[2023] KEHC 22559 (KLR)
The court found that there was no pending reference challenging the certificate of taxation and no issue of retainer had been raised by the respondent. The respondent's claim regarding consolidation with another matter did not affect the statutory procedure for adopting a certificate of taxation as a judgment....
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2023] KEHC 22559 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Bruce Odeny & Company Advocates; Respondent: William Roman Mc Tough
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kisumu
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Miscellaneous Civil Application E167 of 2021
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application to Adopt Certificate of Taxation as Judgment
- Outcome
- application allowed
- Judges
- RE Aburili
- Legal Topics
- Advocate Client Costs, Taxation of Costs, Certificate of Taxation, Judgment Entry
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
More case intelligence is available
Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.
Parties
Bruce Odeny & Company Advocates
Applicant
William Roman Mc Tough
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application to Adopt Certificate of Taxation as Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the certificate of taxation should be adopted as the judgment of the court and decree issued.
- 2 Whether there is any pending reference or issue of retainer that would bar adoption of the certificate of taxation.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that there was no pending reference challenging the certificate of taxation and no issue of retainer had been raised by the respondent. The respondent's claim regarding consolidation with another matter did not affect the statutory procedure for adopting a certificate of taxation as a judgment. Accordingly, the court held that the applicant was entitled to have the certificate of costs adopted as the judgment of the court and a decree issued for the taxed sum, together with interest at court rates from the date of taxation until payment in full.
Court Disposition
application allowed
Orders
- The Certificate of Costs dated March 14, 2022 is adopted as judgment of the court.
- Judgment entered for the applicant against the respondent in the taxed sum of Kshs 79,583.10 with interest at court rates from date of taxation until payment in full.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
23 paragraphs
Bruce Odeny & Company Advocates v Mc Tough (Miscellaneous Civil Application E167 of 2021) [2023] KEHC 22559 (KLR) (21 September 2023) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2023] KEHC 22559 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the High Court at Kisumu
Miscellaneous Civil Application E167 of 2021
RE Aburili, J
September 21, 2023
Between
Bruce Odeny & Company Advocates
Applicant
and
William Roman Mc Tough
Respondent
Ruling
1. The Certificate of Taxation of Advocate/Client Bill of Costs was issued on March 14, 2022. A Reference was filed challenging the taxation and vide a Ruling rendered on February 13, 2023 in a sister file to this file in a series of similar matters between the same parties, being HC Misc 168 of 2021 which ruling applied to this matter, the same was dismissed.
2. The Applicant advocate has now filed an application under Section 51(2) of the Advocates Act for adoption of the certificate of costs as the judgment of this court and decree to issue. The application is dated February 16, 2023.
3. Albeit the Respondent’s counsel claims that there is an application for consolidation with this matter and Miscellaneous Civil No 168 of 2021, no such application would affect the procedure applicable for recovery of advocate/client taxed costs.
4. Once a decree is drawn in this matter, then the parties can apply to consolidate the various decrees for settlement by whatever mode that they may agree on.
5. I have perused the Replying Affidavit sworn by the Respondent on April 12, 2023. Clearly, there is no Reference pending determination or any issue of retainer raised.
6. I find no merit or ground upon which I can decline to grant the application to adopt the certificate of taxation as judgment of this court and decree to issue.
7. Accordingly, I allow the application dated February 16, 2023 as follows:-1. The Certificate of Costs dated March 14, 2022 is hereby adopted as judgment of this court. I enter Judgment for the Applicant against the Respondent in the taxed sum of Kshs 79,583. 10 together with interest at court rates from date of taxation until payment in full.2. Each party to bear their own costs of the application dated February 16, 2023. 3.This Ruling and order shall apply with necessary modifications to HC Misc Civil No 168 of 2021 as to the amount due on the certificate of taxation.4. Decree to issue in both files forthwith.5. Mention before Deputy Registrar on October 25, 2023 to confirm settlement of the decrees.
8. I so order.
DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT KISUMU THIS 21ST DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2023R. E. ABURILIJUDGE