[2023] KEHC 18689 (KLR)

[2023] KEHC 18689 (KLR)

The court found that the appeal was filed out of time, contrary to Section 79G of the Civil Procedure Act, and without leave of court, rendering it a nullity ab initio. Even if the appeal had been properly before the court, the evidence at trial established that the driver of the appellants' vehicle was solely...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2023] KEHC 18689 (KLR)
Parties
Appellant: Paleah Stores Limited; Appellant: Mapping Trading Company; Respondent: James Mutavi Musyoka (Personal Representative of the Estate of the Late Harrison Musyoka Muli)
Court
High Court
Court Station
High Court at Kerugoya
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Civil Appeal 4 of 2020
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Judgment
Outcome
Appeal struck out as a nullity for being filed out of time without leave; costs to the respondent.
Judges
FROO Olel
Legal Topics
Fatal Accidents, Negligence, Quantum of Damages, Liability Apportionment, Appeal Timelines
Source Language
en
Tort Law Civil Procedure Fatal Accidents Negligence Quantum of Damages Liability Apportionment Appeal Timelines

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Parties

Paleah Stores Limited

Appellant

Mapping Trading Company

Appellant

James Mutavi Musyoka (Personal Representative of the Estate of the Late Harrison Musyoka Muli)

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the appeal was filed within the statutory time limit under Section 79G of the Civil Procedure Act.
  2. 2 Whether the trial court erred in finding the appellants 100% liable for the accident.
  3. 3 Whether the damages awarded by the trial court were excessive and should be reduced.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the appeal was filed out of time, contrary to Section 79G of the Civil Procedure Act, and without leave of court, rendering it a nullity ab initio. Even if the appeal had been properly before the court, the evidence at trial established that the driver of the appellants' vehicle was solely responsible for the accident, and the appellants failed to adduce any evidence to rebut the respondent's case. The trial court's finding on liability was therefore upheld. On quantum, the court found that the trial magistrate erred in using the gross salary instead of the net salary for calculating loss of dependency and in awarding unproven special damages. The court would have...

Court Disposition

Appeal struck out as a nullity for being filed out of time without leave; costs to the respondent.

Orders

  • The appeal is struck out as a nullity for being filed out of time without leave of court.
  • Costs assessed at Kshs 150,000 to the respondent.