Editing MCP/Guidelines/FR (section)

= Jurisdiction: French law =

Supplements core safety guidelines with rules specific to French law (<code>tags={"jurisdiction": "fr"}</code>).

For French users, pass <code>language="fr"</code> on every search/get_document/browse_structure call. The corpus is overwhelmingly French (60M+ documents) so this is the typical default, but the parameter is '''always required''' — see the global Language guideline. The same legal text may exist in multiple language variants and the LLM must specify which one it wants.

<code>tags["jurisdiction"]</code> is also REQUIRED on every search and browse_structure call. Use <code>"fr"</code> for French law only, <code>"eu|fr"</code> for combined FR + EU (recommended for cross-border issues), or <code>"*"</code> for all jurisdictions.

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== Which tool for which question ==

All examples below assume <code>tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", ...}</code>. Combine with <code>"eu|fr"</code> for cross-border questions.

* '''Employment law''' (dismissal, contract, salary, working hours): search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "legislation", "code": "Code du travail"}) for statutory floor, then search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "legislation", "source": "kali|acco"}) for collective and company agreements, then search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "decision"}) for interpretation.
* '''Civil law''' (contracts, liability, property, family): search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "legislation"}) for Code civil / Code de la consommation / Code de la construction, then search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "decision"}).
* '''Criminal law''' (offenses, penalties, procedure): search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "legislation", "code": "Code pénal"}) or <code>"code": "Code de procédure pénale"</code>, then search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "decision"}).
* '''Tax law''': search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "legislation"}) for CGI / LPF, then search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "source": "bofip"}) for BOFiP interpretation, then search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "decision"}).
* '''Data protection / GDPR''': search(tags={"jurisdiction": "eu", "kind": "legislation"}) for RGPD, search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "legislation"}) for loi Informatique et Libertés, search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "source": "cnil"}) for CNIL guidelines, search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "decision", "court": "cnil"}) for sanctions. ⚠️ "RGPD" as FTS term returns few EU results — prefer <code>"données à caractère personnel"</code> OR <code>"protection des données"</code>, or direct CELEX: <code>get_document("32016R0679")</code>.
* '''Administrative law''': search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "legislation"}) for relevant code (urbanisme, environnement, CESEDA...), search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "decision", "court": "administratif"}) for CE / CAA / TA decisions.
* '''Company information''': search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "record"}) for RNE registry + BODACC announcements.
* '''Legislative intent''': search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "source": "parliamentary"}) for debates when a text is ambiguous.
* '''EU law''': use <code>"jurisdiction": "eu"</code> or <code>"eu|fr"</code>. search(tags={"jurisdiction": "eu", "kind": "decision"}) for CJUE/CEDH.
* '''QPC''' (constitutionality): search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "decision", "court": "constitutionnel"}).
* '''Public accounting / financial discipline''': search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "decision", "court": "cour_des_comptes"}) for CdC, search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "decision", "court": "chambre_regionale_des_comptes"}) for CRC.

When in doubt: search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "legislation"}) first, then search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "decision"}). Cross-reference both.

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== Search — French legal synonyms ==

Same concept, different words across texts and eras. Use OR:

* licenciement / rupture du contrat de travail / congédiement
* vice caché / défaut de conformité / garantie des vices
* préjudice / dommage / réparation
* faute lourde / faute grave / faute inexcusable
* clause abusive / clause léonine / déséquilibre significatif
* responsabilité / obligation de réparation
* bail / contrat de location / louage
* mise en demeure / sommation / interpellation

Example: <code>"vice caché" OR "défaut de conformité"</code>.

Multi-word concepts MUST use quotes: "action de groupe", "preuve déloyale", "abus de position dominante".

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== Search — numeric literals ==

Thousands separator: space.
Amounts ≥ 4 digits: OR both forms, quote the spaced form.
  <code>seuil 10000 OR seuil "10 000"</code>
Skip: years (2024), case numbers (19-15.165), article numbers (L.1235-1), decimals (10,5).

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== Normative hierarchy ==

Constitution > treaties/EU law > "loi" > "ordonnance ratifiée" > "décret" > "arrêté" > "circulaire" (not binding on courts).

=== Codification prefixes ===

* '''L.''' = legislative ("loi", Parliament). Highest within a code.
* '''R.''' = regulatory ("décret en Conseil d'État").
* '''D.''' = regulatory ("décret simple").
* '''A.''' = ministerial order ("arrêté").
* '''No prefix''' = old codes not recodified (Code civil, Code pénal pre-1994).

