On 13 May, the Department of Civil Cases of the Supreme Court satisfied plea by the “Air Baltic Corporation” JSC to postpone review of a case on recognition and enforcement of a judgement passed by foreign court.  The party to the case expressed such plea at the court hearing, because proceedings on cancellation of claim collateral are going on in Lithuania.  In Lithuania, the case was reviewed at the first instance, and not it is pending for review under appellate procedure. The airport “Riga” joined the plea. The next date of review of the case in the Supreme Court will be determined after the ruling will be passed in Lithuania.  

At the previous hearing held on 28 January, the Supreme Court satisfied plea of the airport “Riga” to postpone review of the case, allowing submitting of additional evidence related to significance of the airport “Riga” from the aspect of state security and calculation of possible losses. The court also ordered the applicant “flyLAL” to submit evidence regarding justification of amount of claim collateral.   

On 31 December 2008, the Court of Appeal of Lithuania upheld the decision of Vilnius regional court to arrest property of the Riga airport and “Air Baltic Corporation” JCS worth of almost 200 million Lithuanian litas (40 765 320 Latvian lats), requested by “flyLAL”, who blamed “Air Baltic Corporation” JSC for unfair competition.

The Supreme Court of the Republic of Latvia had previously addressed the Court of Justice of the European Union for reference for preliminary ruling regarding how the EU Regulation on recognition of court rulings of other Member State should be construed. Having received preliminary judgement of the European Court of Justice, which provided answers to questions of the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court had reason to resume proceedings in the case.

Information prepared by Baiba Kataja, the Press secretary of the Supreme Court
Telephone: 67020396; e-mail: baiba.kataja@at.gov.lv