[2024] KEELRC 2417 (KLR)
The Employment and Labour Relations Court found that the applicant, Mucheru Law LLP Advocates, was not employed to prosecute or defend any matter before it, but rather before the Chief Magistrate’s Court. Section 52 of the Advocates Act requires that taxation of costs be sought in the court where the advocate was...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2024] KEELRC 2417 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Mucheru Law LLP Advocates; Respondent: Cementers Limited
- Court
- Employment and Labour Relations Court
- Court Station
- Employment and Labour Relations Court at Nairobi
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Miscellaneous Application E290 of 2023
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Reinstatement After Dismissal for Non Attendance
- Outcome
- application declined; file closed
- Judges
- J Rika
- Legal Topics
- Reinstatement of Application, Taxation of Costs, Jurisdiction of Court, Advocate Client Disputes
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Mucheru Law LLP Advocates
Applicant
Cementers Limited
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Reinstatement After Dismissal for Non Attendance
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the Miscellaneous Application dismissed for non-attendance should be reinstated.
- 2 Whether the Employment and Labour Relations Court has jurisdiction to tax the Advocate's Bill of Costs arising from proceedings in the Chief Magistrate's Court.
Ratio Decidendi
The Employment and Labour Relations Court found that the applicant, Mucheru Law LLP Advocates, was not employed to prosecute or defend any matter before it, but rather before the Chief Magistrate’s Court. Section 52 of the Advocates Act requires that taxation of costs be sought in the court where the advocate was engaged. Since the applicant had no engagement before the E&LRC, there was no basis for filing the Bill of Costs or seeking taxation orders from this court. Consequently, the application for reinstatement of the dismissed Miscellaneous Application was declined, and the file ordered closed.
Court Disposition
application declined; file closed
Orders
- The application filed by the Advocate dated 15th February 2024 is declined.
- This file is closed.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
29 paragraphs
Mucheru Law LLP Advocates v Cementers Limited (Miscellaneous Application E290 of 2023) [2024] KEELRC 2417 (KLR) (4 October 2024) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2024] KEELRC 2417 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the Employment and Labour Relations Court at Nairobi
Miscellaneous Application E290 of 2023
J Rika, J
October 4, 2024
Between
Mucheru Law LLP Advocates
Advocate
and
Cementers Limited
Client
Ruling
1. The Miscellaneous Application herein, was dismissed by the Court on 8th February 2024.
2. Dismissal was on account of non-attendance by the Parties.
3. It was confirmed by the Court Assistant, Emmanuel Kiprono, that the Advocate, Mucheru LLP, scheduled the Application for hearing.
4. Subsequently, the Advocate made an Application for reinstatement of the Miscellaneous Application, dated 15th February 2024.
5. The Application is founded on the Affidavit of Advocate Scort Sala, sworn on 15th February 2024.
6. She explains that the Advocate did not receive any notice from the Court, for hearing of the Application. The Advocate sought taxation of his costs, arising from Milimani Chief Magistrate’s Court C.M.C.C No. 6363 of 2013. He is desirous of prosecuting the Application, and the Respondent will not be prejudiced in any way.
7. Parties agreed to have the Application considered on the strength of their Submissions, which they confirmed to have filed and exchanged at the last mention, on 30th July 2024.
The Court Finds: - 8. The Court confirmed from the Court Assistant, that the date for hearing, on 8th February 2024, was scheduled by the Advocate.
9. There was no attendance by either Party.
10. The Bill of Costs sought to be taxed, related to a Claim filed, prosecuted and defended at the Chief Magistrate’s Court.
11. An order for taxation of costs, should be pursued at the Court in which an Advocate has been employed to prosecute or defend a matter, under Section 52 of the Advocates Act, Cap 16 the Laws of Kenya.
12. The Advocate was not employed, and did not prosecute or defend any matter, at the E&LRC.
13. There was no reason to file his Bill of Costs, and seek an order of taxation, from the E&LRC.
14. There is no basis for reinstatement of the Miscellaneous Application.It is ordered: -a.The Application filed by the Advocate dated 15th February 2024 is declined.b.This file is closed.
DATED, SIGNED AND RELEASED TO THE PARTIES ELECTRONICALLY, AT NAIROBI, UNDER PRACTICE DIRECTION 6[2] OF THE ELECTRONIC CASE MANAGEMENT PRACTICE DIRECTIONS, 2020, THIS 4TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2024. James RikaJudge