L. > R. within same code. Same number, different prefix = different articles (L.1234-5 ≠ R.1234-5). If R. contradicts L., L. prevails.
Include exact prefix in search queries. Test format variations: <code>L. 121-1</code> / <code>L121-1</code> / <code>L.121-1</code>.

=== EU law interaction ===

* Regulation = directly applicable, no transposition.
* Directive = requires transposition. Untransposed after deadline → invocable vertically (vs State) but NOT horizontally (between private parties).
* Harmonized areas (data protection, competition, consumer): check FR + EU sources. Use <code>"jurisdiction": "eu"</code> or <code>"eu|fr"</code>.
* CJEU preliminary ruling (art. 267 TFEU) = interprets EU law, does NOT decide national case.
* ECHR: margin of appreciation. Ruling vs Italy ≠ automatically applies to France.
* Charter Art.7 (private life) and Art.8 (data protection) ≠ ECHR Convention Art.8 (private life). Same wording, different instruments — never confuse.

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== Major reforms — renumbering traps ==

=== Obligations (ordonnance 2016-131, effective 1 Oct 2016) ===

Key renumbering: 1134→1103+1104, 1147→1231-1, 1382→1240, 1383→1241, 1384→1242.
Pre-2016 decisions cite old numbers — still valid case law but articles renumbered.
CRITICAL: contracts before 1 Oct 2016 → old articles apply. Don't apply new numbering to old contracts.

=== Security interests (ordonnance 2021-1192, effective 1 Jan 2022) ===

Reorganized Code civil Book IV ("sûretés").

=== Criminal justice for minors (effective 30 Sep 2021) ===

"Code de justice pénale des mineurs" replaced 1945 "ordonnance."

=== Criminal procedure (loi n° 2024-364 du 22 avril 2024, effective 1 Jul 2024) ===

Articles 63 et seq. CPP (garde à vue) modified. Check version applicable: pre- or post-1 Jul 2024.

=== Transitional law ===

Applicable version = date of facts, not date of question. Non-retroactivity (art. 2 CC). Immediate application of new procedural law. Criminal "in mitius" (more lenient = retroactive). Check transitional articles in recently reformed texts.

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== Court system ==

=== court_level mapping (T1 tag) ===

Apex per judicial order (judiciaire / administratif / financier). Pair with <code>court</code> for FR-specific precision.

* <code>supreme</code> — cour_cassation (judiciaire), conseil_etat (administratif), cour_des_comptes (financier)
* <code>appellate</code> — cour_appel, cour_administrative_appel, tribunal_superieur_appel, cour_appel_financiere
* <code>first_instance</code> — tribunal_judiciaire, conseil_prudhommes, tribunal_commerce, tribunal_administratif, chambre_regionale_des_comptes, cour_discipline_budgetaire_financiere
* <code>constitutional</code> — conseil_constitutionnel
* null — tribunal_conflits (sui generis), CNIL / CADA / AMF

=== Judicial order ===

* '''Cour de cassation''': supreme. Controls law, not facts. "Publié au bulletin" = jurisprudential value.
** "Assemblée plénière" > "Chambre mixte" > individual chamber (civ.1, civ.2, civ.3, com., soc., crim.)
* '''Cours d'appel''': rejudge facts + law.
* '''Tribunal judiciaire''' (tribunal_judiciaire): general first instance. '''Conseil de prud'hommes''' (conseil_prudhommes): labor. '''Tribunal de commerce''' (tribunal_commerce): commercial.

=== Administrative order ===

* '''Conseil d'État''': supreme admin court + government advisor ("avis" ≠ "arrêts").
* '''Cour administrative d'appel''' (cour_administrative_appel) > '''Tribunal administratif''' (tribunal_administratif).

=== Specialized ===

* '''Conseil constitutionnel''': QPC can invalidate provisions.
* '''Tribunal des conflits''': judicial vs admin jurisdiction conflicts.
* '''CNIL''': guidelines → search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "source": "cnil"}). Sanctions → search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "decision", "court": "cnil"}).
* '''CADA''': access to admin documents. Opinions → search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "source": "cada"}).

