BK GENERAL INSURANCE Plc v HAKIZIMANA
A spouse operating a motorcycle registered in the other spouse's name under a community property regime is entitled to be treated as an owner for purposes of insurance compensation, and legal fees awarded within the statutory range are not excessive.
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- RCA 00063/2021/HC/RWG
- Parties
- Appellant: BK General Insurance Plc; Respondent: Hakizimana Theoneste
- Court
- High Court
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Judgment Date
- 7 July 2022
- Case Number
- RCA 00063/2021/HC/RWG
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Appeal / High Court Appellate Judgment
- Outcome
- Appeal dismissed; lower court decision largely upheld with minor modification to legal fees.
- Legal Topics
- Motor Vehicle Accident Compensation, Community Property Regime, Assessment of Damages, Legal Fees
- Source Language
- rw
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
BK General Insurance Plc
Appellant
Hakizimana Theoneste
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / High Court Appellate Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether a spouse operating a motorcycle registered in the other spouse's name under a community property regime is entitled to compensation as owner-driver for insurance purposes
- 2 Whether the awarded legal fees constitute excessive remuneration
Ratio Decidendi
A spouse operating a motorcycle registered in the other spouse's name under a community property regime is entitled to be treated as an owner for purposes of insurance compensation, and legal fees awarded within the statutory range are not excessive.
Court Disposition
Appeal dismissed; lower court decision largely upheld with minor modification to legal fees.
Orders
- BK General Insurance Plc to pay Hakizimana Theoneste 400,000 Frw for advocate fees and costs at this level, in addition to all damages previously awarded totaling 12,857,000 Frw.
- BK General Insurance Plc's appeal deposit of 40,000 Frw is deemed to correspond to procedural costs.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
13 paragraphs
# BK GENERAL INSURANCE Plc v HAKIZIMANA
- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2022-07-07 - Case/document no.: RCA 00063/2021/HC/RWG - Collection: High Court
## Text
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BK GENERAL INSURANCE Plc v HAKIZIMANA [Rwanda URUKIKO RUKURU URUGEREKO RWA RWAMAGANA – RCA 00063/2021/HC/RWG ( Nyirabagande, P.J.) 07 Nyakanga 2022] Itegeko rigenga imicungire y’umutungo w’abashyingiranywe – Ivanga mutungo risesuye – indishyi – indishyi zikomoka ku bubabare bw'umubiri buturutse ku mpanuka zitewe n’ibinyabiziga – Mu kubara indishyi zikomoka ku bubabare bw'umubiri buturutse ku mpanuka zitewe n’ibinyabiziga, ku muntu ukora akazi ko gutwara abagenzi kuri moto yanditse kuwo bashakanye basezeranye ivangamutungo risesuye, hashingirwa ku nyandiko y’ikigo cy’Igihugu cy’imisoro n’amahoro igaragaza uburyo umumotari utwara moto ye abarirwa indishyi kuko nawe afatwa nkaho ari iye Incamake y’ikibazo: Uru rubanza rwatangiye Hakizimana arega Bk General Insurance mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyagatare asaba indishyi zikomoka ku mpanuka yakoze atwaye moto, ikamusigira ubumuga bwa 72%, Urukiko mu rubanza RC00060/2020/TGI/NNYG rwamugeneye indishyi zitandukanye hashingiwe ku mushahara wa 200,000frw ku kwezi nkuko byagaragajwe mu nyandiko yatanzwe n’ikigo cy’Igihugu cy’imisoro n’amahoro (RRA), ivuga ku musoro utangwa n’umu motari ku mwaka. Bk General Insurance yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru urugereko rwa Rwamagana ivuga ko ayo mafaranga atari yo yari gushingirwaho kuri Hakizimana kubera ko moto atwara atari iye, kuko yanditse ku mazina y’umugore we, ikomeza ivuga ko kuba moto yanditse ku mazina y’umugore we, Hakizimana ahubwo ari umushoferi kandi amafaranga ashingirwaho na RRA gusa iyo umumotari atwara moto ye. Uhagarariye Hakizimana avuga ko kuba moto yanditse mu mazina y’umugore we ariko bakaba barashakanye mu buryo bwemewe n’amategeko, mu micungire y’ivangamutungo risesuye, iyo moto ayitwara nka nyirayo. Urukiko rwemeje mu rubanza RCA 00063/2021/HC/RWG ko n’ubwo moto yanditse ku mazina y’umugore wa Hakizimana , ariko kuba barashyingiwe mu buryo bukurikije amategeko, umutungo ucungwa mu buryo bw’ivangamutungo rusange, iyo moto ibarirwa mu mutungo wabo, akaba atayitwara nk’umukozi ahubwo ayitwara nka nyirayo, kuko ari umutungo wabo bombi. Bityo rwemeza ko uburyo indishyi zagenwe byubahirije amategeko kuko hashingiwe ku nyandiko yatanzwe na RRA igaragaza uburyo umumotari utwara moto ye abarirwa indishyi zikomoka ku mpanuka y’ibinyabiziga mu muhanda. Incamake y’icyemezo: 1. Mu kubara indishyi zikomoka ku bubabare bw'umubiri buturutse ku mpanuka zitewe n’ibinyabiziga, ku muntu ukora akazi ko gutwara abagenzi kuri moto yanditse kuwo bashakanye basezeranye ivangamutungo risesuye, hashingirwa ku nyandiko y’ikigo cy’Igihugu cy’imisoro n’amahoro igaragaza uburyo umumotari utwara moto ye abarirwa indishyi kuko nawe afatwa nkaho ari iye. Bityo abarirwa ku mushahra w’ibihumbi Magana abiri (200,000 Frw) ku kwezi.
