Bisrat & Ors v Kebede & Ors

Bisrat & Ors v Kebede & Ors

Claimants, as longstanding members and contributors, have sufficient interest to bring charity proceedings and seek interlocutory relief. The court, unable to determine trustee validity at this stage, is empowered to regulate use of trust property to ensure equitable access for both factions pending trial.

Source-derived case information.

Parties
Claimant: Reverend Berhanu Bisrat; Claimant: Deacon Dereje Debella; Claimant: Deacon Mahader Kassa; Claimant: Deacon Engedawork Gebreeziaber; Claimant: General Hailu Berwak Mirga; Claimant: Mrs Aregash Gebre Kidan; Claimant: Mr Girma Haile-Mariam; Claimant: Mr Shumet Mengistie; Claimant: Mr Meku Getachew; Defendant: Archimandrite Aba Girma Kebede; Defendant: Reverend Abate Gobena; Defendant: Mrs Bethlehem Tadesse; Defendant: Reverend Dawit Abebe Worku; Defendant: Mr Abener Amenshowa; Defendant: Mr Dawit Habtemariam; Defendant: Mr Nigussie Asress; Defendant: Archdeacon Dawit Woldetsadik; Defendant: Mr Fasiel Bekle; Defendant: Mr Henok Gebremichael; Defendant: Mr Ashelew Kebede; Defendant: Ms Tigist Tadesse; Defendant: Mr Taye Hailu Zeleke; Defendant: Her Majesty’s Attorney General; Defendant: Persons Unknown
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
13 February 2015
Procedural Posture
Charity Proceedings / Interlocutory Application
Outcome
Interlocutory injunction granted; permission to appeal refused.
Legal Topics
Locus Standi, Interim Injunction, Administration of Charitable Trusts, Church Governance, Acquiescence, Beneficiary Definition
Charity Law Trusts Civil Procedure Locus Standi Interim Injunction Administration of Charitable Trusts Church Governance Acquiescence +1 more

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Parties

Reverend Berhanu Bisrat

Claimant

Deacon Dereje Debella

Claimant

Deacon Mahader Kassa

Claimant

Deacon Engedawork Gebreeziaber

Claimant

General Hailu Berwak Mirga

Claimant

Mrs Aregash Gebre Kidan

Claimant

Mr Girma Haile-Mariam

Claimant

Mr Shumet Mengistie

Claimant

Mr Meku Getachew

Claimant

Archimandrite Aba Girma Kebede

Defendant

Reverend Abate Gobena

Defendant

Mrs Bethlehem Tadesse

Defendant

Reverend Dawit Abebe Worku

Defendant

Mr Abener Amenshowa

Defendant

Mr Dawit Habtemariam

Defendant

Mr Nigussie Asress

Defendant

Archdeacon Dawit Woldetsadik

Defendant

Mr Fasiel Bekle

Defendant

Mr Henok Gebremichael

Defendant

Mr Ashelew Kebede

Defendant

Ms Tigist Tadesse

Defendant

Mr Taye Hailu Zeleke

Defendant

Her Majesty’s Attorney General

Defendant

Persons Unknown

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Charity Proceedings / Interlocutory Application

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether claimants have locus standi as persons interested in the charity
  2. 2 Whether the court can grant interlocutory relief regulating use of church premises
  3. 3 Who are the validly appointed trustees of the charity

Ratio Decidendi

Claimants, as longstanding members and contributors, have sufficient interest to bring charity proceedings and seek interlocutory relief. The court, unable to determine trustee validity at this stage, is empowered to regulate use of trust property to ensure equitable access for both factions pending trial.

Court Disposition

Interlocutory injunction granted; permission to appeal refused.

Orders

  • Proceedings against defendants five, six, twelve, and thirteen stayed due to neutrality.
  • Directions for alternate use of church premises by claimants and defendants on specified days.