The application of Circumstance Abuse Doctrine (Misbruik Van Omstandigheden) on Judicial Practice in Indonesia

Abstract

This study analyzed the abuse of circumstances as a factor that delimits the freedom of making a contract associated with the onset of the contract, not because of the casue which is not allowed. The abuse of circumstance is not only related to the content of a contract, but rather related to what had happened at the time of the inception of the contract as one of the parties feels constrained to determine their will in a contract. It concerns on the circumstances that contribute to onset of the contract (i.e., taking benefit from other’s circumstance does not cause the content or intent of a contract be not permissible, rather, it may cause the missused will be restricted). The abuse of circumstances may happen due to one’s superiority over another party. The superiority is not only economic in nature, but also psychological, or both. Misusing such superiority may cause circumstance abuse. It is due to inequality of bargaining power that the weak cannot avoid from, while the stronger party abuses the circumstance by imposing the contents of the contract that leads to the inequal advantages for both parties. In Indonesia, the abuse of circumstances is often used as a cause to abrogate a contract due to the defect of will, although it is not yet regulated in legislation but rather derived from a legal construction recognized by the jurisprudence of the Supreme Court. It is definitely differenct from Netherlands that has regulated its misbruik van omstandigheden in article 3:44 lid 1 Nieuw Burgerlijk Wetboek.

Penerapan Doktrin Penyalahgunaan Keadaan (Undue Influence) Sebagai Alasan Pembatalan Perjanjian Kerja Di Pengadilan Hubungan Industrial

“…Seiring dengan perkembangan hukum perdata, muncul satu alasan lagi yang dapat dijadikan landasan untuk membatalkan perjanjian, yakni penyalahgunaan keadaan (undue influence; misbruik van omstanddigheden) (Bakker, 2016;van Eck, 1999) Penyalahgunaan keadaan adalah sebuah ajaran/doktrin yang muncul pertama kali di Inggris pada abad ke-15 dengan istilah undue influence. Ajaran undue influence ini mulai berkembang secara signifikan dan digunakan sebagai dasar pertimbangan hakim di Inggris pada abad ke-19 (Hernoko & Anand, 2017). Doktrin ini banyak dikembangkan oleh hakim di pengadilan dalam perkara-perkara yang mana kedudukan kedua belah pihak yang bersengketa tidak setara, dalam artian salah satu pihak memiliki kuasa yang lebih besar terhadap pihak yang lain.…”

“…Penyalahgunaan keadaan pada dasarnya terdiri dari dua unsur, yaitu menimbulkan kerugian yang sangat besar bagi salah satu pihak serta menyalahgunakan kesempatan (Nurhayati, 2019). Meskipun penyalahgunaan keadaan belum diatur dalam KUHPerdata maupun peraturan perundang-undangan lain di Indonesia, praktik peradilan Indonesia sebenarnya telah menerapkan ajaran misbruik van omstandiheden ini, meski masih sangat terbatas (Hernoko & Anand, 2017). Artinya, meski belum diatur secara tertulis, namun ajaran penyalahgunaan keadaan bukanlah hal yang asing di Indonesia.…”

Consumer Legal Efforts Due to Abuse of Circumstances (Misbruik Van Omstandigheden) in Standardized Agreements

“…Previously, the similar latest related studies have been done by some researchers, such as (Hernoko & Anand, 2017) who conducted a research entitled "The Application of Circumstance Abuse Doctrine (Misbruik Van Omstandigheden) on Judicial Practice in Indonesia". This study analyzed the abuse of circumstances as a factor that delimits the freedom of making a contract associated with the onset of the contract, not because of the casue which is not allowed.…”

Freedom of Contract and Judicial Intervention: Does the Court Have the Right?

“…Firstly, the more influential the teaching of good faith, where good faith does not only exist in the implementation of the agreement, but also must exist at the time the agreement is made. Secondly, it is due to the growing abuse of circumstances (misbruik van omstandigheden and undue influence) (HERNOKO; ANAND, 2017).…”