Department of Civil Cases

21 August, 2019

In line with recent case law of the European Court of Human Rights, the Senate points to the link between labour law and private life in labour dispute

On August 20, the Department of Civil Cases of the Supreme Court (Senate) annulled the judgment of the Riga Regional Court and referred the labour dispute regarding violation of the principle of equality for re-examination. The judgement by the Senate draws attention to recent case law findings of the European Court of Human Rights stating that employment disputes are not in themselves excluded from the scope of "private life" within the meaning of Article 8 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

11 July, 2019

The Opera and TV NET dispute over the published opinion is referred for re-examination

On 10 July, the Department of Civil Cases of the Supreme Court (Senate) annulled the judgment of the Riga Regional Court of January 24, 2017, which partially satisfied the claim and from SIA “TV NET” (TV NET) in favour of the plaintiff, VSIA “Latvian National Opera and Ballet” (LNOB), compensation of EUR 50,000 was recovered in connection with an opinion published by TV NET on renting premises for a private event of a Russian artist on July 29, 2014. The case has been referred for re-examination to the Riga Regional Court.

24 May, 2017

The Supreme Court upholds the judgment in the case regarding claim for compensation in relation to plot alienated for needs of airport “Rīga”

On 24 May, the Department of Civil Cases of the Supreme Court upheld the judgement of 16 April 2015 of the Chamber of Civil Cases of the Supreme Court which partly satisfied the claim against the Republic of Latvia in person of the Ministry of Transport with the third party SJSC “Starptautiskā lidosta Rīga”” (International Airport “Riga”) regarding recovery of compensation and default interest for the plot of land of 12.7 hectares, which was alienated from the claimant for needs of airport “Riga”. The court recovered for the claimant compensation in amount of 328,098.22 EUR, lawful interest, for the period between 1 March 1997 and 1 June 2015, in amount of 328,098.22 EUR, and court costs in amount of 6634.93 EUR, making in total 662,831.37 EUR. The judgment of the Supreme Court cannot be appealed.

31 January, 2017

The Supreme Court: LSSR Public undertaking Rīgas Kinostudija copyrights on films produced during Soviet period have ceased to exist on the basis of law

On 31 January the Department of Civil Cases of the Supreme Court in written proceedings reviewed the cassation appeal of Latvian state (in the person of the Ministry of Culture) and the Latvian Filmmakers Union and 44 film authors against the Riga Regional Court judgment of 22 April 2014 in claim of Latvian state against AS "Rīgas Kinostudija" on the recognition of copyrights on 973 films produced by Latvian SSR Public undertaking "Rīgas Kinostudija" that were made during the period from 1964 to 4 May 1990, and in claim of the third party for recognition of copyrights for these films.