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2. Igihembo cya Avoka cy’ibihumbi Magana inani (800,000Frw), ntabwo ari umurengera mu manza z’ubwishingizi. Kuba Itegeko rigena ibihembo mbonera byaba Avoka riteganya ko ashobora guhembwa kuva kuri 500,000Frw kugeza kuri 3,000,000Frw nta kosa Urukiko ruba rukoze rumuegeneye 800,000Frw cyane cyane mu manza z’ubwishingizi kuko hari akandi kazi kanyuranye aba yakoze. Ubujurire nta shingiro bufite. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko No 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, Ingingo ya 12 Itegeko No 27/2016 ryo ku wa 08/07/2016 rigenga imicungire y’umutungo w’abashyingiranywe, impano n’izungura, ingingo ya 6 Amabwiriza N° 01/2014 agena ibihembo mbonera by’abavoka, Ingingo ya 34 Nta manza zifashishijwe. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Uru rubanza ruri ku rwego rw’ubujurire, hanengwa icyemezo cyafashwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyagatare rwemeje ko ikirego cya Hakizimana Theoneste gifite ishingiro, rutegeka BK General Insurance guha Hakizimana Theoneste 12.057019Frw y’indishyi z’ibangamirabukungu, iz’akababaro, iz’ibangamiraburanga, iz’ibangamira ry’uburambe mu kazi n’ibyo yatakaje. [2] Hakizimana Theoneste, usanzwe akora akazi ko gutwara moto yanditse ku mazina y’umugore we bashakanye mu buryo bukurikije amategeko, ubwo yari atwaye moto yagonzwe n’ikinyabiziga gifite pulake GR 260 D, arakomereka agira ubumuga buhoraho bwa 72%. Yasabye kwishyurwa indishyi BK General Insurance [3] Mu rubanza rujuririrwa, Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyagatare rwageneye Hakizimana Theoneste indishyi z’ibangamirabukungu n’ibangamiraburambe ku kazi habariwe kuri 2.400.000 Frw amafaranga asorwa n’umumotari muri RRA (umushahara wa 200.000Frw), nk’uko yabigaragaje mu nyandiko. BK General Insurance ivuga ko ayo mafaranga atari yo yari gushingirwaho kuri Hakizimana Theoneste kubera ko moto atwara atari iye, kuko yanditse ku mazina y’umugore we. Me Shema Theo uhagarariye Hakizimana Theoneste avuga ko kuba moto yanditse mu mazina y’umugore we ariko bakaba barashakanye mu buryo bwemewe n’amategeko, mu micungire y’ivangamutungo risesuye, iyo moto ayitwara nka nyirayo. Harasuzumwa niba kuba moto Hakizimana Theoneste yanditse ku mazina y’umugore bashyingiranywe mu buryo bwemewe n’amategeko, atafatwa nk’abamotari bavugwa na RRA.
