SORAS AG Ltd v MUKANDORI N’ABANDI

SORAS AG Ltd v MUKANDORI N’ABANDI

The Court of Appeal held that the High Court did not exceed the scope of the appeal, as both parties had raised the calculation of lost earnings as an issue. The proper basis for calculating lost earnings is the standard daily income of 6,444 Frw for a motorcycle taxi operator, as established by Supreme Court...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
RS/INJUST/RC 00012/2022/CA
Parties
Appellant: SORAS AG Ltd (now SANLAM AG Plc); Respondent: Mukandori N’Abandi (Kayiranga Gad, Mukandori Madeleine, Mugisha Immaculée)
Court
Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction
Rwanda
Judgment Date
23 February 2024
Case Number
RS/INJUST/RC 00012/2022/CA
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Court of Appeal Judgment After Remand for Injustice
Outcome
Partially allowed; damages recalculated; restitution ordered; no costs or attorney fees awarded.
Legal Topics
Compensation for Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident, Calculation of Lost Earnings, Scope of Appellate Review, Restitution of Overpaid Damages, Costs and Attorney Fees
Civil Procedure Insurance Law Tort Law Compensation for Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident Calculation of Lost Earnings Scope of Appellate Review Restitution of Overpaid Damages Costs and Attorney Fees

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Parties

SORAS AG Ltd (now SANLAM AG Plc)

Appellant

Mukandori N’Abandi (Kayiranga Gad, Mukandori Madeleine, Mugisha Immaculée)

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Court of Appeal Judgment After Remand for Injustice

  1. 1 Whether the High Court exceeded the scope of the appeal in awarding damages based on a higher daily income than proven
  2. 2 How to properly calculate lost earnings for a deceased motorcycle taxi operator
  3. 3 Whether parties must return overpaid damages after a retrial for injustice

Ratio Decidendi

The Court of Appeal held that the High Court did not exceed the scope of the appeal, as both parties had raised the calculation of lost earnings as an issue. The proper basis for calculating lost earnings is the standard daily income of 6,444 Frw for a motorcycle taxi operator, as established by Supreme Court precedent, absent specific proof of higher earnings. Since the respondent had already received a higher amount under the prior judgment, he must return the excess to SANLAM AG Plc to prevent unjust enrichment. No party is entitled to costs or attorney fees in this retrial for injustice, as both sides partially succeeded.

Court Disposition

Partially allowed; damages recalculated; restitution ordered; no costs or attorney fees awarded.

Orders

  • Kayiranga Gad is awarded 12,117,377 Frw as compensation for lost earnings.
  • Kayiranga Gad must return 5,515,215 Frw to SANLAM AG Plc, representing the excess previously paid.