Kuwait Court of Cassation principle number 1639

Extinction of proceedings upon the lapse of three years from the last valid procedural act therein. That period is an extinctive limitation period for the proceedings themselves. This time limit is subject to suspension and interruption. Suspension occurs where a material or legal impediment prevents the taking of steps to reactivate the proceedings and continue their course. - The same act giving rise to both criminal and civil liability, and the bringing of a liability action before the civil court. Its import. The institution of criminal proceedings, whether before the civil action is brought or during its course, requires a stay of the civil action until the criminal action is finally determined. This concerns public policy, and the litigants are therefore precluded from taking any step to bring the civil proceedings before the court again before this legal impediment ceases. The period during which the criminal action remained pending until its extinction by a final judgment therein or by any other ground of extinction is not counted within the period for extinction of proceedings, and from that date the time limit for extinction of proceedings in the civil action is calculated.