=== Financial order ===

* '''Cour des comptes''' (cour_des_comptes): apex of the financial order. Since 2023: 1st instance (contentious chamber, absorbed CDBF) + cassation over CAF. Pre-2023: appellate for CRC. search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "decision", "court": "cour_des_comptes"}).
* '''Chambres régionales des comptes''' (chambre_regionale_des_comptes): first instance for local authorities. search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "decision", "court": "chambre_regionale_des_comptes"}).
* '''Cour de discipline budgétaire et financière''' (cour_discipline_budgetaire_financiere): abolished 2023, integrated into CdC contentious chamber. Historical decisions (1954-2022) remain searchable. search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "decision", "court": "cour_discipline_budgetaire_financiere"}).
* '''Cour d'appel financière''' (cour_appel_financiere, CAF): created 2023, hears appeals from CRC and CdC contentious chamber. Reviewed en cassation by CdC. search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "decision", "court": "cour_appel_financiere"}).

=== Publication grades (official_grade) ===

'''Administrative courts''' (PUBLI_RECUEIL):
* A: "Publié au Recueil Lebon" (conseil_etat and tribunal_conflits only) — highest_importance
* B: "Mentionné aux Tables du Lebon" (conseil_etat and tribunal_conflits only) — high_importance
* R: "Intérêt jurisprudentiel majeur" (cour_administrative_appel and tribunal_administratif — equivalent of A) — highest_importance
* C+: "Intérêt signalé" (cour_administrative_appel and tribunal_administratif — equivalent of B) — high_importance
* C: "Inédit" — low_importance
* D, Z: "Intérêt limité aux parties" — minimal_importance

'''Cour de cassation''' (post-2021):
* rapport: "Sélectionné pour le Rapport annuel" — highest_importance
* bulletin: "Publié au Bulletin des arrêts" — high_importance
* diffuse: "Diffusé sur Légifrance" — low_importance
* non_diffuse: "Non diffusé" — minimal_importance

'''Cour de cassation''' (pre-2021, decisions before 2021-06-15):
* rapport (R): "Rapport annuel" — highest_importance
* bulletin (ancien P): "Publié au Bulletin" — high_importance
* bulletin_information (ancien B): "Mentionné au BICC" — medium_importance
* internet (ancien I): "Diffusé sur internet" — low_importance
* diffuse (ancien D): "Diffusé aux bases" — low_importance

'''Lower courts''' (cour_appel, tribunal_judiciaire, tribunal_commerce):
* particular_interest: "Arrêt d'intérêt particulier" — highest_importance (only ~1,400 decisions out of 1.25M)

'''Financial courts''' (cour_des_comptes, chambre_regionale_des_comptes, cour_discipline_budgetaire_financiere, cour_appel_financiere):
* recueil: "Publié au Recueil des juridictions financières" — high_importance (~25% of decisions)

=== Formations (ascending solemnity) ===

'''Cour de cassation''': F: "formation restreinte" (reduced_bench) < standard chamber (standard_bench) < FS: "formation de section" (grand_bench) < FP: "formation plénière de chambre" (grand_bench) < "Chambre mixte" (combined_chambers) < "Assemblée plénière" (full_court). Note: at the Cass, "Chambre mixte" (combined_chambers) outranks "formation plénière" (grand_bench) — diverges from generic solemnity ordering.

'''Conseil d'État''': "Juge des référés" (single_judge) < "Formation à 3" (reduced_bench) < "Chambre seule" (standard_bench) < "Chambres réunies"/SSR (combined_chambers) < "Section du contentieux" (grand_bench) < "Assemblée du contentieux" (full_court)

=== Reading a decision ===

Structure: '''visa''' ("Vu l'article...") = legal basis → '''motifs''' = reasoning (ratio decidendi + obiter dicta) → '''dispositif''' ("PAR CES MOTIFS") = operative part (res judicata).

Key terms:
* "Casse et annule" = quashes (→ "renvoi", case NOT over)
* "Casse sans renvoi" = quashes and decides directly
* "Rejette" = upholds appealed decision
* "Infirme"/"confirme" = reverses/upholds (appeal)
* "Débouté" = claim dismissed (civil) ≠ "relaxé" = acquitted (criminal)
* "Irrecevable" = inadmissible (can't examine merits) ≠ "mal fondé" = rejected on merits

Post-2019: Cass. switched from "Attendu que" to direct style. Both equally authoritative.
Processual roles change between instances — identify WHO is WHO in each decision.

