The Institute for European Tort Law and the European Centre of Tort and Insurance Law cordially invite you to the next ETL Workshop.

On Friday, 9 October 2026, Rafael Cimatti Elias will present his work-in-progress paper entitled “Why General Rules of Liability for Things? Historical and Normative Arguments in French, Belgian, Italian and Portuguese Law.”

Unlike traditional forms of liability, which focus on the conduct of the person who caused the damage, liability for things shifts the focus to the thing itself and to the role of its custodian. The presentation asks why French, Belgian, Italian and Portuguese law maintain general rules of liability for things. Through a comparison of these four legal systems, the presentation identifies both their differences and their commonalities. It focuses in particular on four types of arguments used to justify general liability for things: historical, interpersonal, instrumental and structural.

The presentation is scheduled to last 20 minutes, followed by an opportunity for discussion. It will take place on the Institute’s premises. Participation is free of charge. If you would like to attend, please register via etl(at)oeaw.ac.at.