Revista da EMERJ - V. 22 - N.1 - Janeiro/Março - 2020

 R. EMERJ, Rio de Janeiro, v. 22, n. 1, p. 284 - 317, Janeiro-Março. 2020  285 PALAVRAS CHAVES: Pandemia. Obrigação. Contrato. Impossibilidade. Impossi- bilidade temporária. Impossibilidade Definitiva. Contratos Bila- terais. Impossibilidade parcial. Alocação de Riscos. Cômodos de Representação. Dever de negociar. Onerosidade Excessiva. Re- quisitos. Consequências. ABSTRACT: The aim of this study is to examine the effect of the coro- navirus disease pandemic (COVID 19) on the performance of contracts and obligations. The author seeks to demonstrate that direct, generalized application of article 393 of the Civil Code, without due reflection and consideration of the peculiarities of the transaction or obligation in question might lead to unlawful and unfair outcomes, The issue is complex, and simplistic solu- tions are unfeasible. The study is divided into two part. In the first part, the au- thor examines the effects of the pandemic through the prism of the doctrine of impossibility of performance, taking into conside- ration the following aspects: key distinctions between temporary impossibility and definitive impossibility and the consequences of each; the peculiarities of the application of the doctrine of im- possibility to bilateral contracts; whether legal transactions can be ‘reduced’ in the event of partial impossibility of performan- ce; the need to respect the allocation of risks delineated by the parties; the redress due for loss of enjoyment/benefit of an asset ( cômodos de representação) and, finally, the duty to negotiate. In the second part of the study the author examines the application of the doctrine of excessive onerousness to the consequence of the pandemic and the limitations, pre-requisites and consequences of such application. KEYWORDS: Pandemic. Obligations. Contracts. Impossibility of perfor- mance. Temporary impossibility. Definitive impossibility. Bilate-