COMMENCING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST MULTIPLE DEFENDANTS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN

Non-residents can be sued A general rule under the Netherlands Antilles code of civil procedure is that the Curacao court (or another court in the Dutch Caribbean as the case may be) has jurisdiction over defendants which are (in this example) Curacao residents or companies with an office in Curacao. In the case of multiple defendants,… Continue reading COMMENCING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST MULTIPLE DEFENDANTS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN

PREJUDICED INTERESTS OF MINORITY SHAREHOLDERS IN THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLES

They may force the company to take-over their shares Article 2:251(1) of the Netherlands Antilles Civil Code reads as follows: “A shareholder of registered shares, whose rights or interests are prejudiced to such an extent, by the conduct of the company or one or more co-shareholders, that a continuation of his shareholding cannot reasonably be required… Continue reading PREJUDICED INTERESTS OF MINORITY SHAREHOLDERS IN THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLES

PIERCING THE CORPORATE VEIL IN ARUBA

Ignoring the legal personality of a company A shareholder is not personally liable for acts performed in the name of the company and is not liable to contribute to losses of the company in excess of the amount which he must pay to the company as contribution for his shares. There is therefore a legal… Continue reading PIERCING THE CORPORATE VEIL IN ARUBA

FOREIGN CLAIMS SECURED BY ARUBAN SECURITY RIGHTS

The foreign law governed claim must be sufficiently identifiable Many financing arrangements are of a cross-border nature. For instance, a loan agreement governed by English law with the loan secured by a right of pledge governed by the laws of Aruba. This raises all kinds of questions. Any foreign right, for instance a claim, in… Continue reading FOREIGN CLAIMS SECURED BY ARUBAN SECURITY RIGHTS

LIFTING OF AN ATTACHMENT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (II)

Defendant has to show that the claim is invalid Article 705, Paragraph 2 of the Netherlands Antilles Code of Civil Procedure states that the lifting of an attachment may be ordered if it appears summarily that the claim is invalid. According to existing case law of the Dutch Supreme Court (see for instance Supreme Court… Continue reading LIFTING OF AN ATTACHMENT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (II)

LIFTING OF AN ATTACHMENT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (I)

Freezing assets is rather easy Under Netherlands Antilles law any party with a prima facie claim may file a petition for a court order granting an attachment, which petitions are generally granted, solely based on the allegations in the petition. It is not required, under Netherlands Antilles law, that the litigant needs to demonstrate that,… Continue reading LIFTING OF AN ATTACHMENT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (I)

SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (IV)

Only condemnatory judgments are allowed As far as the form and the content of a decision in summary proceedings is concerned, the judge has great latitude in reaching a decision. A guiding principle for the judge will always be a policy of not going beyond what might be necessary or well-balanced as far as the… Continue reading SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (IV)

SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (III)

Judge will balance interests In general the court will take into account the detriment which the plaintiff in summary proceedings will suffer if he has to wait too long for a judgment in a procedure on the merits. In summary proceedings the judge needs to balance the interests of the plaintiff and the defendant. In… Continue reading SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (III)

SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (II)

Urgency is a requirement Provisional measures may always be given in summary proceedings in civil cases if the claim meets the following three conditions: (i) there is an urgent interest at stake; (ii) the interests of both parties needs to be balanced; and (iii) the balancing of interests justifies a decision in summary proceedings. The… Continue reading SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (II)

SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (I)

Attempting to obtain temporary instructions from the court The procedure for provisional measures in summary proceedings (in Dutch: kort geding), a.k.a. interlocutory proceedings, is an interim injunction procedure before the court. Such proceedings, under Netherlands Antilles law, are aimed at obtaining temporary instructions from the court, not at receiving a final decision in the case.… Continue reading SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS IN THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN (I)

STATUTORY LIMITATIONS FOR FILING A CLAIM UNDER ARUBAN LAW

Five year period With respect to the limitations under Aruban law for filing a claim, the pertinent legal provisions governing limitations are set out in Book 3, Title 11 (Rights of Action) of the Aruban Civil Code. According to Article 310 the right of action for compensation for damage is prescribed up to the end… Continue reading STATUTORY LIMITATIONS FOR FILING A CLAIM UNDER ARUBAN LAW

WHAT DAMAGES ARE RECOVERABLE UNDER ARUBAN LAW? (II)

Case law The Supreme Court in its case law has held that relatives of a deceased person are only entitled to sue for damages against the person liable for his or her death, if and to the extent that their death has left them in need. The extent of need is measured by the standard… Continue reading WHAT DAMAGES ARE RECOVERABLE UNDER ARUBAN LAW? (II)