Procedures
Civil Procedure Rules 2002 with active case management
The Civil Procedure Rules 2002 replaced the old Judicature rules and brought in case management conferences, standard disclosure and an overriding objective of dealing with cases justly. Claims start by claim form in the Supreme Court or, for lower-value matters, in a Parish Court. Appeals run to the Court of Appeal and then, with leave, to the Privy Council.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — Parish Courts, Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, then the Privy Council
- Deadline — Acknowledgment of service: 14 days from service of the claim form
- Deadline — Defence: 42 days from service of the claim form
- Deadline — Appeal to the Court of Appeal: 42 days from the order appealed
- Deadline — Contract and tort limitation: six years
Governing law
- Civil Procedure Rules 2002
- Judicature (Supreme Court) Act
- Limitation of Actions Act
- Arbitration Act 2017
In practice
Because the 2002 Rules made case management active rather than party-led, the practical risk shifted to sanctions for missing directions, and relief from sanctions requires a prompt application with a good explanation. The Arbitration Act 2017 adopted the UNCITRAL Model Law, which made Jamaica a materially more attractive seat and limited the grounds on which an award can be challenged.