[2015] KEELRC 1540 (KLR)
The court found that Virginia Wangui Mathenge, having obtained a limited grant of letters of administration ad litem, had the requisite legal capacity to be joined as a respondent for the purpose of concluding the proceedings and satisfying the judgment debt. The law firm, despite the death of its sole proprietor,...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2015] KEELRC 1540 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Lucy Nyandia Mwangi; Respondent: Mathenge & Muchemi Advocates; Respondent: Virginia Wangui Mathenge
- Court
- Employment and Labour Relations Court
- Court Station
- Employment and Labour Relations Court at Nairobi
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Cause 811 of 2012
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Joinder of Party
- Outcome
- application for joinder allowed
- Legal Topics
- Joinder of Parties, Administration of Estates, Terminal Benefits, Exparte Judgment
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Lucy Nyandia Mwangi
Applicant
Mathenge & Muchemi Advocates
Respondent
Virginia Wangui Mathenge
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Joinder of Party
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether Virginia Wangui Mathenge should be joined as a respondent in her capacity as administrator of the deceased proprietor's estate.
- 2 Whether the proceedings and judgment against the law firm were valid despite the death of the sole proprietor.
- 3 Whether the applicant was justified in proceeding ex parte.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that Virginia Wangui Mathenge, having obtained a limited grant of letters of administration ad litem, had the requisite legal capacity to be joined as a respondent for the purpose of concluding the proceedings and satisfying the judgment debt. The law firm, despite the death of its sole proprietor, continued to participate in the proceedings by entering appearance and filing a defence. The applicant was justified in proceeding ex parte when the respondent failed to attend the hearing. The joinder of the administrator was necessary to enable execution against the estate of the deceased proprietor, and the application for joinder was therefore allowed.
Court Disposition
application for joinder allowed
Orders
- Virginia Wangui Mathenge is joined as the 2nd respondent in her capacity as administrator of the estate of the late G.K. Mathenge.
- Costs in the cause.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
34 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR RELATIONS
COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI
CAUSE NO. 811 OF 2012
LUCY NYANDIA MWANGI ………....................……………….……. CLAIMANT
VERSUS
MATHENGE & MUCHEMI ADVOCATES......1ST RESPONDENT/DEFENDANT
VIRGINIA WANGUI MATHENGE …................. 2ND INTENDED RESPONDENT
Mr. Kimathi for Claimant / Applicant
Mr. Omariba for the Respondent
CORRECTED RULING
1. The Applicant filed a Notice of Motion dated 19th March 2014 seeking to enjoin one Virginia Wangui Mathenge as the 2nd Intended Respondent by virtue of being the Court appointed Administrator of the estate of the late G. K. Mathenge in Succession Cause No. 1158 of 2012 at the Family Division of the High Court Nairobi.
2. The Applicant was issued with orders by this Court on 26th July 2013 to attach the judgment Debtors Bank Account.
However by this time the said account had only Kshs.44,671. 00 out of the decretal sum of Kshs.160,000. 00 awarded by the Court, leaving unpaid balance of Kshs.115,329. 00. 00 payable to the Applicant.
3. The Respondent firm was a sole proprietorship by the deceased husband of the Intended 2nd Respondent Virginia Wangui Mathenge.
4. The Intended 2nd respondent obtained the limited Grant of letters of Administration ad litem on 26th April 2013 whereas the suit was filed on 10th May 2012 way before the limited Grant of letters of Administration was issued.
5. The Petition for the Administration of the estate is pending before High Court Family Division being Succession Cause No. 1158 of 2012.
6. The firm of Advocates had entered appearance in this matter on 6th June 2012 and filed a statement of defence on the same date.
7. The case proceeded exparte in default of attendance of the Respondent and judgment was delivered on 9th May 2013.
8. The sole proprietor of the Respondent died on 21st March 2011, a matter which was in the personal knowledge of the Claimant, Lydia Nyandia Mwangi.
9. As a matter of fact, it was as a result of the death of Advocate G.K. Mathenge, that the employment contract of the Claimant was terminated via letter dated 15th April 2011.
The judgment is in respect of terminal benefits due to the Claimant.
10. Determination
From the aforegoing it is common cause that notwithstanding the demise of Advocate, G. K. Mathenge, the law firm filed a notice of appearance and statement of defence to the claim on 6th June 2012. 11. The firm only failed to attend the hearing of the suit. The firm therefore continued to operate notwithstanding the demise of Advocate G. K. Mathenge.
12. The default in attending the hearing cannot be attributed to the death of Advocate G. K. Mathenge since the firm had continued to operate normally.
13. In the circumstances, the Claimantcannot be faulted for proceeding with the hearing exparte.
14. It is common cause that the Intended 2nd Respondent was under Succession Cause No. 1158 of 2012 issued limited Grant of letters of Administration.
15. The Intended Respondent has the legal capacity though limited to handle the estate of the late G. K. Mathenge, Advocate, who we have come to learn was the sole proprietor of the Respondent law firm.
16. The Application for joinder is well merited, as the Intended 2nd Respondent is a necessary party to these proceedings.
The Application for joinder is therefore allowed to enable conclusion of the pending proceedings in this matter.
Costs in the cause.
Dated and Delivered at Nairobi this 13th day of February, 2015.
MATHEWS N. NDUMA
PRINCIPAL JUDGE