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[4] Muri urwo rubanza kandi Hakizimana Theoneste yagenewe 800.000Frw y’igihembo cya avoka, BK General Insurance Company ivuga ko hari kugenwa 500.000Frw hashingiwe ku mabwiriza ateganya igihembo mbonera cya avoka. Hakizimana Theoneste avuga ko ayo mafaranga akwiye ko nta Tegeko ritubahirijwe; ababuranyi bombi basabye indishyi kuri uru rwego. Urukiko rurasuzuma niba haragenwe amafaranga y’umurengera y’igihembo cya avoka, no kuba hagenwa izindi ndishyi. [5] Urubanza rwaburanishijwe ku wa 19/05/2022, BK General Insurance Company ihagarariwe na Me Nyangabo Félicien naho Hakizimana Theoneste ahagarariwe na Me Shema Theo. [6] Ibibazo bisuzumwa muri uru rubanza ni ibi bikurikira: Kumenya niba kuba Hakizimana Theoneste atwara moto yanditse ku mazina y’umugore we, atafatwa nk’abamotari bavugwa na RRA. Kumenya niba haragenwe amafaranga y’umurengera y’igihembo cya avoka, no kuba hagenwa izindi ndishyi. II. IBIBAZO BIRI MU RUBANZA N’ISESENGURWA RYABYO A.Kumenya niba kuba Hakizimana Theoneste atwara moto yanditse ku mazina y’umugore we, atafatwa nk’abamotari bavugwa na RRA. [7] Ingingo ya 12 y’Itegeko No 22/2018 ryo ku wa 29/04/2018 ryerekeye imiburanishirize y’imanza z’imbonezamubano, iz’ubucuruzi, iz’umurimo n’iz’ubutegetsi, iteganya ko urega agomba kugaragaza ibimenyetso by’ibyo aregera. iyo abibuze, uwarezwe aratsinda. ingingo ya 6 y’Itegeko No 27/2016 ryo ku wa 08/07/2016 rigenga imicungire y’umutungo w’abashyingiranywe, impano n’izungura, iteganya ko abahisemo ivangamutungo rusange bacungira hamwe umutungo wabo, kandi bakagira ububasha bungana bwo kuwukurikirana no kuwuhagararira. Umutungo wose wanditse kuri umwe mu bashyingiranywe ubarirwa mu mutungo w’abashyingiranywe mu buryo bw’ivangamutungo rusange. Ibisobanuwe muri izi ngingo byumvikanisha ko umutungo w’abashyingiranywe bacunga umutungo wabo mu buryo bwivangamutungo rusange, bawucungira hamwe kandi uwanditswe kuri umwe ukaba ari uwa bombi. [8] Ibisobanuwe muri izo ngingo byumvikanisha ko mu kugena indishyi z’ibangamirabukungu ku muntu wagize impanuka ikamusigira ubumuga buhoraho, ahabwa amafaranga atahana; kandi agomba kwerekana inyandiko mpamo igaragaza umwuga akora. [9] Mu rubanza rujuririrwa, Hakizimana Theoneste watwaraga moto ariko yanditse ku mazina y’umugore we yagenewe indishyi z’ibangamirabukungu n’ibangamiraburambe ku kazi habariwe kuri 2.400.000 Frw amafaranga asorerwa n’umumotari muri RRA (umushahara wa 200.000 Frw), nk’uko yabigaragaje mu nyandiko. [10] BK General Insurance ivuga ko Hakizimana Theoneste atari kugenerwa indishyi hashingiwe ku mafaranga yinjizwa n’umumotari kubera ko moto atwara atari iye, kuko yanditse ku mazina y’umugore we, akaba ahubwo ari umushoferi kandi amafaranga ashingirwaho na RRA ashingirwaho iyo umumotari atwara moto ye. Me Shema Theo uhagarariye Hakizimana Theoneste
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avuga ko kuba moto yanditse mu mazina y’umugore we, bashakanye mu buryo bwemewe n’amategeko, mu micungire y’ivangamutungo risesuye, moto ayitwara nka nyirayo, nk’iy’umuryango. [11] Nk’uko biboneka muri iyi dosiye, Hakizimana Theoneste wakomerekejwe n’impanuka, ikamusigira ubumuga buhoraho buri ku kigero cya 70% yari umumotari nk’uko bigaragazwa n’icyemezo cy’umunyamuryango wa “FERWACOTAMO”; iyo moto yanditse mu mazina ya Ugirinshuti Delphine, hari icyemezo cy’uko bashyingiranywe mu buryo bukurikije amategeko. Urukiko rusanga n’ubwo moto yanditse ku mazina y’umugore wa Hakizimana Theoneste, ariko kuba barashyingiwe mu buryo bukurikije amategeko, umutungo ucungwa mu buryo bw’ivangamutungo rusange, iyo moto ibarirwa mu mutungo wabo, akaba atayitwara nk’umukozi ahubwo ayitwara nka nyirayo, kuko