When Are Relevant Documents In The "Power" Of A Litigant And Therefore Discoverable?

Under Order 24, rule 1 of the Grand Court Rules ("GCR"), a party is required to give discovery of "documents which are or have been in his possession, custody or power".

Given the importance of "power" to determine - and potentially significantly to expand - the scope of a party's discovery obligations, it is perhaps surprising that there has, until recently, been a dearth of Cayman Islands case law regarding this aspect of GCR O.24, r.1. Practitioners will no doubt therefore welcome the elucidation of the test for establishing "power" now provided in two separate (unreported) decisions of the Grand Court, in (1) Abdulhameed Dhia Jafar v Abraaj Holdings and others (19 July 2022; Cause Nos: FSD 150, 158 and 203 of 2020); and (2) In the Matter of Investar General Partner Limited and others (27 July 2022; Cause Nos: FSD 146, 147, 148 and 196 of 2018).