Action Against The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Developer Stayed

Michael Ryan

Tuesday, April 20, 2004

The Cayman Islands Court of Appeals agreed last Thursday to a stay of action in a lawsuit filed by Richard Friend against The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman developer Michael Ryan and his companies.

Mr Friend, who says he was the senior vice-president of The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman development company, is seeking nearly a million US dollars in what he claims is unpaid compensation for his work on the project between 1998 and 2000.

Both parties originally sought to try the several separate cases in different legal venues, yet on Thursday morning, minutes before the three Court of Appeal magistrates were to open the court, they reached an agreement on the Grand Cayman cases.

With this stay of action agreed upon, the proceedings in the Court of Appeals in Grand Cayman are temporarily put on hold, allowing for the similar case in Florida’s courts to become the primary trial ground for the suits.

Attorney Jeremy Walton, who represents Mr Ryan and his companies, noted: “When this matter has been judiciously resolved in the Florida court, the Cayman courts will recognize the decision of the Florida court, respectful of the international court practice of competent jurisdiction. Under this theory of competent jurisdiction, courts around the world respect the decisions of other countries’ courts, where it is determined the practices and procedures were judicious.”

The agreement reached still allows liberty for either party to seek an overturn of the stay, if so desired, or if a significant event alters the terms of the agreement.

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