autosomal CpG sites (p < 1.3 × 10−7) after adjusting for white blood cell proportions and batch. Most of those sites had lower methylation levels in males than in females. Of the differentially methylated CpG sites identified in newborn blood, 68% (31,727) met look-up level significance (p < 1.1 × 10−6) in older children and had methylation differences in the same direction. Conclusions: This is a large-scale meta-analysis examining sex differences in DNA methylation in newborns and older children. Expanding upon previous studies, we replicated previous findings and identified additional autosomal sites with sex-specific differences in DNA methylation. Differentially methylated sites were enriched in genes involved in cancer, psychiatric disorders, and cardiovascular phenotypes.Peer reviewe

Comparative study on blocking, filtering and take-down of illegal internet content

Country report Finland</p

COMPARATIVE LAW IN DEVELOPING COURT PRACTICE IN SMALL JURISDICTIONS – MISSION POSSIBLE

The purpose of this article is to discuss the transformative role of comparative law in the development of small nations with short legal histories, compelled to rely on borrowed ideas, concepts and regulations to create their own legal culture and reality. As a small country Estonia does not possess the necessary legal expertise or court practice in many specific areas. Here, comparative law in both of its functions – rules-based and context-based research – provides great help. The article explains how comparative law has been used in the framing of the Estonian system of civil law as well as of specific statutes. In the drafting process, a comparative law method was used to provide drafters with strategic options drawn from an array of legal systems, codes and provisions. The notion of legal transplants is widely used and explained, but in small countries, using transplants may be the only technique for building up a national legal system. The article also focuses on analysing whether the courts may use comparative law as a legal basis for developing private law. The last part of the article is dedicated to the use of comparative law in Estonian court practice, in order to illustrate that there are limits to using comparative law methods. Models of core countries may differ in their suitability because of the differences in ability to successfully absorb legal transplants or because the level of development of the society as a whole does not support the reception of transplants.Le but de cette contribution est d’aborder le rôle transformatif du droit comparé dans le développement de petits États dotés d’une tradition juridique récente, forcés d’avoir recours à des idées, concepts et règles empruntés d’autres systèmes pour créer leur propre culture et réalité juridique. L’Estonie, étant un petit pays, n’a ni l’expertise juridique ni la pratique judiciaire nécessaires dans plusieurs domaines particuliers. Dès lors, le droit comparé dans ses deux fonctions – la recherche concernant les règles ou leur contexte d’application – s’avère particulièrement utile. Le texte explique d’abord comment le droit comparé a été utilisé pour l’encadrement du système civiliste et des lois particulières de l’Estonie. Lors du processus de codification, la méthode comparative a permis d’offrir aux codificateurs des options stratégiques provenant d’un grand nombre de systèmes juridiques, codes et dispositions législatives. La notion de « legal transplant » est utilisée et expliquée, mais dans les petits États, utiliser des « transplants » peut s’avérer la seule voie possible pour construire un système juridique national. Le texte analyse également l’emploi de la méthode comparative comme base légale de développement du droit civil. Enfin, il s’attarde à l’utilisation du droit comparé dans la pratique judiciaire pour démontrer les limites de la méthode comparative. Des modèles issus de pays dits « principaux » (ou « core countries ») peuvent se révéler incompatibles, en raison de différences dans la capacité d’absorber avec succès les « legal transplants » ou d’un niveau de développement insuffisant de la société dans son ensemble pour contribuer à la réception des « transplants »

Comparative law in developing court practice in small jurisdictions : mission possible

The purpose of this article is to discuss the transformative role of comparative law in the development of small nations with short legal histories, compelled to rely on borrowed ideas, concepts and regulations to create their own legal culture and reality. As a small country Estonia does not possess the necessary legal expertise or court practice in many specific areas. Here, comparative law in both of its functions – rules-based and context-based research – provides great help. The article explains how comparative law has been used in the framing of the Estonian system of civil law as well as of specific statutes. In the drafting process, a comparative law method was used to provide drafters with strategic options drawn from an array of legal systems, codes and provisions. The notion of legal transplants is widely used and explained, but in small countries, using transplants may be the only technique for building up a national legal system. The article also focuses on analysing whether the courts may use comparative law as a legal basis for developing private law. The last part of the article is dedicated to the use of comparative law in Estonian court practice, in order to illustrate that there are limits to using comparative law methods. Models of core countries may differ in their suitability because of the differences in ability to successfully absorb legal transplants or because the level of development of the society as a whole does not support the reception of transplants.Le but de cette contribution est d’aborder le rôle transformatif du droit comparé dans le développement de petits États dotés d’une tradition juridique récente, forcés d’avoir recours à des idées, concepts et règles empruntés d’autres systèmes pour créer leur propre culture et réalité juridique. L’Estonie, étant un petit pays, n’a ni l’expertise juridique ni la pratique judiciaire nécessaires dans plusieurs domaines particuliers. Dès lors, le droit comparé dans ses deux fonctions – la recherche concernant les règles ou leur contexte d’application – s’avère particulièrement utile. Le texte explique d’abord comment le droit comparé a été utilisé pour l’encadrement du système civiliste et des lois particulières de l’Estonie. Lors du processus de codification, la méthode comparative a permis d’offrir aux codificateurs des options stratégiques provenant d’un grand nombre de systèmes juridiques, codes et dispositions législatives. La notion de « legal transplant » est utilisée et expliquée, mais dans les petits États, utiliser des « transplants » peut s’avérer la seule voie possible pour construire un système juridique national. Le texte analyse également l’emploi de la méthode comparative comme base légale de développement du droit civil. Enfin, il s’attarde à l’utilisation du droit comparé dans la pratique judiciaire pour démontrer les limites de la méthode comparative. Des modèles issus de pays dits « principaux » (ou « core countries ») peuvent se révéler incompatibles, en raison de différences dans la capacité d’absorber avec succès les « legal transplants » ou d’un niveau de développement insuffisant de la société dans son ensemble pour contribuer à la réception des « transplants »

