Crown Proceedings Act

PUBLISHING DETAILS Law 27 of 1965 consolidated with Laws 17 of 1966 and 13 of 1968 as amended by Act 56 of 2020. Revised under the authority of the Law Revision Act (2020 Revision). Originally enacted — Law 27 of 1965-1st July, 1965 Law 17 of 1966-9th June, 1966 Law 13 of 1968-30th May, 1968 Act 56 of 2020-7th December, 2020. Consolidated and revised this 31st December, 2025. Note (not forming part of this Act): This revision replaces the 1997 Revision which should now be discarded. PART 1 - Introductory PART 2 - Substantive Law PART 3 - Jurisdiction and Procedure PART 4 - Judgments and Execution PART 5 - Miscellaneous and Supplementary PART 1 - Introductory Short title This Act may be cited as the Crown Proceedings Act (2026 Revision). Interpretation (1) In this Act — “agent”, when used in relation to the Crown, includes an independent contractor employed by the Crown; “civil proceedings” does not include proceedings which in England would be taken on the Crown side of the King’s Bench Division; “Court” means Grand Court; “Crown” means His Majesty in right of His Government in the Islands; “officer”, in relation to the Crown, includes any servant of His Majesty; “order” includes a judgment, decree, rule, award or declaration; “prescribed” means prescribed by rules of court; “proceedings against the Crown” includes a claim by way of set-off or counter-claim raised in proceedings by the Crown; “rules of court” mean rules made by the Rules Committee of the Court; and “statutory duty” means any duty imposed by or under any law; (2) References to this Act include reference to rules of court made pursuant thereto. (3) The Crown is not, for the purposes of Parts 4 and 5, deemed to be a party to any proceedings by reason only that they are brought by the Attorney-General upon the relation of some other person. PART 2 - Substantive Law Liability of the Crown in tort (1) Subject to this Act, the Crown is subject to all those liabilities in tort to which, if it were a private person of full age and capacity, it would be subject — (a) in respect of torts committed by its servants or agents; (b) in respect of any breach of those duties which a person owes to that person’s servants or agents at common law by reason of being their employer; and in respect of any breach of the duties attaching at common law to the ownership, occupation, possession or control of property, provided that no proceedings lie against the Crown under paragraph (a) in respect of any act or omission of a servant or agent of the Crown unless the act or omission would, apart from this Act, have given rise to a cause of action in tort against that servant or agent or that person’s estate. (2) Where the Crown is bound by a statutory duty which is binding also upon persons other than the Crown and its officers then, subject to this Act, the Crown is, in respect of a failure to comply with that duty, subject to all those liabilities in tort, if any, to which it would be so subject if it were a private person of full age and capacity. (3) Where any functions are conferred or imposed upon an officer of the Crown as such either by any rule of the common law or by statute, and that officer commits a tort while performing or purporting to perform those functions, the liabilities of the Crown in respect of the tort shall be such as they would have been if those functions had been conferred or imposed solely by virtue of instructions lawfully given by the Crown. (4) An enactment which negatives or limits the amount of the liability of any Government department or officer of the Crown in respect of a tort committed by that department or officer applies, in the case of proceedings against the Crown under this section in respect of a tort committed by that department or officer, in relation to the Crown as it would apply in relation to that department or officer if the proceedings against the Crown were proceedings against that department or officer. (5) No proceedings lie against the Crown by virtue of this section in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by any person while discharging or purporting to discharge any responsibilities of a judicial nature vested in that person, or any responsibilities which that person has in connection with the execution of judicial process. (6) No proceedings lie against the Crown by virtue of this section in respect of any act, neglect or default of any officer of the Crown, unless that officer has been directly or indirectly appointed by the Crown and was, at the material time, paid in respect of that officer’s duties as an officer of the Crown wholly out of the general revenue of the Islands, or any fund certified by the Financial Secretary for the purposes of this subsection or was, at the material time, holding an office in respect of which the Financial Secretary certifies that the holder thereof would normally be so paid. Industrial property (1) If any servant or agent of the Crown infringes a patent, a registered trade mark or any copyright (including any copyright in a design) and the infringement is committed with the authority of the Crown, then subject to this Act, civil proceedings in respect of the infringement lie against the Crown. (2) Save as expressly provided by subsection (1), no proceedings lie against the Crown by virtue of this Act in respect of the infringement of a patent, a registered trade mark or any