[2021] KEHC 6720 (KLR)
The appeal was dismissed because the appellants failed to file their submissions as directed by the court, which constituted the mode of prosecuting the appeal. Without the appellants' submissions, there was no material before the court to support the grounds of appeal or challenge the trial court's findings. The...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2021] KEHC 6720 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Ndete Muli; Appellant: Albert Phillip Katiti; Respondent: Hogla Mkando Omari; Respondent: John Kilelu
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Machakos
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Appeal 49 of 2018
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Appeal / Judgment
- Outcome
- appeal dismissed with costs to the respondent
- Judges
- GV Odunga
- Legal Topics
- Road Traffic Accidents, Damages Assessment, Loss of Dependency, Appeal Dismissal
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Ndete Muli
Appellant
Albert Phillip Katiti
Appellant
Hogla Mkando Omari
Respondent
John Kilelu
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the appeal could succeed in the absence of the appellant's submissions.
- 2 Whether the trial court's assessment of damages was proper.
Ratio Decidendi
The appeal was dismissed because the appellants failed to file their submissions as directed by the court, which constituted the mode of prosecuting the appeal. Without the appellants' submissions, there was no material before the court to support the grounds of appeal or challenge the trial court's findings. The court therefore found no basis to interfere with the trial magistrate's assessment of damages or the apportionment of liability, and upheld the lower court's judgment in its entirety.
Court Disposition
appeal dismissed with costs to the respondent
Orders
- The appeal is dismissed with costs to the respondent.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
35 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT MACHAKOS
(APPELLATE SIDE)
(Coram: Odunga, J)
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 49 OF 2018
NDETI MULI.....................................................1ST APPELLANT
ALBERT PHILLIP KATITI............................2ND APPELLANT
VERSUS
HOGLA MKANDO OMARI .........................1ST RESPONDENT
JOHN KILELU...............................................2ND RESPONDENT
(Being Appeals from Judgement of the Hon. Magistrate at Machakos Law Courts by Hon. Kibiru dated 18/4/2018
from Machakos Chief Magistrates Court Civil Case Nos. 199 of 2013)
BETWEEN
HOGLA MKANDO OMARI and JOHN KILELU
(Suing as administrators of the Estates of Moses
Maganga Mulonza (Deceased).....................................................PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
NDETI MULI….............................................................1ST DEFENDANT
ALBERT PHILLIP KATITI.........................................2ND DEFENDANT
KETER KIPROTICH...................................................3RD DEFENDANT
JUDGEMENT
1. The subject of this appeal is Machakos CMCC No. 199 of 2013, a suit instituted by the Respondents herein against the Appellants for damages arising from a road traffic accident which occurred on 18th August, 2010 in which the deceased sustained fatal injuries.
2. On 16th January, 2018, a consent judgement was entered in the said matter in which liability was entered for the Respondents against the Appellant at the ratio of 80:20 and the parties agreed that the plaintiff’s claim supporting documents be admitted as evidence without calling the makers and that the parties proceed to file written submissions on quantum of damages.
3. On 18th April, 2018, the Learned Trial Magistrate awarded Kshs 10,000/- as general damages for pain and suffering, Kshs 80,000/- for loss of expectation of life and Kshs 2,400,000/- as damages for loss of dependency. In arriving at the latter sum the court took into account the fact that the deceased was aged 25 years old and was mitumba businessman. Though it was pleaded that the deceased was earning approximately Kshs 30,000. 00 per month, the Learned Trial Magistrate applied a multiplier of 30 years and a multiplicand of Kshs 10,000. 00 per month. He also awarded Kshs 40,750/- as special damages.
4. This appeal is related to High Court Civil Appeals Nos. 50 and 51 of 2018 which appeals arise from the same cause of action. On 25th January, 2021, this Court directed the parties to file and exchange their submissions on the appeal. That order was made in HCCA No. 51 of 2018 but it was directed that the said order would apply to this case. The matter was then listed for further orders on 24th February, 2021. On that day, the parties were directed to furnish the soft copies of their filed documents to court.
5. As at the time of writing this judgement, only the Respondent’s submissions were on record in all the three appeals. The Appellant only filed the Submissions in HCCA No. 50 of 2018. Similarly, only the Respondent furnished the Court with the soft copies.
6. As the appellant failed to file the submissions which was the mode of prosecuting the appeal, there is no material on the basis of which this appeal can succeed.
7. In the premises, this appeal fails and is dismissed with costs to the Respondent.
8. It is so ordered.
READ, SIGNED AND DELIVERED VIRTUALLY AT MACHAKOS THIS 31ST DAY OF MAY, 2021
G V ODUNGA
JUDGE
Delivered in the presence of:
Ms Odembo for the Respondent
CA Geoffrey