WILLEMSTAD - The Dutch Supreme Court (Hoge Raad) has ruled in favor of Wijnmakerij Curaçao in a protracted legal battle against Curaçao Airport Holding (CAH). On Friday, the court rejected CAH's appeal against a previous ruling by the Joint Court of Justice, upholding the decision in favor of the winery.
As a result, CAH is obligated to compensate Wijnmakerij Curaçao for all damages incurred.
The case, which began in 2017, centered on the forced cessation of Wijnmakerij Curaçao’s operations at Hato. The Joint Court had previously ruled that CAH was liable for the damages due to failing to honor agreed commitments. The winery had to halt its vineyard, wine production, tours, and bed-and-breakfast activities due to allegations of bird nuisance, which were later proven baseless.
Roelof Visscher, representing Wijnmakerij Curaçao, expressed satisfaction with the ruling. “This decision confirms that we were in the right. We look forward to recovering our losses and moving forward positively.”
The exact amount of compensation will be determined in a separate legal process.
This verdict concludes nearly seven years of legal proceedings and offers Wijnmakerij Curaçao the opportunity to turn a new page.