The Pauline Action is a legal mechanism that allows creditors to apply to the Royal Court of Jersey to set aside transactions undertaken by a debtor to defraud or otherwise prejudice them.
Emirates NBD Bank PJSC v Almakhawi and Others [2024] JRC 256 is the most recent case from the Royal Court to affirm that the Pauline Action, which has its origins in Roman law, remains an effective debt recovery tool for creditors in Jersey.
Purpose of the Pauline Action
One difficulty encountered by creditors and trustees in bankruptcy is the use of one or more aliases by a bankrupt. Whether it is an innocent use of a nickname or an attempt to conceal one's identity, the use of an alias can often create problems for creditors seeking to pursue debts and for trustees seeking to recover assets held by a bankrupt.
How does it happen?
Introduction
Immoveable property
Application for recognition
Consultation with viscount
Letter of request
Issuing representation
Alternative orders
Timescale
Introduction
In the current COVID-19 environment it is likely that there will be more businesses becoming insolvent. Some of those businesses will have an interest in Jersey property. For example as owners of Jersey property or holders of a lease of retail premises situated in the Island. The business may also have locally employed employees to consider.
As concerns about illegal phoenix activity continue to mount, it is worth remembering that the Corporations Act gives liquidators and provisional liquidators a powerful remedy to search and seize property or books of the company if it appears to the Court that the conduct of the liquidation is being prevented or delayed.
When a person is declared a bankrupt, certain liberties are taken away from that person. One restriction includes a prohibition against travelling overseas unless the approval has been given by the bankrupt's trustee in bankruptcy. This issue was recently considered by the Federal Court in Moltoni v Macks as Trustee of the Bankrupt Estate of Moltoni (No 2) [2020] FCA 792, which involved the Federal Court's review of the trustee's initial refusal of an application by a bankrupt, Mr Moltoni, to travel to and reside in the United Kingdom.
