By Paul Smith, Spencer Vickers

The thought of settling in the Cayman Islands almost always evokes images of white sand beaches, calm blue seas and maybe even a cold piña colada. Although settling litigation in the Cayman Islands may get you one step closer to retirement in the Caribbean, two recent judgments of the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands highlight that a settlement which occurs after a trial will not necessarily mark the end of the matter.

Both judgments make clear that after a trial has concluded the judge has discretion to issue judgment, notwithstanding that the parties in the dispute may have reached settlement before the judgment is published.