PRE-TRIAL MOTIONS IN ARUBA

Differences with the United States
Civil proceedings in Aruba differ substantially from those in the United States. In Aruba there are, for instance, no juries. In principle, legal proceedings are basically conducted in writing.

Oral pleadings are customary in preliminary relief proceedings, but optional in proceedings on the merits. Discovery proceedings like those in the United States do not exist. Pre-trial motions similar to those in the United States do not exist in Aruba either. There are, however, so-called incidents or ancillary proceedings in Aruba.

An ancillary proceeding may be a separate procedural step or an ancillary step within the framework of the main proceedings. Ancillary proceedings may involve an ancillary procedure, an incidental defense, or a court-ordered ancillary proceeding. Examples of an ancillary procedure include a procedure for joining parties, a procedure for joining claims, and a procedure for obtaining security for costs.

If proceedings on the merits are initiated by a non-resident plaintiff, the defendant may ask the court to order the plaintiff to provide security for damages, costs and interest which it might have to pay as a result of the judgment in those proceedings. This “cautio judicatum solvi” does not have to be provided if a Treaty on legal proceedings exists between Aruba and the country of residence or establishment of the plaintiff.

There is no possibility for a (pre-trial) motion to dismiss the case, based, for instance, on the fact that there already is a settlement agreement in place. The most important incidental defense is the defense that the court is not competent to hear the case, for instance, because the parties have agreed to submit the dispute to an arbitral tribunal.

Karel Frielink
Attorney (Lawyer) / Partner

22 May 2010

Lawyer Roeland Zwanikken considers legal action against ABN AMRO Bank

THE HAGUE--Attorney-at-law Roeland Zwanikken at St. Maarten’s BZSE law office is considering legal action against the intention of the Dutch ABN AMRO Bank to close the bank accounts of its clients in the Dutch Caribbean.

Fiscaal onderzoek bij notariskantoren vinden doorgang

In het Antilliaans Dagblad: Fiscaal onderzoek bij notariskantoren
WILLEMSTAD – De fiscale onderzoeken bij de notarissen vonden en vinden, ondanks de beperkingen van Covid-19, weer doorgang en de medewerking aan de kant van notarissen en adviseurs is daarbij ‘over het algemeen goed’.

Juridische miljoenenstrijd tussen BNP Paribas en Italiaanse prinses verhardt

  • Bezit van Italiaanse Crociani-familie op Curaçao mag van rechter worden verkocht
  • De Crociani's ruziën al jaren met BNP Paribas over een claim van $100 mln
  • Curaçaos trustkantoor United Trust heeft 'geen enkele relatie meer' met Camilla Crociani
Een Italiaanse prinses met zakelijke belangen in Nederland heeft het onderspit gedolven bij diverse rechtbanken in een langslepend conflict met zakenbank BNP Paribas.