=== Decision analysis — French courts ===

Supplements core "Structured decision analysis" (§5).

'''Cour de cassation''':
* Claims = "moyen du pourvoi" (grounds the party argues Cass should quash on) vs cour d'appel position. Moyen ≠ court's position — it's what the party claims was wrong.
* Visa ("Vu l'article...") = legal basis. Visa + cassation = lower court violated that text.
* Chapeau = principle stated before application. May be narrower or broader than statutory text.
* Cass controls law, not facts (see "Court system" above). Do not extract factual findings from a Cass decision — those are the lower court's. Cass says whether the law was correctly applied.

'''Conseil d'État''':
* More explicit reasoning than Cass. "Considérant" → direct style since 2019.
* CE may raise moyens d'ordre public and reformulate the legal question beyond parties' framing.
* Avis contentieux: same structure, no dispositif — answers question, does not decide case.
* Dispositif: numbered articles ("Article 1er: ...").

'''Conseil constitutionnel (QPC)''':
* Saisine: who referred, which provision challenged, which rights invoked.
* Dispositif: conformité / non-conformité / conformité sous réserve. The reservation IS the holding — often more important than the conformity declaration.
* Abrogation may be deferred ("à compter du...") — check effective date before citing.

'''Cour d'appel / Tribunal judiciaire''' (cour_appel / tribunal_judiciaire):
* Rejudge facts AND law. Factual findings are the court's own.
* Less standardized structure — locate legal issue and reasoning chain in longer prose.

=== Case number formats ===

{| class="wikitable"
! Court (court tag value) !! Format !! Example
|-
| cour_cassation || <code>YY-NN.NNN</code> || 24-14.752
|-
| cour_appel / tribunal_judiciaire || <code>YY/NNNNN</code> || 21/00091
|-
| conseil_etat || <code>NNNNNN</code> (sequential) || 486329
|-
| tribunal_administratif / cour_administrative_appel || <code>YYLLNNNNN</code> (year + court code) || 24PA01233
|-
| conseil_constitutionnel || <code>YYYY-NNN TYPE</code> || 2021-823 DC
|-
| tribunal_conflits || <code>CNNNN</code> || C4321
|-
| cour_des_comptes || <code>S-YYYY-NNNN</code> || S-2025-0381
|-
| cour_discipline_budgetaire_financiere || <code>NNN-NNN</code> || 264-865
|}

Cass. pourvoi: digits 3-4 of the sequence correlate with chamber (80-89 = criminal, ~10-25 = civil/commercial/social). A "Cass. civ. 1re" citing n°25-85.337 is suspicious — 85 suggests criminal chamber.

=== "Référés" ===

Provisional measures ("liberté", "suspension", "provision", "expertise"). Single judge, "ordonnance." Lower standard: "urgence" + "doute sérieux"/"moyens sérieux." Provisional only, no res judicata on merits. Always flag provisional nature when citing.

=== "Avis contentieux" ===

Advisory opinions: Cass (since 1991, L441-1 COJ), CE (since 1987, L113-1 CJA). Novel legal questions from lower courts. Not binding but highly persuasive. No res judicata, no parties. search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "decision", "type": "advisory_opinion"}).

⚠️ EU AG opinions (CJEU Advocate General): not yet ingested — type=advisory_opinion with jurisdiction="eu" returns 0 results.

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== Labor law ==

=== Three-tier hierarchy ===

"Code du travail" (statutory floor) → "convention collective de branche" → "accord d'entreprise."
Since 2017 Macron ordonnances: company agreements can override branch in most areas EXCEPT locked domains ("minima salariaux", "classifications", "mutualisation formation", "prévoyance").

=== bargaining_level (T2 tag) ===

Filters collective / company agreements by negotiation level. Currently emitted (acco source): <code>enterprise</code> (accord d'entreprise), <code>sectoral</code> (accord de branche). ADR also defines <code>inter_sectoral</code>, <code>territorial</code> (not yet populated). Example: <code>search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "source": "acco", "bargaining_level": "enterprise"})</code>.

=== IDCC ===

Each collective agreement has an IDCC number. IDCCs merge (metallurgy → IDCC 3248, 2024). Never assume IDCC is current.

=== Categories ===

Different rules per category: "ouvriers", "employés", ETAM, "cadres." Check section_path in results.

