[2021] KEHC 992 (KLR)
The court found that the applicant was retained by the respondent and rendered legal services, after which the respondent failed to settle the fee note and did not contest the bill of costs or the certificate of costs. The respondent was duly served with all relevant documents and notices but failed to respond or...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2021] KEHC 992 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Okong’o Wandago & Company Advocates; Respondent: County Government of Migori
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Migori
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Miscellaneous Civil Application 11 of 2020
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Judgment
- Outcome
- application allowed
- Judges
- RPV Wendoh
- Legal Topics
- Advocate Client Costs, Taxation of Costs, Certificate of Costs, Interest on Costs
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Okong’o Wandago & Company Advocates
Applicant
County Government of Migori
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the Certificate of Costs issued to the applicant should be converted into a judgment and decree of the court.
- 2 Whether the applicant is entitled to interest at 14% per annum on the taxed costs from the specified date.
- 3 Whether the applicant is entitled to costs of the application.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant was retained by the respondent and rendered legal services, after which the respondent failed to settle the fee note and did not contest the bill of costs or the certificate of costs. The respondent was duly served with all relevant documents and notices but failed to respond or appear. The certificate of costs issued by the taxing officer was not challenged and is therefore final as to the amount. Under Section 51(2) of the Advocates Act, the court is empowered to convert the certificate of costs into a judgment and decree where the retainer is not disputed. Additionally, Paragraph 7 of the Advocates Remuneration Order entitles the applicant to interest...
Court Disposition
application allowed
Orders
- The Certificate of Costs issued to the applicant as against the respondent dated 15/10/2020 is converted into a judgment and decree of this court; judgment is entered for the applicant against the respondent for Kshs. 593,420.30.
- Interest on the sum of Kshs. 593,420.30 accrues at the rate of 14% per annum from 16/7/2020 until payment in full.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
40 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT MIGORI
MISCELLANEOUS CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 11 OF 2020
IN THE MATTER OF THE ADVOCATES ACT & THE ADVOCATES
REMUNERATION (AMENDEMENT) ORDER, 2014
AND
IN THE MATTER OF RECOVERY OF TAXED COSTS AS BETWEEN
ADVOCATES & CLIENTS
BETWEEN
OKONG’O WANDAGO & COMPANY ADVOCATES...............APPLICANT
-VERSUS-
COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF MIGORI................................RESPONDENT
JUDGMENT
This ruling relates to the Notice of Motion Application dated 10/8/2021, brought under the provisions of Section 51 (2) of the Advocates Act, Cap 16 and Paragraphs 4 & 7 of the Advocates Remuneration (Amendment) Order, 2014.
The applicant, Okong’o Wandago & Company Advocates is seeking the following orders: -
a. The court be pleased to order that the Certificate of Costs issued to the Applicant, as against the Respondent, be converted into a judgement and decree of this court and consequently, a judgement be entered for the applicant against the Respondent, for Kshs. 593,420. 30/=.
b. Interest does accrue on the sum ofKshs.593,420. 30/=,at the rate of 14% per annum, with effect from 3/6/2019, until payment shall be made in full, as prescribed in paragraph 7 of the Advocates Remuneration Order.
c. Costs of this application be awarded to the Advocates/Applicant.
The application is based on grounds appearing on the face thereof and is supported by the Supporting Affidavit of Marvin Odero, Advocate. He deposed that the respondent retained the applicant’s law firm to act for them and to defend their interest in Migori High Court Miscellaneous Application No. 10 of 2018 - Republic -vs- County Secretary, Migori County Government and the Chief Officer, Finance, Migori County Government, ex parte Lameck Onyango Mbani t/a Nyar Kadera Enterprises;that there is no dispute on the issue of retainer and advocate - client relationship are not in dispute. Subsequently, the applicant issued and served the respondent with an itemized fee - note dated 2/4/2019 on 2/5/2019 (MO-1).
Due to the failure of the respondent to honor the fee - note, the applicant filed and served the respondent with a bill of costs dated 16/3/2020. The respondent was served with notices of taxation on three different occasions resting with the notice of taxation dated 30/7/2020 but the respondents did not respond.
The bill was heard on 4/8/2020 and by a ruling delivered on 15/10/2020 the bill was taxed and certified at Kshs. 593,420. 30/=.
On 25/8/2021, the respondent appointed Matiko Mang’era the County Attorney to act on its behalf in this matter. The respondent was served with mention notices for directions on hearing this application but it failed to attend court.
Section 51 (2) of the Advocates Act reads:-
The certificate of the taxing officer by whom any bill has been taxed shall, unless it is set aside or altered by the Court, be final as to the amount of the costs covered thereby, and the Court may make such order in relation thereto as it thinks fit, including, in a case where the retainer is not disputed, an order that judgment be entered for the sum certified to be due with costs.
Paragraph 7 of the Advocates (Remuneration) Order provides: -
An advocate may charge interest at 14 per cent per annum on his disbursements and costs, whether by scale or otherwise, from the expiration of one month from the delivery of his bill to the client, provided that such claim for interest is raised before the amount of the bill shall have been paid or tendered in full.
Therefore, the applicant is entitled to interest on the taxed amount at the rate of 14% per annum from 16/7/2020 being 30 days from the date of service of the bill of costs.
I have considered the application, its supporting affidavit and the annexures thereto. It is evident that the respondent was served with a fee note which it failed to settle. Further, it was served with the bill of costs and several taxation notices which it failed to defend. There is also a Certificate of Costs dated 15/10/2020 of Kshs. 593,420. 30/= which has not been challenged by the respondent even after the County Attorney entered appearance on its behalf. The proceedings were unopposed.
As provided for under Paragraph 7 of the Advocates Remuneration Order, I find that interest rates of 14 % per annum is payable from 16/7/2020 being 30 days from the date which the Bill of Costs was served upon and received by the respondent.
I find that the application has merit and make the following orders:-
a. The Certificate of Costs issued to the applicant, as against the respondent dated 15/10/2020 is hereby converted into a judgement and decree of this court and consequently, a judgement is entered for the applicant against the respondent, for Kshs. 593,420. 30/=.
b. Interest on the sum of Kshs. 593,420. 30/=, do accrue at the rate of 14% per annum, with effect from 16/7/2020, until payment shall be made in full.
c. Costs awarded to the applicant.
DATED, DELIVERED AND SIGNEDAT MIGORI THIS 17THDAY OF DECEMBER, 2021.
R. WENDOH
JUDGE
Judgment delivered in the presence of
Mr. Odero Advocate for the Applicant.
No appearance for the Respondent.
Nyauke Court Assistant.