摘要
所謂示範訴訟（Musterprozess）係指， 某一訴訟之紛爭事實與其他（多數）事件之事實主要大部分相同，該訴訟事件經由法院裁判後，其結果成為其他事件在訴訟上或訴訟外處理之依據，此判決可稱為「示範判決」（Musterurteil）。狹義而言，在紛爭當事人問須存在有一明示或默示之協議，擇定某一訴訟事件作為示範訴訟，協議當事人可即為示範訴訟之兩造（例如：在一部請求之情形）或一造（例如：基於同一原因事實之侵權行為人， 或在保證關係之情形），但亦得約定以他人間所進行之訴訟作為示範訴訟（例如：在不同雇主與勞工間所生類似之勞資紛爭），並約定在示範訴訟之判決確定前，其他未起訴之當事人暫不起訴，己提起訴訟者，則停止進行，待示範判決確定後，以該判決作為其他同類紛爭解決之準據，在當事人問具有拘束力，此協議即稱為「示範訴訟契約」（M usterprozessvertrag）。示範訴訟契約在內容上乃數項協議之結合，包括「停止爭訟協議」或「不起訴協議」以及「拘束力協議」並得視當事人之需求，包括：「願連受強制執行」之聲明、「不得為捨棄或認諾」之協議、「應上訴至最高法院或最終審級」之協議等。示範訴訟契約為訴訟契約之一種類型，因此，基於當事人之程序處分權、程序選擇權，為使當事人之程序利益受到保護，並賦予其平衡追求實體利益與程序利益之機會，只要不涉及公益之違背，有損於司法資源之合理分配或訴訟經濟，均宜承認當事人得就各該訴訟進行之相關事項予以約定，而有其合法性，具有契約之拘束力。當事人－造如違背契約中之約定，他造當事人得提出示範訴訟契約作為抗辯。示範訴訟契約一方面具有裁判外紛爭處理之制度機能，透過示範訴訟契約之締結，可保留當事人自主解決紛爭之優點，尊重當事人對於紛爭解決方式之選擇；另一方面在同類之其他紛爭以示範訴訟之判決為處理、解決之依據時，亦保有以司法機關之裁判作為紛爭解決依據之優點，有助於社會大眾預見法之所在及其發展，具有明確化及安定，化法律秩序之機能，此乃其他法院外自主性紛爭處理制度所欠缺者。除此之外，示範訴訟契約亦可與修正後之選定當事人制度或團體不作為訴訟相互配合，以解決多數同類紛爭同時或先後繫屬於法院之問題。不過，由於紛爭當事人眾多，常難以期待所有當事人均能締結示範訴訟契約，而宜考慮由法院依職權樺定示鈍訴訟之可能性。在我國現行法之解釋上，此雖得依有關合併辯論、訴訟停止、職務上已知之事實、織權調查證據等相關規定予以處理，但仍有其界限，且欠缺配套之整合規剖，如未明文規定，恐較易滋生運用上爭議，宜考慮立法予以規範。
並列摘要
The so-called “Test action agreement”(Musterprozessvertrag) means a special contract before or during a civil proceeding. Through such consent can a plenty of parties with the same kind of conflict agree that each side would go on the proceeding only by one of them, all the others would not submit any action They would resolve their disputes based on the verdict of this test action. 111 this way, a lot of work, cost and time could be saved not only by the court, but also by the parties. Comparing with Germany, so far in Taiwan, their still lacks academic research with regards to “Test action agreement'. Therefore, it necessitates one deep and through research. Refer to and compare with the experience of the test action developed in German, Austria and Switzerland, this Article analyses the definition, types, function, nature and effect of test action agreement.The contents of the test action agreement includes the combination of several agreements: (1) “Agreement of non-commencing civil procedure” (2)“Agreement of claim preclusion” (3) ‘'Acquirement of execution” (4) “The contractof the action of litigation proceedings of test action itself” . The essential parts thereof are: “agreement of non-commencing civil procedure” and “agreement of claim preclusion”In one aspect, the test action agreement possesses the function of alternative dispute resolution. By means of the conclusion of the test action agreement, it has retained the advantages of independent settlement of disputes by litigantsthemselves and would show respect for litigants’ selection regarding the methods of solving the disputes. On te other hand, compared with the settlements of other similar disputes, it can maintain merits of solving disputes based on the judgments rendered by the judicial organization by using judgment of the test action as basis is for handling and settling disputes. By way of doing this, the general public will be able to anticipate the existence and development of the law, meanwhile, it will assist in defining and stabilizing the order of the law.