=== Applicable agreement ===

Depends on EMPLOYER's main activity, not employee's job. Developer at industrial company → metallurgy, not Syntec.

=== Sources ===

* kali = official texts (DILA/Légifrance). acco = filed company agreements.
* "Étendue" = all employers in sector. Non-extended = only signatory members.

=== Critical ===

Never from memory on amounts/durations/IDCC. Frequent amendments by "avenant."

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== Legislation ==

=== Territorial scope ===

* '''Alsace-Moselle''': local law for associations (not "loi 1901"), local social security, civil bankruptcy, extra holidays (Good Friday, 26 Dec), "livre foncier."
* '''DOM''' (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane, Réunion, Mayotte): FR law with adaptations. Mayotte: specific labor code, customary personal status. L7xx articles = overseas — don't cite for metropolitan.
* '''COM''' (Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis): "spécialité législative" — FR law does NOT apply unless expressly stated.

=== Text types ===

Code, "loi" (Parliament), "ordonnance" (gov + parliamentary authorization), "décret", "arrêté."
"Circulaire" = admin interpretation, NOT in this database (→ circulaires.gouv.fr), not binding on courts.

=== nature tag (T3 precision) ===

Source-native classification, slugified (lowercase, no accents, spaces → <code>_</code>). Use when T1 <code>type</code> / <code>document_form</code> are too broad.
* Legislation (LEGI): <code>loi</code>, <code>loi_organique</code>, <code>decret</code>, <code>ordonnance</code>, <code>arrete</code>.
* Decisions: <code>arret</code>, <code>ordonnance</code>, <code>avis</code>; Conseil constitutionnel: <code>dc</code>, <code>qpc</code>, <code>lp</code>, <code>lom</code>.
Example: <code>search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "decision", "nature": "qpc"})</code> — QPC decisions only.
Use <code>discover="nature"</code> to enumerate actual values.

=== JORF (Journal officiel) ===

JORF is the official gazette — the original publication of all legislation. LEGI is the consolidated version. Both are in the corpus. '''JORF is hidden from default search''' (LEGI is preferred). To search JORF explicitly: <code>search(tags={"source": "jorf"})</code>. JO issues (gazette containers): <code>search(kind="notice", tags={"source": "jorf", "type": "gazette_publication"})</code>. Resolve a JO issue: <code>get_document(reference="JO du 11 avril 2026")</code>. LEGI↔JORF linked by <code>source_text</code> edges — visible in get_document results.

=== Code abbreviations ===

Common abbreviations in legal writing — the resolver normalizes these automatically:
C. civ. = Code civil, C. com. = Code de commerce, C. trav. = Code du travail, C. pén. = Code pénal, CPC = Code de procédure civile, CPP = Code de procédure pénale, CGI = Code général des impôts, CSS = Code de la sécurité sociale, C. cons./C. conso. = Code de la consommation, CPI = Code de la propriété intellectuelle, CMF = Code monétaire et financier, CSP = Code de la santé publique, CJA = Code de justice administrative, CGCT = Code général des collectivités territoriales.
Full list: <code>lister_codes_juridiques</code> or get_document(reference="<abbreviation>").

=== Enforcement status ===

See "Enforcement status" section below for canonical values used in tags.

=== Suppletive vs mandatory ===

* Mandatory ("ordre public"): "toute clause contraire est réputée non écrite." Cannot override.
* Suppletive: "sauf stipulation contraire." Contract can override → mention this caveat.

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== Doctrine ==

=== BOFiP ===

Tax administration's official interpretation. Opposable to fisc (cannot apply less favorable position). NOT binding on courts. Series: IR, IS, TVA, BIC, BNC, CF.

=== CNIL ===

Guidelines/recommendations = soft law. Widely followed, used by courts as diligence standard.
Sanctions (fines, formal notices) → search(tags={"jurisdiction": "fr", "kind": "decision", "court": "cnil"}), NOT here.

=== CADA ===

Advisory opinions on access to admin documents.

=== NOT available ===

Academic doctrine (treatises, case commentaries) is NOT in this server. Flag this gap when relevant.

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== Deadline computation ==

* "Jours francs": notification day and expiration day don't count.
* "Jours calendaires": all days. "Jours ouvrables": Mon-Sat minus holidays. "Jours ouvrés": Mon-Fri minus holidays.
* Expires on Sat/Sun/holiday → extended to next business day (art. 642 CPC).
* Prescription start: often "date holder knew or should have known" (art. 2224 CC), not event date. Hidden defects: date of discovery, not sale.
* Interruption ("assignation", debt recognition) → restarts clock. Suspension (mediation, minority) → freezes clock.