such copyright as is mentioned in subsection (1). Indemnity, joint tort-feasors and contributory negligence (1) Where the Crown is subject to any liability by virtue of this Part, the law relating to indemnity and contribution is enforceable by or against the Crown in respect of the liability to which it is so subject as if the Crown were a private person of full age and capacity. (2) Without prejudice to subsection (1), those provisions of the Torts (Reform) Act (2026 Revision) which relate to proceedings against, and contribution between, joint and several tort-feasors bind the Crown. (3) Without prejudice to the general effect of section 3, those provisions of the Torts (Reform) Act (2026 Revision) which amend the law relating to contributory negligence bind the Crown. Liability in respect of Crown docks, harbours, etc. (1) The provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 to 1988 of the United Kingdom [U.K. Acts], which limit the amount of the liability of the owners of docks and canals, and of harbour and conservancy authorities, apply for the purpose of limiting the liability of the Crown as the owner of any dock or canal, or as a harbour or conservancy authority, and all the relevant provisions of those Acts have effect in relation to the Crown accordingly. (2) In this section, the expressions “dock”, “harbour”, “owner”, “harbour authority” and “conservancy authority” have respectively the same meanings as they have for the purposes of section 2 of the Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Act, 1900 of the United Kingdom [UK 1900 C 32). (3) In this section, references to the Crown include references to any Government department and to any officer of the Crown in that officer’s capacity as such. Postal articles (1) No proceedings in tort lie against the Crown for anything done or omitted to be done in relation to a postal article by any person while employed as a servant or agent of the Crown, nor is any officer of the Crown subject except at the suit of the Crown, to any civil liability for the matters aforesaid. (2) In this section — “postal article” includes a telegram. (3) A reference in this section to a postal article includes a reference to its contents. (4) Nothing in this section affects any provisions of the Postal Act (2025 Revision) or any regulations made thereunder in relation to the payment of compensation for loss of or damage to a postal article. Armed forces (1) Nothing done or omitted to be done by a member of the armed forces of the Crown while on duty as such subjects either that person or the Crown, to liability in tort for causing the death of another person, or for causing personal injury to another person, insofar as the death or personal injury is due to anything suffered by that other person while that person is a member of the armed forces of the Crown if — (a) at the time when that thing is suffered by that other person, the person is either on duty as a member of the armed forces of the Crown or is, though not on duty as such, on any land, premises, ship, aircraft or vehicle for the time being used for the purposes of the armed forces of the Crown; and (b) the Governor certifies that that other person’s suffering that thing has been or will be treated as attributable to service for the purposes of entitlement to an award under any law for the time being relating to the disablement or death of members of the force of which that person is a member, provided that this subsection shall not exempt a member of the said forces from liability in tort in any case in which the court is satisfied that the act of omission was not connected with the execution of that person’s duties as a member of those forces. (2) No proceedings in tort lie against the Crown for death or personal injury due to anything suffered by a member of the armed forces of the Crown if — (a) that thing is suffered by that person in consequence of the nature or condition of any such land, premises, ship, aircraft or vehicle, or in consequence of the nature or condition of any equipment or supplies used for the purposes of those forces; and (b) the Governor certifies as mentioned in subsection (1), nor shall any act or omission of an officer of the Crown subject that officer to liability in tort for death or personal injury insofar as the death or personal injury is due to anything suffered by a member of the armed forces of the Crown, being a thing as to which the conditions aforesaid are satisfied. (3) The Governor, if satisfied that — (a) a person was or was not on any particular occasion on duty as a member of the armed forces of the Crown; or (b) at any particular time any land, premises, ship, aircraft, vehicle, equipment or supplies was or was not, or were or were not, used for the purposes of the said forces, may issue a certificate certifying thereto, and such certificate shall, for the purposes of this section, be conclusive. PART 3 - Jurisdiction and Procedure Right to sue the Crown Where any person has a claim against the Crown after the 1st July, 1965 and, if this Act had not been passed, the claim might have been enforced, whether subject to the grant of a fiat or not, or by a proceeding provided by the common law, then, subject to this Act, the claim may be enforced as of right, and without the grant of a fiat, by proceedings taken against the Crown for that purpose in accordance with this Act. Interpleader