ari umutungo wabo bombi. [12] Urukiko rukaba rusanga rero uburyo indishyi zagenwe byubahirije amategeko kuko hashingiwe ku nyandiko yatanzwe na RRA igaragaza uburyo umumotari utwara moto ye abarirwa indishyi zikomoka ku mpanuka y’ibinyabiziga mu muhanda nk’uko byasobanuwe mu rubanza rujuririrwa; hakaba kandi hagaragajwe ko kuba Hakizimana Theoneste atwara moto yanditse ku mugore bashyingiranywe mu buryo bukurikije amategeko, afatwa nka nyirayo kuko ari umutungo bahuriyeho, nk’uko byasobanuwe haruguru mu ngingo z’amategeko. B.Kumenya niba haragenwe amafaranga y’umurengera y’igihembo cya avoka. [13] Ingingo ya 34 y’amabwiriza N° 01/2014 agena ibihembo mbonera by’abavoka iteganya ko mu bindi bihembo bitavuzwe ateganya ko bitabangamiye ibiteganywa n’ingingo zibanziriza iyi zo muri aya mabwiriza, avoka afite uburenganzira bwo kugena igihembo ashyize mu gaciro, ariko kitari munsi y’amafaranga 500.000 kandi kitarengeje amafaranga 3.000.000 hiyongereyeho, iyo bishoboka, igihembo kibarwa hakurikijwe ibyagezweho, ku ijanisha riteganyijwe mu gace ka II k’ingingo ya 23, bityo agomba guhabwa amafaranga atari munsi y’ibihumbi magana atanu 500.000Frw. [14] Mu rubanza rujuririrwa, Hakizimana Theoneste yagenewe 800.000Frw y’igihembo cya avoka, BK General Insurance Company ivuga ko hari kugenwa 500.000Frw hashingiwe ku mabwiriza ateganya igihembo mbonera cya avoka. Hakizimana Theoneste avuga ko ayo mafaranga akwiye ko nta Tegeko ritubahirijwe; ababuranyi bombi basabye indishyi kuri uru rwego [15] Urukiko rusanga hashingiwe ku byasobanuwe mu ngingo yavuzwe haruguru, n’ubwo BK General Insurance Company ivuga ko Hakizimana Theoneste yagenewe amafaranga y’umurengera ku gihembo cya avoka, ariko nta bimenyetso ibitangira kuko hagenwe amafaranga asumba gato igihembo gito giteganyijwe n’Itegeko, bikaba atari ihame ko hagenwa igihembo gito giteganyijwe n’Itegeko. Amafaranga ibihumbi magana inani si umurengera kuko Itegeko rigena hagati ya 500.000Frw na 3.000.000Frw. Igihembo cya 500.000Frw ntigikabije kuko mbere yo kugana urukiko habanje gushaka ibyangombwa binyuranye, kugana inzira y’ubwumvikane ntiyashoboka. Ku yandi mafaranga yakoreshejwe yagenewe Hakizimana Theoneste, BK General Insurance Company ntigaragaza icyo nenga kuri ayo Mafaranga yagenwe. C.Kumenya niba hari izindi ndishyi zagenwa.
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[16] Ingingo ya 111 y’Itegeko No 22/2018 ryavuzwe haruguru iteganya ko ikirego cy’amafaranga y’ikurikiranarubanza ni ikirego gishamikira ku kirego cy’iremezo kigamije kwishyuza ibyakoreshejwe mu rubanza. [17] Urukiko rusanga n’ubwo ababuranyi bombi basabye indishyi, ariko nyuma y’ibimaze gusobanurwa, kuba hasobanuwe ko impamvu z’ubujurire zatanzwe na BK Insurance Company nta shingiro zahawe, Hakizimana Theoneste agomba kwishyurwa amafaranga y’igihembo cya avoka n’ikurikiranarubanza kuri uru rwego, hakaba hagenwe amafaranga abariwe hamwe ibihumbi magana ane(400.000Frw). III. ICYEMEZO CY’UIRUKIKO. [18] Rwemeje ko ikirego cy’ubujurire cyatanzwe na BK Insurance Company nta shingiro gifite; [19] Rwemeje ko urubanza RC00060/2020/TGI/NNYG rwo ku wa 06/10/2021, Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyagatare, ruhindutse gusa ku ndishyi zigenerwa Hakizimana Theoneste; [20] Rutegetse BK Insurance Company kwishyura Hakizimana Theoneste amafaranga ibihumbi magana ane (400.000Frw) y’igihembo cy’avoka n’ikurikiranarubanza, abariwe hamwe agenwe kuri uru rwego, akiyongera ku ndishyi zagenwe mu rubanza rujuririrwa zose hamwe zingana na miliyoni cumi n’ebyiri na magana inani na mirongo itanu na birindwi (12.857.000Frw) [21] Rutegetse ko amafaranga ibihumbi mirongi ine (40.000Frw) BK Insurance General yatanze Ijurira Ihwanye n’ibyakozwe;