Welcome to the Turks and Caicos Islands LII
TCILII is a website of the Judiciary and publishes judgments from the Turks and Caicos Islands for free online access.
TCILII is a website of the Judiciary of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Judicial Links
Recent Judgments
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Registration is administrative; title passed on agreement and delivery, but seller’s improper disposal breached involuntary bailee duties, entitling buyer to damages.
Sale of goods – transfer of title on agreement and delivery – statutory registration administrative only; caveat emptor in private sale; involuntary bailment and duty to act reasonably; conversion/disposal entitling buyer to damages.
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11 March 2026 |
| 27 February 2026 | |
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Arrest was lawful under police/common law powers; plaintiff entitled to damages only for unlawful detention from 8 to 10 August 2022.
Criminal and civil procedure – arrest without warrant – applicability of s22(3) of Domestic Violence Act; Police Force Act and common law power to arrest for breach of the peace; false imprisonment – burden to justify continued detention; use of force – taser allegations unpleaded; costs reduction for unjustified detention delay.
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27 February 2026 |
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A wholly successful defendant is ordinarily entitled to costs; issue-based apportionment and a stay of taxation were refused.
Civil procedure – costs – general rule that costs follow the event – issue-based costs orders – when discrete issues justify apportionment – dishonest assistance claim – interdependence of elements – equitable defences – stay of taxation pending appeal.
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19 February 2026 |
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Supreme Court dismissed enforcement application: Magistrate likely had jurisdiction, but Supreme Court lacks statutory power to enforce eviction orders.
Civil procedure; jurisdiction—Magistrate's jurisdiction to grant possession orders under Registered Land Act s.157; meaning of 'value of the subject matter' as leasehold interest; periodic tenancy valuation; Supreme Court lacks statutory power to enforce Magistrate possession orders.
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16 February 2026 |
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An 18‑year‑old convicted of penetrative sexual activity with a 13‑year‑old sentenced to four years' imprisonment per count, concurrent.
Sexual Offences Act s11 – sexual activity with a child – penetrative acts; application of UK Sentencing Guidelines (s9 UK Act) in absence of local guidelines; Category 1A (penetration) – grooming, planning, abuse of trust, age disparity – uplifted sentence; mitigation (youth, good character, remorse); one‑third guilty plea discount; concurrent sentences; remand credit; mandated assessment and rehabilitative measures.
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12 February 2026 |
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Court convicted a former premier, a minister and a lawyer of bribery and concealing criminal proceeds based on compelling circumstantial evidence.
Criminal law — Bribery at common law — Public officers’ fiduciary duty — Circumstantial evidence and inferences — Proceeds of Crime — Concealment/disguise through lawyer’s client accounts and corporate vehicles — Mens rea: ‘knowledge or reasonable grounds to suspect’ (1998 Ordinance) vs ‘knows or suspects’ (2007 Act) — Amendment of indictment allowed where no injustice.
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4 February 2026 |
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Charles Vavrus v Meridian Mortgage Corporation Ltd (CL 71 of 2024) [2026] TCASC 10 (3 February 2026)
Presumption of regularity upheld; security for costs refused; plaintiff granted specific discovery of sale proceeds documents.
Registered Land — Second Charge — Presumption of regularity of land registration; Security for costs — non‑resident plaintiff; Crabtree principle — co‑extensive claim and counterclaim; Specific discovery — Order 24 r.7 — documents relating to sale proceeds.
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3 February 2026 |
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Whether the NIB Tribunal must give reasons and may consider unfair dismissal findings when denying unemployment benefit.
Administrative law — entitlement to reasons — National Insurance Appeal Tribunal — unemployment benefit Regulation 34F(1)(d) — interaction with Labour Tribunal findings on unfair dismissal — leave to appeal — ‘realistic prospect’ test for grant of leave.
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26 January 2026 |
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Costs awarded to the plaintiff; leave to appeal strike‑out granted and execution stayed pending appeal.
Civil procedure — strike‑out of defence and counterclaim — interlocutory order — leave to appeal required — test of real (not fanciful) prospect of success — costs follow the event — stay pending appeal — balance of harm/convenience.
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23 January 2026 |
Recent Legislation
| Practice Direction 1 of 2025 | 4 August 2025 | |
| Legal Notice 29 of 2022 | 5 May 2025 | |
| Legal Notice 15 of 2025 | 5 May 2025 | |
| Legal Notice 12 of 2023 | 5 May 2025 | |
| Legal Notice 16 of 2025 | 5 May 2025 | |
| Legal Notice 3 of 2025 | 7 February 2025 | |
| Legal Notice 61 of 2024 | 2 December 2024 | |
| Government Notice 51 of 2021 | 22 November 2024 | |
| Legal Notice 58 of 2024 | 22 November 2024 | |
| Practice Direction 1 of 2024 | 10 June 2024 |