Dear reader,

Dear reader, In 2022, we are celebrating several important anniversaries related to the adoption of laws important for the building of the Estonian legal order. Against the backdrop of a major forum for the Estonian legal profession – Estonian Lawyers’ Days 100 – this year’s edition is dedicated to another important anniversary: the 70th birthday of the University of Tartu’s Professor Emeritus Paul Varul. It is difficult to overestimate Prof. Varul’s contribution to the rebuilding of the Estonian legal system after regaining of independence. In this connection, I would like to draw special attention to his belief in young lawyers. Thanks to his support, many of the students from those days now hold positions that play an essential role in the legal profession. It is precisely this belief in young people alongside respect for more seasoned peers that Prof. Varul’s colleagues and students alike have inherited from him. In addition, there are many important qualities to be learnt from his example, such as the importance of infinite kindness and patience, the fundaments of academic ability, and the value of charm and personality. While he was the main architect of Estonia’s civil-law system in general, Prof. Varul’s favourite area of attention over the years has always been bankruptcy law, which he has been intimately involved in reforming. His willingness to speak up and actively contribute to the legislative process is testimony to the jubilarian’s thoughtfulness and continuing high level of professionalism. In this edition of the journal, readers will find an article by Chirstoph G. Paulus, a long-time colleague of Prof. Varul, which is dedicated to bankruptcy law. It provides a historical overview of the relationship between debtors and creditors and analyzes the contracting process as eternal struggle for supremacy. Silvia Kaugia and Raul Narits devote their article to finding an answer to the question of how to create a law that corresponds to the idea of law. In this issue, the reader can also find a paper written by Katre Luhamaa and Merike Ristikivi about the role of the judiciary in the transitional debates, judicial reform, and changes in the professional requirements set for judges in Estonia. Modern problems of the independence of the judiciary are reflected upon specifically in an article contributed by Jesús Manuel Villegas Fernández and Victoria Rodríguez-Blanco, and Anneli Albi’s article examines another angle of the ongoing evolution: the changing role of courts in Europe – which is shifting from protecting the fundamental rights of individuals toward protection of the neoliberal economic order. Alongside these pieces are three articles dedicated to matters of criminal law. Mari‑Liis Tohvelmann and Kristjan Kask have focused their contribution on interviews with children as evidence in criminal proceedings; Carri Ginter and Anneli Soo offer the reader a meaningful analysis of the arguments for and against the criminalisation of hate speech; and, finally, Mario Truu discusses the principle of foreseeability of liability and punishment in the practice of the ECHR. The volume meshes well with Prof. Varul’s ethos in one other respect too: doctoral students have had a say in the publication, representing younger voices. One can find a discussion centred on the need to use artificial intelligence in the context of deciding on the patent­ability of an invention, provided by Liva Rudzite, and the concept of the duty of diligence in procurement law from the standpoint of CJEU practice is tackled by Kadri Härginen. Finally, the fine tradition of publishing opinions by official opponents in public defence of doctoral dissertations has been maintained, with the opinion written by Marta Otto on the dissertation of Seili Suder. Congratulations to Professor Emeritus Paul Varul and to all who have had the opportunity to know him. We are all richer for your work

Transposition Of The Digital Content Directive (EU) 2019/770 Into Estonian legal system

Digital Content Directive (EU) 2018/770 (DCD) is an innovative directive insofar as contracts for the supply of digital content and digital services were not regulated by EU law and like in most European countries, this area was not regulated in Estonia either. Member States extend the scope of the material regimes concerned. That includes the case of dual-purpose contracts and of platform providers who are not direct contractual partners of the consumer. Member States are also free to provide for longer time limits for the liability of the trader than those laid down in the Directives. The qualification and the categorisation of digital content and service contract also remain unsolved. The draft law for the transposition of the Digital Content Directive has not yet been submitted to the Estonian Parliament. The Ministry of Justice of Estonia has prepared a draft law concerning transposition of the DCD, Sale of Goods Directive and recently adopted the Modernization Directive which is not publicly available. The article briefly describes the process of transposition of the DCD and the place of digital content and digital service as concepts in the Estonian private law system, as well as legislative choices made during preparation of the draft. The most reasonable option is to transpose relevant provisions of DCD into general part of LOA which is consistent with current transposition practices. The author also discusses the possibility of extending the scope of application of the DCD. Contracts where consumers provide or undertake to provide personal data to the trader are contracts for payment under Estonian law. Despite the possibility that general rules on termination of contract apply, the need to regulate consequences for withdrawal of consent by specific rules is examined in the article. Currently, Estonian draft law provides a time limit for trader’s liability and limitation periods. The author analyses the existing system of traders’ liability and possible consequences if only the limitation period will be kept. Finally, the author provides some concluding remarks