French Civil Code

When someone is commissioned to do a work, it may be agreed that he will supply only his labour or industry, or that he will also supply the material.

If, in the case where the workman supplies the material, the thing comes to perish, in any manner whatsoever, before it is delivered, the loss thereof is for the workman, unless the master was in default of receiving the thing.

In the case where the workman supplies only his labour or industry, if the thing comes to perish, the workman is liable only for his fault.

If, in the case of the preceding article, the thing perishes, albeit without any fault on the part of the workman, before the work has been received and without the master having been given notice to check it, the workman has no wages to claim, unless the thing perished through the defect of the material.

If the work is made up of several parts or by measure, the verification may be done by parts: it is deemed to be done for all the parts paid for, if the master pays the workman in proportion to the work done.

Every builder of a work is liable as of right, to the master or purchaser of the work, for damage, even resulting from a defect in the ground, which compromises the solidity of the work or which, affecting it in one of its constituent elements or one of its items of equipment, renders it unfit for its intended purpose. Such liability does not arise if the builder proves that the…