Gomes v Auala and Others (HC-MD-CIV-MOT-GEN 386 of 2018) [2019] NAHCMD 48 (25 January 2019)

Gomes v Auala and Others (HC-MD-CIV-MOT-GEN 386 of 2018) [2019] NAHCMD 48 (25 January 2019)

The respondents, despite being aware of a valid court order granting the applicant access to his minor child, refused to comply and instructed their legal representatives to resist enforcement. Their conduct was mala fide and directly necessitated the urgent application. The court exercised its discretion to award...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2019] NAHCMD 48
Parties
Applicant: Analdito Gomes; First Respondent: Martha Stella Nelago Auala; Second Respondent: Ida Maria Auala; Third Respondent: Josepth Auala
Court
High Court Main Division
Jurisdiction
Namibia
Case Number
HC-MD-CIV-MOT-GEN 386 of 2018
Procedural Posture
Urgent Application (motion) / Ruling on Costs After Settlement of Substantive Issues
Outcome
Costs awarded to the applicant on an attorney and client scale; respondents' prayer for costs dismissed.
Legal Topics
Costs, Access to Minor Child, Contempt of Court, Attorney and Client Costs, Urgent Applications
Source Language
en
Family Law Civil Procedure Costs Access to Minor Child Contempt of Court Attorney and Client Costs Urgent Applications

Source-derived case record

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

Analdito Gomes

Applicant

Martha Stella Nelago Auala

First Respondent

Ida Maria Auala

Second Respondent

Josepth Auala

Third Respondent

Procedural Posture

Urgent Application (motion) / Ruling on Costs After Settlement of Substantive Issues

  1. 1 Whether costs should be awarded on an attorney and client scale against the respondents
  2. 2 Whether the respondents' conduct justified a punitive costs order
  3. 3 Whether the applicant was substantially successful in the urgent application

Ratio Decidendi

The respondents, despite being aware of a valid court order granting the applicant access to his minor child, refused to comply and instructed their legal representatives to resist enforcement. Their conduct was mala fide and directly necessitated the urgent application. The court exercised its discretion to award costs on an attorney and client scale to the applicant, as a party-and-party costs order would not suffice given the respondents' disregard for the court order and the agreement between the parties.

Court Disposition

Costs awarded to the applicant on an attorney and client scale; respondents' prayer for costs dismissed.

Orders

  • Respondents' prayer for costs is dismissed.
  • Costs granted in favor of the applicant on an attorney and client scale.