[2006] KEHC 2039 (KLR)
The court found that, despite the plaintiff's counsel's dereliction of duty and lack of apology, the interests of justice required the court to look beyond counsel's mistakes. Citing the principle that blunders should not automatically deprive a party of a hearing on the merits, the court exercised its discretion...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2006] KEHC 2039 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Ben Panphill Sifuna; Defendant: Harambee Savings and Credit Society Limited
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Commercial Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Suit 418 of 2003
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Suit / Ruling on Application to Set Aside Dismissal
- Outcome
- Application to set aside dismissal allowed; suit reinstated; costs of application awarded to defendant.
- Judges
- MM Kasango
- Legal Topics
- Setting Aside Dismissal, Adjournment, Court Discretion
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Ben Panphill Sifuna
Plaintiff
Harambee Savings and Credit Society Limited
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Civil Suit / Ruling on Application to Set Aside Dismissal
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the court should set aside the dismissal of the plaintiff's suit for non-attendance.
- 2 Whether the conduct of the plaintiff's counsel should bar the plaintiff from having the suit heard on its merits.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that, despite the plaintiff's counsel's dereliction of duty and lack of apology, the interests of justice required the court to look beyond counsel's mistakes. Citing the principle that blunders should not automatically deprive a party of a hearing on the merits, the court exercised its discretion under Order IXB Rule 8 to set aside the dismissal. The court acknowledged the defendant's opposition and the inconvenience caused but determined that the plaintiff should not be penalized solely for counsel's conduct. However, the court awarded the costs of the application to the defendant.
Court Disposition
Application to set aside dismissal allowed; suit reinstated; costs of application awarded to defendant.
Orders
- The order of the court made on 10th February 2005 dismissing the plaintiff’s suit is set aside.
- The costs of the application dated 16th February 2005 are awarded to the defendant.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
25 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT NAIROBI (MILIMANI COMMERCIAL COURTS)
Civil Suit 418 of 2003
BEN PANPHILL SIFUNA………………….....................................................……..…………..PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
HARAMBEE SAVINGS AND CREDIT SOCIETY LIMITED……………….……………DEFENDANT
R U L I N G
This suit was fixed for hearing, by consent of both counsel, hearing being on 10th February 2005.
When this case came up for hearing plaintiff’s counsels brief was held by Mr Adere who had limited instruction to apply for adjournment. The application for adjournment was declined and the court set the suit for hearing at the end of its list for that day.
When this matter was called out again at 10. 00 a.m. the plaintiff and his counsel were absent and the court dismissed the suit.
The plaintiff has now moved the court by his chamber summons application dated 16th February 2005, seeking to set aside the said dismissal. The same is under Order IXB Rule 8.
Ms Rebecca Chege advocate has in the supporting affidavit sworn to untruth, something that the court would not expect for one who is an officer of the court. She stated that she did not address the court because she was informed by the court that she was unsuitably attired. She further stated that when the matter was allocated hearing at the end of the list she went out of court to call the plaintiff who, on her instructions had left the court, and also to call another counsel from her firm to conduct the matter. That the matter was dismissed during her said absence.
The said affidavit of Ms Rebecca Chege advocate did not contain a ‘tinge’ of an apology to the court for what was tantamount to dereliction of duty.
Despite the aforesaid behaviour and even though the defendant has opposed the plaintiff’s application the court is of the view that in considering the application it ought to look beyond the behaviour of the plaintiff counsel in the interest of justice. In that regard the court has in mind the words of Apoloo J.A., in the case CHEMOLO & ANOTHER – V – KUBENDE CIVIL APP. NO. 103 OF 1984, that:
“Blunders will continue to be made form time to time and it does not follow that because a mistake has been made that a party should suffer the penalty of not having his case determined on its merits.”
I will therefore look beyond the sins and omissions of the plaintiff’s counsel and exercise the undoubted wide discretion afforded by Order 1 X B Rule 8 of the Civil Procedure Rules, in favour of the plaintiff. The defendant counsel was of the view that the plaintiff counsel’s behaviour on the day of trial was intent on obstructing the trial. I am of the view that notwithstanding that, the court can set aside the dismissal of the suit, but the costs of the application will be awarded to the defendant who through no fault of his own has been involved in this application.
The orders of this court are:
(1)That the order of the court made on 10th February 2005 dismissing the plaintiff’s suit is set aside.
(2) The costs of the application dated 16th February 2005 are awarded to the defendant.
MARY KASANGO
JUDGE
Dated and delivered this 22nd June 2006.
MARY KASANGO
JUDGE