Steenbokpan Trust Herein Represented by Booysen (Junior) N.O and Another v Trout Trust (Pty) Ltd Represented by Smith N.O and Others (46321/2021) [2023] ZAGPPHC 1176 (13 September 2023)

Steenbokpan Trust Herein Represented by Booysen (Junior) N.O and Another v Trout Trust (Pty) Ltd Represented by Smith N.O and Others (46321/2021) [2023] ZAGPPHC 1176 (13 September 2023)

The court found that the expert's powers and mandate were defined contractually in clause 10 of the Buy and Sell Agreement, which expressly provided that the expert was not bound to follow strict principles of law and had full discretion over procedure. The applicants agreed not to lead oral evidence and submitted...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2023] ZAGPPHC 1176
Parties
Applicant: Steenbokpan Trust herein represented by Albertus Benjamin Booysen (Junior) N.O; Applicant: Trust Mart Consulting (Pty) Ltd herein represented by Johan Luttig van Zyl N.O; Respondent: Trout Trust represented by Shaun Stanley Smith N.O; Respondent: Matthew Lee Smith N.O; Respondent: Trust Mart Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd N.O; Respondent: LTC Harms
Court
North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria
Jurisdiction
South Africa
Case Number
46321/2021
Procedural Posture
Review Application / Judgment on Application to Review and Set Aside Expert Determination
Outcome
Application dismissed with costs on an attorney and client scale.
Judges
Sardiwalla
Legal Topics
Expert Determination, Contractual Dispute Resolution, Gross Irregularity, Privity and Sanctity of Contract, Interpretation of Contracts
Commercial and Corporate Civil Procedure Expert Determination Contractual Dispute Resolution Gross Irregularity Privity and Sanctity of Contract Interpretation of Contracts

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Parties

Steenbokpan Trust herein represented by Albertus Benjamin Booysen (Junior) N.O

Applicant

Trust Mart Consulting (Pty) Ltd herein represented by Johan Luttig van Zyl N.O

Applicant

Trout Trust represented by Shaun Stanley Smith N.O

Respondent

Matthew Lee Smith N.O

Respondent

Trust Mart Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd N.O

Respondent

LTC Harms

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Review Application / Judgment on Application to Review and Set Aside Expert Determination

  1. 1 Whether the expert appointed under clause 10 of the Buy and Sell Agreement breached his mandate by excluding the factual matrix in his determination.
  2. 2 Whether the expert's determination constituted a gross irregularity justifying review and setting aside.
  3. 3 Whether the parties are contractually bound by the expert's decision under the dispute clause.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the expert's powers and mandate were defined contractually in clause 10 of the Buy and Sell Agreement, which expressly provided that the expert was not bound to follow strict principles of law and had full discretion over procedure. The applicants agreed not to lead oral evidence and submitted that the agreement itself should be used to determine the dispute. The expert considered the evidence presented, including contextual material, and explained his reasoning. The court held that there was no gross irregularity or breach of mandate, as the expert acted within his contractual powers and provided reasons for his decision. The applicants failed to identify specific...

Court Disposition

Application dismissed with costs on an attorney and client scale.

Orders

  • The application is dismissed.
  • Costs are awarded against the applicants on an attorney and client scale.