The Crown may obtain relief by way of interpleader proceedings, and may be made a party to such proceedings, in the same manner in which a subject may obtain relief by way of such proceedings or be made a party thereto, and may be made a party to such proceedings notwithstanding that the application for relief is made by a bailiff or other like officer, and all rules of court relating to interpleader proceedings shall, subject to this Act, have effect accordingly. Parties to proceedings

(1) Civil proceedings by the Crown shall be instituted by the Attorney-General. (2) Civil proceedings against the Crown shall be instituted against the AttorneyGeneral. (3) No proceedings instituted in accordance with this Part by or against the Attorney-General shall abate or be affected by a change in the person holding the office of Attorney-General. Service of documents

All documents required to be served on the Crown for the purpose of or in connection with any civil proceedings by or against the Crown shall be served on the prescribed officer. Nature of relief

(1) In any civil proceedings by or against the Crown the Court has, subject to this Act, power to make all such orders as it has power to make in proceedings between subjects, and otherwise to give such appropriate relief as the case may require, provided that — (a) where, in any proceedings against the Crown, any such relief is sought as might in proceedings between subjects be granted by way of injunction or specific performance, the Court shall not grant an injunction or make an order for specific performance, but may, in lieu thereof, make an order declaratory of the rights of the parties; and (b) in any proceedings against the Crown for the recovery of land or other property the Court shall not make an order for the recovery of land or the delivery of the property, but may, in lieu thereof, make an order declaring that the plaintiff is entitled as against the Crown to the land or property or to the possession thereof. (2) The Court shall not, in any civil proceedings, grant any injunction or make any order against an officer of the Crown if the effect of granting the injunction or making the order would be to give any relief against the Crown which could not have been obtained in proceedings against the Crown. Appeals and stays of execution

Subject to this Act, all enactments and rules of court relating to appeal and stay of execution apply, with any necessary modifications, to civil proceedings by or against the Crown as they apply to proceedings between subjects. Scope of this Part

A reference in this Part to civil proceedings by or against the Crown shall be construed as a reference to such proceedings as the Crown or any person is entitled to bring by virtue of this Act, and the expression “civil proceedings by or against the Crown” shall be construed accordingly, but this Part does not affect proceedings brought by the Attorney-General on the relation of some other person. PART 4 - Judgments and Execution Satisfaction of orders against the Crown

(1) If, in any civil proceedings by or against the Crown, or in connection with any arbitration to which the Crown is a party, any order (including an order for costs) is made by the Court in favour of any person against the Crown or against an officer of the Crown as such, the proper officer of the Court shall, on an application in that behalf made by or on behalf of that person at any time after the expiration of twenty-one days from the date of the order or, in case the order provides for the payment of costs and the costs require to be taxed, at any time after the costs have been taxed, whichever is the latter, issue to that person a certificate in the prescribed form containing particulars of the order and, if the Court so directs, a separate certificate may be issued with respect to the costs, if any, ordered to be paid to the applicant. (2) A copy of a certificate issued under this section may be served by the person in whose favour the order is made, upon the person for the time being named in the record as the attorney-at-law, or on the person acting as attorney-at-law, for the Crown or the officer concerned. (3) If the order provides for the payment of any money by way of damages or otherwise, or of any costs, it shall state the amount so payable, and the appropriate Government department shall, subject as hereinafter provided, pay to the person entitled or to that person’s attorney-at-law the amount appearing by the certificate to be due to that person together with the interest, if any, due thereon, provided that the Court by which any such order as aforesaid is made or any Court to which an appeal against the order lies may direct that, pending an appeal or otherwise, payment of the whole of any amount so payable, or any part thereof, shall be suspended, and if the certificate has not been issued may order any such directions to be inserted therein. (4) Save as aforesaid no execution or attachment or process in the nature thereof shall be issued out of the Court for enforcing payment by the Crown of any such money or costs as aforesaid, and no person shall be individually liable under any order for the payment by the Crown or any officer of the Crown as such, of any such money or costs. Execution by the Crown

