CELEBRATING THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS WEBLOG
Celebrating 15 years of sharing knowledge
June 1st, 2020 marks the 15th anniversary of my legal blog. This is an important milestone for me. Back in May 2005 I only had a rough idea about blogging and what it would take to create a successful legal blog.
Now, fifteen years and well over a million page views and a countless number of comments later, I know that despite the tiny size of the Dutch Caribbean islands, it is worthwhile providing legal-oriented content on the web on a regular basis. If the regular messages I receive from so many readers …
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DISASTERS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CRIMINALS
Already an increase in cybercrime
Every (major) disaster offers opportunities to criminals. The outbreak of Covid-19 has already resulted in increased levels of fraud such as cybercrime (for instance phishing scams, online payment fraud and online identity theft). Interpol is seeing an increase in counterfeit medical products, fraud and cybercrime. Although in most countries the courts will be available to handle emergency cases (including criminal cases), detecting and bringing criminals to justice has become more difficult. Incidentally, hate crimes are also on the rise.
There is every reason to be vigilant now. Because many people work from home, there is …
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CHAMBERS GLOBAL 2020 LEGAL RANKINGS RELEASED
Karel Frielink ranked Band 1 for the 11th time
Once again, I have been selected as a ranked lawyer in Chambers Global 2020 identifying me as one of the best lawyers in the Dutch Caribbean.
The Chambers Guides have been ranking the best law firms and lawyers since 1990, and now covers over 190 jurisdictions throughout the world. Chambers ranks lawyers and law firms on several factors and considerations, all of which are investigated by their large team of more than 200 researchers. Today, Chambers and Partners released the 2020 edition, also covering the Dutch Caribbean.
Chambers and Partners: “Curaçao-based …
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KERKELIJK RECHT VERSUS BURGERLIJK RECHT
Hoe verhouden het kerkelijk recht en het arbeidsrecht zich tot elkaar?
In zijn uitspaak van 4 oktober 2019 (ECLI:NL:HR:2019:1531) heeft de Hoge Raad overwogen dat kerkgenootschappen worden geregeerd door hun eigen statuut, voor zover dit niet in strijd is met de wet. Deze bepaling berust op het beginsel van de scheiding tussen kerk en staat. Wat in een concreet geval behoort tot het statuut van een kerkgenootschap, hangt af van de omstandigheden van het geval. In het algemeen behoren daartoe regelingen over de organisatiestructuur en het interne functioneren van het kerkgenootschap, waaronder regels over het bestuur van het kerkgenootschap en …
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ST. MAARTEN CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
Never a dull moment
In St. Maarten there is again a lot of discussion about political developments, but also about constitutional law. I will answer some frequently asked questions here. Of course, I didn’t come up with all the answers myself. At the bottom of this text the most important source is mentioned.
Can parliament fall? Can parliament have an outgoing status? The answer is no. If parliament is dissolved, it remains fully empowered. The dissolution becomes effective on the date on which the newly elected parliament meets (Section 59(3) Constitution). Professor Van Rijn and professor Rogier are also of …
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ONDERZOEK DOOR ACCOUNTANT GERICHT OP EEN PERSOON
Accountant moet zorgvuldig te werk gaan
In Nederland zijn op accountants allerlei regels en voorschriften van toepassing, ook wanneer een accountant wordt ingeschakeld voor een zogeheten persoonsgericht onderzoek. Denk in dit verband aan het beginsel van hoor en wederhoor. De vraag is hoe dit is geregeld in de Caribische delen van het Koninkrijk.
In de uitspraak van de Hoge Raad van 17 mei 2019 (ECLI:NL:HR:2019:744) ging het kort gezegd om een accountant in Aruba die was ingeschakeld om onderzoek te doen naar een bestuurder (algemeen directeur) van een in Aruba gevestigde stichting vanwege vermeende financiële onregelmatigheden. Door de accountant is …
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RECOGNITION AND ENFORCEMENT OF FOREIGN JUDGMENTS
Recognition is usually not a problem
In the absence of an applicable treaty between foreign countries and the Dutch Caribbean, a judgment rendered by an international court from a country without a treaty will not be enforced by the courts of any Dutch Caribbean countries. In order to obtain a judgment which is enforceable in the Dutch Caribbean, the claim must be re-litigated before the court being sought to enforce the judgment.
Nevertheless, a judgment rendered by an international court without a treaty will, under current practice, be recognized by a Dutch Caribbean court:
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CHAMBERS GLOBAL 2019 LEGAL RANKINGS RELEASED
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Karel Frielink ranked Band 1 for the 10th time
Once again, I have been selected as a ranked lawyer in Chambers Global 2019 identifying me as one of the best lawyers in the Dutch Caribbean.
The Chambers Guides have been ranking the best law firms and lawyers since 1990, and now covers over 190 jurisdictions throughout the world. Chambers ranks lawyers and law firms on several factors and considerations, all …
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RULES OF CONDUCT FOR ATTORNEYS
Correspondence between attorneys may not be submitted in court
The Code of Conduct for Attorneys (Lawyers) in Curacao, as well as those in Aruba, St. Maarten and the BES-islands, contain some specific rules regarding correspondence between attorneys.
Rule 18 of the Code of Conduct
The content of letters and other communications from one attorney at law to another may not be invoked in court, according to Rule 18 of the Code of Conduct for Attorneys at Law in Curacao. Submission of correspondence between attorneys (or mentioning the contents thereof) is only permitted if the client’s interest so requires, but not until …
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LIABILITY OF THE BANKRUPTCY TRUSTEE
No policy freedom when bound by rules
Some years ago, I wrote about conflicts of interest in insolvency law matters (Tijdschrift voor Insolventierecht 4/2001, p. 115-123). I then wrote that the special characteristics of the task of a bankruptcy trustee imply that his personal liability, if any, must be assessed against a standard of due care that is geared to this. This standard boils down to the fact that a trustee should act as may reasonably be required of a trustee with sufficient insight and experience who performs his task with accuracy and dedication (HR 19 April 1996, ECLI:NL:HR:1996:ZC2047 concerning …
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AANSPRAKELIJKHEID VAN DE CURATOR
Bij gebondenheid aan regels geen beleidsvrijheid
Al weer wat jaren geleden schreef ik over tegenstrijdige belangen in het insolventierecht (Tijdschrift voor Insolventierecht 4/2001, p. 115-123). Ik schreef toen dat bijzondere kenmerken van de taak van een curator meebrengen dat zijn eventuele persoonlijke aansprakelijkheid dient te worden getoetst aan een zorgvuldigheidsnorm die daarop is afgestemd. Deze norm komt hierop neer dat een curator behoort te handelen zoals in redelijkheid mag worden verlangd van een over voldoende inzicht en ervaring beschikkende curator die zijn taak met nauwgezetheid en inzet verricht (HR 19 april 1996, ECLI:NL:HR:1996:ZC2047 inzake Maclou).
Tot op zekere hoogte kunnen …
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CORPORATE CRIMINAL LIABILITY
Acts can be committed both by natural persons and by legal entities
Under Dutch Caribbean criminal law, criminal acts can be committed both by natural persons and by legal entities, for instance, limited liability companies and foundations, and can take part in the crime in a variety of roles incurring liability, including, perpetrators, co-perpetrators or accomplices. As far as legal entities are concerned, criminal liability may arise for: (i) employees of a legal entity, (ii) the legal entity itself, and (iii) those directors or managers of the legal entity of whom it can be proven that they have directed or …
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