[2022] KEELRC 357 (KLR)
The court found that the applicant's counsel's failure to attend court on the date fixed for the notice to show cause was due to a genuine mistake in diarizing the date, and not a deliberate or intentional act. The court held that such a mistake should not be visited upon the litigant. The application to set aside...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2022] KEELRC 357 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Priscillah Amwoso Nyikuli; Respondent: Floral Heritage Limited and Another
- Court
- Employment and Labour Relations Court
- Court Station
- Employment and Labour Relations Court at Nairobi
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Cause 1388 of 2016
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application to Set Aside Dismissal and Reinstate Suit
- Outcome
- Application allowed; suit reinstated.
- Judges
- K Ocharo
- Legal Topics
- Reinstatement of Suit, Dismissal for Want of Prosecution, Mistake of Counsel, Setting Aside Orders
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Priscillah Amwoso Nyikuli
Applicant
Floral Heritage Limited and Another
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application to Set Aside Dismissal and Reinstate Suit
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the dismissal of the suit for want of prosecution should be set aside.
- 2 Whether the suit should be reinstated for hearing on the merits.
- 3 Whether the mistake of counsel in failing to attend court should be visited upon the litigant.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant's counsel's failure to attend court on the date fixed for the notice to show cause was due to a genuine mistake in diarizing the date, and not a deliberate or intentional act. The court held that such a mistake should not be visited upon the litigant. The application to set aside the dismissal was brought without undue delay, and the respondent did not oppose the application. In the interests of justice and considering the age of the matter, the court set aside the proceedings of 29th September 2021 and reinstated the claimant's suit for hearing on the merits, to be heard on a priority basis.
Court Disposition
Application allowed; suit reinstated.
Orders
- The proceedings of 29th September 2021 are set aside.
- The claimant's suit is reinstated for hearing on merit.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
31 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR RELATIONS COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI
CAUSE NO. 1388 OF 2016
(Before Hon. Mr. Ocharo Kebira on 28thMarch 2022)
PRISCILLAH AMWOSO NYIKULI .............. CLAIMANT
FLORAL HERITAGE LIMITED
AND ANOTHER .......................................... RESPONDENT
RULING
1. Through an Application dated 20th January 2022, the Claimant/Applicant seeks for the following orders:
a) The orders of this Honourable Court made on the 29th September 2021, dismissing this suit for want of prosecution be set aside, reviewed and/or varied.
b) The suit herein filed at or the 15th July 2016 and grounded on 27th August 2019 be reinstated.
c) The Honourable Court be at liberty to make and/or issue such orders as it may deem fit and fair to grant.
2. The application is premised on the grounds obtaining on the face of the Application, and those obtaining in the Affidavit sworn on 20th January 2022 by Priscillah Amwoso Nyikuli, the Claimant.
3. The Claimant/Applicant contended that the Respondent despite being served with summons to enter appearance, has to date neither entered appearance nor filed a memorandum of response.
4. It was further asserted that on the 10th March 2021, keen to have the matter heard, the Claimant’s Counsel wrote a letter to Court through the Deputy Registrar seeking for a date for pre-trial directions.
5. That the Deputy Registrar did not act on the letter.
6. The Applicant stated that later her Counsel was served with a notice to show cause why the matter should not be dismissed for want of prosecution. The show cause was slated for the 24th August 2021. Consequently, the Claimant’s/Applicant’s Counsel filed a replying affidavit sworn on the 30th August 2021, demonstrating that the matter was not one fit for dismissal for want of prosecution.
7. That the matter came up for showing cause on the 29th September 2021, Counsel did not attend Court because she had mis-diarized the matter as coming up for 29th October 2021 for the show cause.
8. That the Advocate’s failure to attend Court on the 29th September 2021 was neither intentional nor deliberate. Counsel’s mistake should not be visited on a litigant.
Determination
9. The Application is not opposed by the Respondent. Given that, it has not filed any response to the Application, coupled with the fact that; the application has been brought without undue delay, the Court is convinced that the counsel’s failure to attend court was not deliberate and that counsel’s mistake which is not deliberate should not be visited upon a litigant, I am persuaded to allow the Respondent’s/Applicant’s Application herein in the following manner;
a) That the proceedings herein of 29th September 2021 are set aside.
b) The Claimant’s suit herein is reinstated for hearing on merit.
c) Owing to the age of this matter, the same shall be set down for hearing on a priority basis.
DATED, SIGNEDAND DELIVERED VIRTUALLY ATNAIROBI THIS 28THDAY OF MARCH, 2022.
__________________________
OCHARO KEBIRA
JUDGE
Delivered in presence of:
Ms. Mideva for the Claimant / Applicant.
No appearance for Respondent.