Subject to this Act, an order made in favour of the Crown against a person in civil proceedings to which the Crown is a party may be enforced in the same manner as an order made in an action between subjects, and not otherwise. Attachment of money payable by the Crown

Where any money is payable by the Crown to some person who, under any order of any Court, is liable to pay any money to any other person, and that other person would, if the money so payable by the Crown were money payable by a subject, be entitled under rules of court to obtain an order for the attachment thereof as a debt due or accruing due, or an order for the appointment of a sequestrator or receiver to receive the money on that person’s behalf, the Court may, subject to this Act, make an order restraining the first-mentioned person from receiving that money and directing payment thereof to that other person, or to the sequestrator or receiver, provided that no such order shall be made in respect of — (a) any wages or salary payable to any officer of the Crown as such; or (b) any money which is subject to any enactment prohibiting or restricting assignment or charging or taking in execution. PART 5 - Miscellaneous and Supplementary Discovery

(1) Subject to rules of court — (a) in any civil proceedings to which the Crown is a party, the Crown may be required by the Court to make discovery of documents and produce documents for inspection; and (b) in any such proceedings, the Crown may be required by the Court to answer interrogatories, provided that this section is without prejudice to any rule of law which authorises or requires the withholding of any document or the refusal to answer any question on the ground that the disclosure of the document or the answering of the question would be injurious to the public interest. (2) An order of the Court made under the powers conferred by paragraph (b) of subsection (1) shall direct by what officer of the Crown the interrogatories are to be answered. (3) Without prejudice to the proviso to subsection (1), any rules made for the purposes of this section shall be such as to secure that the existence of a document will not be disclosed if, in the opinion of the Governor, it would be injurious to the public interest to disclose the existence thereof. Exclusion of proceedings in rem against the Crown

(1) Nothing in this Act authorises proceedings in rem in respect of any claim against the Crown, or the arrest, detention or sale of any vessel, cargo or other property belonging to the Crown, or gives to any person any lien on any such vessel, cargo or other property. (2) Where proceedings in rem have been instituted in the Court against any such vessel, cargo or other property, the Court may, if satisfied, either on an application by the plaintiff for an order under this subsection or an application by the Crown to set aside the proceedings, that the proceedings were so instituted by the plaintiff in the reasonable belief that the vessel, cargo or other property did not belong to the Crown, order that proceedings shall be treated as if they were in personam duly instituted against the Crown in accordance with this Act, or duly instituted against any other person whom the Court regards as the proper person to be sued in the circumstances, and that the proceedings shall continue accordingly. (3) Any such order may be made upon such terms as the Courts thinks just; and where the Court makes any such order it may make such consequential orders as the Court thinks expedient. Application to the Crown of other laws

This Act does not prejudice the right of the Crown to take advantage of the provisions of a law although not named therein; and in any civil proceedings against the Crown, any Law which could, if the proceedings were between subjects, be relied upon by the defendant as a defence to the proceedings, whether in whole, in part or otherwise, may, subject to any express provision to the contrary, be so relied upon by the Crown. No abatement on demise of Crown

No claim by or against the Crown, and no proceedings for the enforcement of any such claim, shall abate or be affected by the demise of the Crown. Rules of court