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== Common traps ==

* "Obligation de moyens" (creditor proves fault) vs "résultat" (debtor presumed liable unless force majeure).
* "Responsabilité contractuelle" ≠ "délictuelle." No cumulation. Different regime, different prescription.
* "Nullité" (never existed) ≠ "résolution" (retroactive destruction) ≠ "résiliation" (future only).
* "Bonne foi" (art. 1104 CC): mandatory in all contracts. Formally compliant but bad faith → sanctioned.
* "Abus de droit": exercising right solely to harm → sanctioned.
* "Enrichissement injustifié" (art. 1303 CC): subsidiary only — not available if other basis exists.
* "Solidarité ne se présume pas" (art. 1310 CC) — must be in contract or statute.
* "Loi" without "décret d'application" = potentially inapplicable. Check 'Implementing texts' in get_document. Text mentions "fixé par décret" but no decree → flag.
* Non-retroactivity of laws. Exception: criminal law "in mitius."
* "Exécution provisoire de droit" since 2020: first-instance judgments immediately enforceable. Appeal ≠ suspension.
* Contract qualification ≠ party denomination: "prestation de services" with subordination = "contrat de travail."
* 4 "bail" types = 4 regimes: habitation (loi 1989) ≠ commercial ≠ professionnel ≠ rural.
* 3 couple regimes: "mariage" (+ "régime matrimonial") ≠ PACS ≠ "concubinage."
* Construction: 3 warranties ("parfait achèvement" 1y, "biennale" 2y, "décennale" 10y).
* Medical liability: 3 regimes ("faute", "perte de chance", "infection nosocomiale").
* Digital: "hébergeur" ≠ "éditeur" (LCEN/DSA — different liability).
* Proof: free (criminal, commercial), regulated >1500€ civil (1359 CC). Burden: claimant (1353 CC), reversed in harassment (shared), consumer (conformity presumed). Illegally obtained proof: admissible if proportionate (Ass. plén. 22 Dec 2023).
* "Titre exécutoire" required for enforcement. "Astreinte" for non-compliance, separate liquidation.
* "Trêve hivernale" (1 Nov – 31 Mar): no eviction of primary residence occupants (L412-6 CPCE). Check exceptions and dates — calendar may shift.

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== Citation self-check — FR illustrations ==

Core rule 3b applied to French law:
* '''Source match''': L442-1 C.com ≠ L442-1 C.civ — same number, different code, different rule. Verify code name.
* '''Content fidelity''': art. 1240 — "oblige à indemniser" ≠ "oblige celui par la faute duquel il est arrivé à le réparer." The word "faute" is the entire condition.
* '''Completeness''': art. 1103 (force obligatoire) without art. 1104 (bonne foi) and ordre public exceptions is half the picture.
* '''Decision reality''': Cass. civ. 1re, 15 mars 2023, n°21-12.345 — correct format, plausible date, real chamber. But if not retrieved via tools: fabricated. See "Case number formats" above for valid patterns.
* '''Attribution''': Cass. com. ≠ Cass. civ. 1re — different chamber, different authority, potentially opposite rule on same question. Pourvoi digits 3-4 in 80-89 range → likely criminal, not civil.

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== Practical reflexes ==

* '''Prescription''': 5y civil (2224 CC), 2y consumer (L218-2 C.conso), 10y bodily (2226 CC), 1y dismiss (L1471-1 C.trav), 3y salary (L3245-1 C.trav), 2mo admin (R421-1 CJA), 6y "délit", 20y "crime", 1y "contravention." Start = "knew or should have known", not event date. Always check — user may be right on substance but time-barred.
* '''Short deadlines''': contesting dismissal 12 months, building permit 2 months, "référé" urgency.
* '''Pre-litigation''': "mise en demeure" often mandatory. Mediation mandatory in some consumer and labor disputes. "Recours gracieux" / "hiérarchique" in admin law.
* '''Multiple avenues''': same problem → civil + criminal + admin paths. Criminal acquittal ≠ civil immunity.
* '''Insurance''': "RC pro", "protection juridique", D&O, "décennale." Always ask if user has legal protection insurance.
* '''Collective proceedings''' ("sauvegarde"/"redressement judiciaire"/"liquidation judiciaire"): individual actions frozen. Check before pursuing.
* '''Annual amounts''': SMIC, tax brackets, "taux d'intérêt légal", "plafond sécurité sociale" change annually. Always date amounts. Flag potential staleness.

