Set-off defense in debt enforcement must be proven by documents

RBOG 1996 Nr. 17Other CourtOct 14, 1996Other

Extracted by Omnilex

Omnilex summary

The Rekurskommission reiterated that in definitive debt enforcement a set-off objection is only admissible if the debtor substantiates the counterclaim by documents with liquid force. It is not enough to allege a set-off right; the existence and maturity of the counterclaim must be evidenced by documents that would themselves support provisional debt enforcement. The decision thus confirms the strict documentary standard for invoking set-off as an extinguishing defense under debt enforcement law.

Omnilex headnote

Art. 80 f. SchKG, Art. 120 OR; definitive debt enforcement and set-off defense: the debtor must prove extinction of the debt by documents. Set-off may extinguish the claim, but the counterclaim's existence and maturity must be evidenced in a liquid documentary manner. The required documents must themselves be of a nature that would permit provisional debt enforcement (consid. not stated). In the absence of such liquid proof, the set-off objection fails and definitive debt enforcement is to be granted.

Full text

Die Verrechnungseinrede im Rechtsöffnungsverfahren muss urkundenmässig in liquider Weise belegt sein

Art. 120 OR, Art. 80 ff. SchKG

Beruht die Forderung auf einem vollstreckbaren Urteil eines Kantons, in welchem die Betreibung angehoben ist, so wird definitive Rechtsöffnung gewährt, wenn nicht der Betriebene durch Urkunden beweist, dass die Schuld seit Erlass des Urteils getilgt, gestundet oder verjährt ist (Art. 80 f. SchKG). Die Tilgung einer Schuld kann durch Verrechnung erfolgen. Nach konstanter Rechtsprechung müssen indessen Bestand und Fälligkeit der Gegenforderung im Rechtsöffnungsverfahren urkundenmässig in liquider Weise belegt sein (Panchaud/Caprez, Die Rechtsöffnung, Zürich 1980, § 36 N 1), und zwar durch solche Urkunden, die ihrerseits als Titel für die provisorische Rechtsöffnung taugen würden.

Rekurskommission, 14. Oktober 1996, BR 96 88

Keywords

debt enforcementdefinitive debt enforcementset-offdocumentary proofliquid proofcounterclaim

Extracted by Omnilex

Key legal questions extracted by Omnilex

Key legal question

Whether a set-off defense in definitive debt enforcement can defeat the claim without liquid documentary proof of the counterclaim.

Extracted holding

No. The counterclaim must be proven by documents in a liquid manner; only documents that would themselves qualify for provisional debt enforcement are sufficient.

Extracted reasoning

A claim based on an enforceable judgment gives rise to definitive debt enforcement unless the debtor proves by documents that the debt was extinguished, stayed, or time-barred. Extinction may occur by set-off, but both existence and maturity of the counterclaim must be documented with the same level of liquidity required for provisional debt enforcement.

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