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  3. Law: Contract(s)

sich halten an jdn.

English translation: to hold sb liable

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:sich halten an jdn.
English translation:to hold sb liable
Entered by: Rebecca Garber

02:04 Apr 21, 2010
German to English translations [PRO]
Law/Patents - Law: Contract(s) / real estate, land transactions
German term or phrase: sich halten an jdn.
This concerns a building, which was sold with a considerable defect: the building's owner had been informed that it was too tall and that several stories had to be removed. The owner sold the building to avoid this, did not inform the buyer, and the buyer sued.

Hier hatten die Parteien sich auf ein Grundstück mit einer ganz bestimmten Mietskaserne geeinigt, die eine ganz bestimmte Höhe hatte. Nun musste der Käufer jedoch ein oder mehrere Geschosse abtragen, was nicht nur Kosten verursachte, sondern auch die erzielbaren Mieteinkünft schmälerte. Das Grundstück verlor dadurch erheblich an Wert. **Konnte sich der Käufer deswegen and den Verkäufer halten?**

The glossaries and dictionaries I have offer: follow someone, or adhere to, comply with, stick to some*thing*.
Could the buyer therefore adhere to the seller? sounds very odd to me.
I know it has to do with liability, and holding the seller liable for the buyer's losses. However, how do I get this meaning out of the German?
Rebecca Garber
Local time: 22:10
to hold sb liable
Explanation:
Dietl/Lorenz :)

or: "to have recourse to sb."

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Note added at 14 mins (2010-04-21 02:18:54 GMT)
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the second one sounds weird to me, though (but it's in the dictionary)
Selected response from:

Anne-Carine Zimmer
United States
Grading comment
Thanks to everyone! It seems I got lost in the intricasies of Roman land transfer law (priests, witnesses, which characteristics must be specified and which can be glossed over in gentlemen's agreements, etc). Both Karin's and David's answers were truly helpful.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +7to hold sb liable
Anne-Carine Zimmer
4 +2hold the seller responsible/liable
David Hollywood
2to rely on somebody
HanulaPaul


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +7
to hold sb liable


Explanation:
Dietl/Lorenz :)

or: "to have recourse to sb."

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 mins (2010-04-21 02:18:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

the second one sounds weird to me, though (but it's in the dictionary)

Anne-Carine Zimmer
United States
Specializes in field
PRO pts in category: 28
Grading comment
Thanks to everyone! It seems I got lost in the intricasies of Roman land transfer law (priests, witnesses, which characteristics must be specified and which can be glossed over in gentlemen's agreements, etc). Both Karin's and David's answers were truly helpful.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Johanna Timm, PhD: or: "take recourse against" "http://shortify.com/10184
1 hr
agree  Jon Fedler
1 hr
agree  Norbert Hermann
4 hrs
agree  David Wright: or David Hollywood's suggestion, which is almost the same
5 hrs
agree  Steffen Beilich: to hold sb. liable
7 hrs
agree  Rolf Keiser
9 hrs
agree  David Hollywood: as David says, my suggestion is almost the same so I would ask Rebecca to regard it as yours :) it was just a wee bit more specific ....
12 hrs
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48 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
hold the seller responsible/liable


Explanation:
:)

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Note added at 1 hr (2010-04-21 03:15:58 GMT)
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just means that any losses will have to be borne by the seller

David Hollywood
Local time: 23:10
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 327

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Johanna Timm, PhD
2 hrs
agree  David Wright: exactly
4 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

24 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
to rely on somebody


Explanation:
...could the buyer rely on the seller

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Note added at 13 hrs (2010-04-21 15:56:04 GMT)
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Note to Mr.Wright:
...could the buyer rely on the seller['s moral approach to the deal...?]

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Note added at 14 hrs (2010-04-21 16:04:26 GMT)
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More simple;
Was the seller planning a fraud from the start?

HanulaPaul
Canada
Local time: 22:10

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Gabriella Bertelmann: agree
2 hrs
  -> thank you Gabriellab
disagree  David Wright: Not here. The result wouldn't actually make much sense!
5 hrs
  -> thank you anyway David
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