Visit UKSCJCPC/2019/0113
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ARBITRATION
RAV Bahamas Ltd and another (Appellants) v Therapy Beach Club Incorporated (Respondent) (Bahamas)
Case summary
Case ID
JCPC/2019/0113
Jurisdiction
Bahamas
Parties
Appellant(s)
RAV Bahamas Ltd and another
Respondent(s)
Therapy Beach Club Incorporated
Issue
This appeal concerns alleged procedural irregularities in relation to an arbitration award (the "Award"). The issues for consideration by the Board of the Privy Council (the "Board") relate to the Bahamas Arbitration Act 2009 (the "Act"), namely whether: 1. as a substantive matter, a. in advancing a challenge under section 90 of the Act, an applicant must expressly and separately allege that serious irregularity has caused substantial injustice; and b. in order to uphold a challenge under section 90 of the Act (and remit the Award for reconsideration), the Court must expressly and separately consider whether serious irregularity has caused substantial injustice.
Facts
In December 2011, RAV leased a parcel of land on the island of Bimini to Therapy for the operation of a restaurant and beach club. The term of the agreement (the "Lease") was for 3 years with the option to extend for a further 3 years. In March 2013, RAV commenced separate proceedings before the Supreme Court of the Bahamas ("Supreme Court") alleging, amongst other things, that the lease was void. Before the Supreme Court determined the issue, RAV evicted Therapy from Bimini.RAV and Therapy concluded a separate "ad hoc" arbitration agreement to resolve disputes in relation to the eviction. The arbitrator, a retired Bahamian judge, held that Therapy had been wrongly evicted and awarded it a mixture of general and special damages. Winder J, in the Supreme Court, held that there had been serious irregularity on the part of the arbitrator in relation to the preparation of the Award (and, more specifically, with respect to the quantification of damages). This decision was subsequently overturned by the Court of Appeal of the Bahamas.
Date of issue
31 October 2019
Judgment details
Judgment date
19 April 2021
Neutral citation
[2021] UKPC 8
Judgment links
Appeal
Justices
Hearing dates
Start date
11 February 2021
End date
11 February 2021
Watch hearings
11 February 2021 - Morning session
11 February 2021 - Afternoon session
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Last updated 9 May 2024