(1) The power to make rules of court includes power to make rules for the purpose of giving effect to this Act, and any such rules may contain provisions to have effect in proceedings by or against the Crown in substitution for or by way of addition to any rules applying to proceedings between subjects. (2) Provision may be made by rules of court for — (a) providing for service of process, or notice thereof, in the case of proceedings by the Crown against persons, whether British subjects or not, who are not resident in these Islands; (b) securing that, where any civil proceedings are brought against the Crown in accordance with this Act, the plaintiff shall, before the Crown is required to take any step in the proceedings, provide the Crown with such information as the Crown may reasonably require as to the circumstances in which it is alleged that the liability of the Crown has arisen and as to the departments and officers of the Crown concerned; providing that, in the case of proceedings against the Crown, the plaintiff shall not enter judgment against the Crown in default of appearance or pleading without the leave of the Court to be obtained on an application of which notice has been given to the Crown; (d) excepting proceedings brought against the Crown from any rule of court providing for summary judgment without trial, and for enabling such proceedings to be put in proper cases into any special list which may be kept for the trial of short causes in which leave to defend is given under any such rule of court; (e) enabling evidence to be taken on commission in proceedings by or against the Crown; (f) providing — (i) that a person shall not be entitled to avail themselves of any set-off or counter-claim in any proceedings by the Crown without leave of the Court; or (ii) that the Crown shall not be entitled to avail itself of any set-off or counter-claim without the leave of the Court; and (g) providing for the mode of trial where the Crown becomes a party to any civil proceedings in tort after such proceedings have commenced. Financial provisions

(1) Expenditure incurred by or on behalf of the Crown by reason of the passing of this Act shall be defrayed out of money voted by the Cayman Islands Parliament. (2) Sums payable to the Crown shall be paid into general revenue. Savings

(1) Unless otherwise provided, nothing in this Act — (a) authorises proceedings to be taken against the Crown under this Act in respect of any alleged liability of the Crown arising otherwise than in respect of His Majesty’s Government in these Islands, or affect proceedings against the Crown in respect of any such alleged liability as aforesaid; (b) affects any proceedings by the Crown otherwise than in right of His Majesty’s Government in these Islands; subjects the Crown to any greater liabilities in respect of the acts or omissions of any independent contractor employed by the Crown than those to which the Crown would be subject in respect of such acts or omissions if it were a private person; (d) affects any rules of evidence or any presumption relating to the extent to which the Crown is bound by any law; (e) affects any right of the Crown to control or otherwise intervene in proceedings affecting its rights, property or profits; or (f) affects any proceedings for the recovery of any taxes within the meaning of the Tax Collection Act (1998 Revision) or of any fines or penalties, or for the forfeiture and condemnation of any goods, and Part 4 does not apply to the Crown except in right of His Majesty’s Government in these Islands. (2) A certificate of the Governor — (a) to the effect that any alleged liability of the Crown arises otherwise than in respect of His Majesty’s Government in these Islands; or (b) to the effect that any proceedings by the Crown are proceedings otherwise than in right of His Majesty’s Government in these Islands, shall be conclusive. (3) Where any property vests in the Crown by virtue of any rule of law which operates independently of the acts or the intentions of the Crown, the Crown shall not, by virtue of this Act, be subject to any liabilities in tort by reason only of the property being so vested; but this subsection is without prejudice to the liabilities of the Crown under this Act in respect of any period after the Crown or any person acting for the Crown has taken possession or control of such property, or entered into occupation thereof. (4) This Act does not limit the discretion of the Court to grant relief by way of mandamus in cases in which such relief might have been granted before its commencement, notwithstanding that by reason of this Act, some other remedy is available. Publication in consolidated and revised form authorised by the Cabinet this 28th day of January 2026. Kim Bullings Clerk of the Cabinet Table of Legislation history: SL # Act/Law # Legislation Commencement Gazette 56/2020 Citation of Acts of Parliament Act, 2020 3-Dec-2020 LG89/2020/s1 13/1968 Crown Proceedings (Amendment) Law, 1968 12-Aug-1968 GN No. 100 of 1968 17/1966 Crown Proceedings (Amendment) 1966 10-Oct-1966 GN No. 121 of 1966 27/1965 Crown Proceedings Law, 1965 1-Oct-1965 GN No. 107 of 1965 (Price: $4.00)