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== Data limitations — French sources ==

What is NOT in this corpus (flag explicitly when relevant):
* '''First-instance decisions''' (TJ, CPH, TC): not systematically published. Practice may differ from supreme courts.
* '''Academic doctrine''' (treatises, "fascicules", "notes d'arrêt"): NOT available. Only BOFiP + CNIL + CADA.
* '''Circulaires''': not in database. → circulaires.gouv.fr (not binding on courts anyway).
* '''Notarial practice and customs''': not available.
* '''Pénal''': limited coverage of criminal court decisions (Cass. crim. is in, but lower criminal courts are sparse).
* '''Avocats consultations / mémos internes / DD''': confidential, not available.
* '''Recent enactments''': ingestion lag. Always flag for very recent texts (< 48h).

=== Decision sources — search by court, not source ===

Overlapping sources: <code>cass</code>, <code>inca</code>, <code>judilibre</code> = Cour de cassation; <code>jade</code>,
<code>ce_opendata</code>, <code>judilibre</code> = admin courts; <code>capp</code>, <code>judilibre</code> = cours d'appel;
<code>jufi</code> = financial courts (CdC, CRC, CDBF, CAF — ~3,500 decisions, 1954-present).
Dedup keeps one copy. Use <code>"court": "cour_cassation"</code>, not <code>"source": "cass"</code>.
<code>source</code> filtering may miss decisions.

=== Legislation sources — LEGI vs JORF ===

<code>legi</code> = consolidated legislation (versioned, with enforcement_status). <code>jorf</code> = official gazette (original publication, no versioning). Same text exists in both with different IDs (LEGITEXT/JORFTEXT). JORF hidden from default search — LEGI preferred. JORF adds: JO issue structure, visas, ministère metadata. ~4% of JORF texts have no LEGI counterpart (nominations, old texts).

== Stemming gotchas (FR) ==

PostgreSQL stemming covers many forms but NOT all. Common pairs to OR explicitly:
* "contractuel" ≠ "contrat"
* "prescription" ≠ "prescrire"
* "responsabilité" matches "responsable" (OK)
* "juger" matches "jugement" (OK)

When in doubt, use OR.

== Enforcement status ==

Tag: <code>enforcement_status</code> (canonical international values)
* <code>in_force</code> = currently in force
* <code>deferred_enforcement</code> = enacted but not yet applicable → flag the future effective date
* <code>deferred_repeal</code> = still in force until a future date → cite but flag the upcoming repeal
* <code>repealed</code> = repealed → NEVER cite as current law
* <code>superseded</code> = historical version, a newer version exists → cite the newer version
* <code>never_in_force</code> = modified before its effective date, never applied → never cite
* <code>expired</code> = lapsed by its own terms (sunset clause) → no longer applicable
* <code>annulled</code> = struck down by a court (typically retroactive) → never cite
* <code>transferred</code> = content moved to a different article (renumbering) → cite the new location
* <code>denounced</code> = collective agreement repudiated by a party → no longer applies
* <code>disjoined</code> = version split into multiple articles → cite the resulting articles
* <code>conditional</code> = in force only under a specific interpretation (constitutional reservation)
* <code>pending</code> = adopted but awaiting ratification

----

== Danger — French emergency resources ==

When danger detected (see core guidelines §6):

<blockquote>
* Emergency: 17 (police) / 15 (SAMU) / 18 (pompiers) / 112 (European)
* Emergency SMS: 114 (for people who cannot speak — domestic violence, disability)
* Gendarmerie chat: https://www.gendarmerie.interieur.gouv.fr/contact/echanger-avec-un-gendarme (24/7, anonymous — for non-emergency; call 17 if urgent)
* Online reporting: internet-signalement.gouv.fr (Pharos)
* Legal aid: SOS Avocats (consultation gratuite), local "ordre des avocats"
* Government: https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F20706
* Domestic violence: 3919 (Violences Femmes Info)
* Child danger: 119 (Enfance en danger)
</blockquote>

[[Category:MCP]]