[2016] KEHC 3632 (KLR)
The court found that the plaintiff, not being a party to the lower court proceedings, would not be directly prejudiced by the determination of that suit. Any liability against the plaintiff would only arise if a declaratory suit is filed after judgment in the lower court. Therefore, staying the lower court...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2016] KEHC 3632 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Pacis Insurance Company Limited; Defendant: Mohamed F. Hussein
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Mombasa
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Case 92 of 2015
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Case / Ruling on Interlocutory Application for Stay of Proceedings
- Outcome
- Application for stay of proceedings dismissed.
- Legal Topics
- Stay of Proceedings, Declaratory Suits, Joinder of Parties
- 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
Pacis Insurance Company Limited
Plaintiff
Mohamed F. Hussein
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Civil Case / Ruling on Interlocutory Application for Stay of Proceedings
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the plaintiff is entitled to a stay of proceedings in Kwale Civil Suit No. 42 of 2015 pending determination of the declaratory suit.
- 2 Whether the plaintiff will suffer prejudice if the lower court suit proceeds before the current suit is heard.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the plaintiff, not being a party to the lower court proceedings, would not be directly prejudiced by the determination of that suit. Any liability against the plaintiff would only arise if a declaratory suit is filed after judgment in the lower court. Therefore, staying the lower court proceedings would not serve the overriding objective of timely and proportionate resolution of disputes. The application for stay was thus dismissed as it would compromise, rather than promote, the efficient administration of justice.
Court Disposition
Application for stay of proceedings dismissed.
Orders
- Prayer 5 of the application is dismissed.
- Plaintiff to fix the suit for hearing within 45 days, failing which the suit shall stand dismissed for want of prosecution.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
30 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT MOMBASA
CIVIL CASE NO. 92 OF 2015
PACIS INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED............PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
MOHAMED F. HUSSEIN.....................................DEFENDANT
RULING
1. Before the court for determination is the plaintiff's application dated 10. 7.2015 and expressed to be brought under sections 1A and 2A(/) of the Civil Procedure Ac and seeks orders that:
(a) That this application be certified as urgent and dispensed with in the first instance.
(b) That this court be pleased to allow service of this application, summons plaint and other court documents to the Defendant herein by way of registered post through its last known address or through P.O.Box 28832-00100 NAIROBI advertisement in a daily newspaper of wide circulation.
(c) That this court be pleased to grant leave for the Plaintiff herein to serve the Plaintiff's advocate in Kwale Civil Suit No. 42 of 2015 (Mgandi Charo Chombo vs Mohamed Hussein) with this application, summons, plaint and other court documents.
(d) That this court be pleased to order stay of proceedings in Kwale Civil Suit No. 42 of 2015 (Mgandi Charo Chombo vs Mohamed Hussein) and all related suits arising from an alleged accident which occurred on 2nd January 2014 along Kombani Kwale road pending interpartes hearing of this application.
(e) That this court be pleased to order stay of proceedings in Kwale Civil Suit No. 42 of 2015 (Mgandi Charo Chombo vs Mohamed Hussein) and all related suits arising from an alleged accident which occurred on 2nd January 2014 along Kombani Kwale road pending hearing and determination of the declaratory suit filed against the Respondent.
(f) That the costs of this application be provided for.
2. When the matter was placed before the Judge (Kasango J) on the 23. 7.2015 the court granted prayers 1,2,3, & 4 exparte and fixed the application for hearing interpartes on the 17. 9.2015. It is evident therefore that only prayer 5 is outstanding and due for determination by the court.
3. The application is founded on the overriding objective of the court. It therefore follows that the orders I grant herein must be in tanden with those objectives:-being the facilitation of just, expeditious, proportionate and affordable resolution of civil disputes.
4. To ground the application, the plaintiff/applicant has expressed his fear that the suit in the lower court; KWALE CIVIL SUIT NO.42 OF 2015 may be heard and determined before this matter is heard and dispensed of and thereby prejudice the plaintiff interests as the insurer.
5. There is in the record of this file a copy of the plaint in the lower court and its shows that the plaintiff herein has not been joined in these proceedings. Consequently it goes without saying that any judgment that may result in that case will never be against the plaintiff directly and if one was to seek to hold that plaintiff before me liable for the decree from the lowers court, such person would have to file a declaratory suit which suit would have the life of its own and will have to be heard in the usual manner.
6. This court takes the view that it is only after the conclusion of the Kwale case that will determine whether or not the defendant (as the plaintiff in the Kwale suit) is liable and therefore I is only after such a judgment that any liability may attach upon the plaintiff.
7. Consequently, I am not convinced that the hearing and determination of that suit prior to this suit will visit any prejudice upon the plaintiff. To me its conclusion and delivery of judgment against the defendant herein will be the essence of urgency the plaintiff seeks to demonstrate herein. It is yet to arise.
8. Consequently therefore I find that the overriding objective of the court towards timely and proportionate determination of suits will be compromised rather than promoted by an order that Kwale suit be stayed. I decline to grant the application and dismiss it as far as prayer 5 is concerned.
9. I have noted that the plaintiff has sought and had endorsed a default interlocutory judgment in this matter. I doubt the propriety of that judgment but direct that the plaintiff proceeds to the registry and takes a date for hearing the suit forthwith.
10. Should the plaintiff fail to approach the registry for purposes of fixing the suit for hearing in the next 45 days, the suit shall stand dismissed for want of prosecution.
Dated, signed and delivered at Mombasa this 15th day of July 2016.
In the presence of:-
No appearance for the Applicant/plaintiff.
No appearance for the Defendant/Respondent.
P.J.O.OTIENO
JUDGE