Vusela Construction (Pty) Ltd v Volker and Others (13813/07) [2011] ZAWCHC 303 (29 July 2011)
- Citation
- [2011] ZAWCHC 303
- Status
- Order
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Court
- Western Cape High Court, Cape Town
- Panel
- MIA
- Case number
- 13813/07
More details
- Court
- Western Cape High Court, Cape Town
- Panel
- MIA
- Case number
- 13813/07
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The court found that the applicants had satisfied the requirements for leave to serve third party notices on the Road Accident Fund under Uniform Rule 13(3)(b), as the Fund may be liable for a portion of the damages claimed in the main action. The court further held that leave should be granted to deliver apportionment notices in terms of Section 2(4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956, to ensure that all potentially liable parties are properly notified and joined in the proceedings. The applicants were ordered to pay the costs of the application and the first respondent's wasted costs in the main action, jointly and severally.
Court disposition
Leave granted to serve third party and apportionment notices; costs awarded against applicants.
Orders
- The first applicant is granted leave in terms of Uniform Rule 13(3)(b) to serve the third party notice on the fourth respondent.
- The first applicant is granted leave in terms of Section 2(4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956 (Act No 34 of 1956) to deliver the notice in terms of section 2(2) of the Apportionment of Damages Act.
- The second applicant is granted leave in terms of Uniform Rule 13(3)(b) to serve the third party notice on the fourth respondent.
- The second applicant is granted leave in terms of Section 2(4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956 (Act No 34 of 1956) to deliver the notice in terms of section 2(2) of the Apportionment of Damages Act.
- The applicants shall pay the cost of this application and the first respondent's wasted costs in the main action jointly and severally.
02
Material facts
Parties
Vusela Construction (Pty) Ltd
ApplicantPremier of the Western Cape
ApplicantLeonard Theodor Volker
RespondentJohannes H Louw
RespondentRoad Accident Fund
Respondent03
Procedural history
Posture
Civil Application / Application for Leave to Serve Third Party Notice and Apportionment Notice
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the applicants should be granted leave to serve third party notices on the fourth respondent under Uniform Rule 13(3)(b).
- 02
Whether the applicants should be granted leave to deliver apportionment notices under Section 2(4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956.
- 03
Who should bear the costs of the application and wasted costs in the main action.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The applicants argued that they are entitled to serve third party notices on the Road Accident Fund in terms of Uniform Rule 13(3)(b) and to deliver apportionment notices under Section 2(4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956, as the Fund may be liable for a portion of the damages claimed in the main action. They submitted that procedural fairness and the interests of justice require that all potentially liable parties be joined and notified.
- Respondent
- The respondents opposed the application, contending that the applicants had not made out a proper case for the joinder of the Road Accident Fund and that the delivery of apportionment notices was premature or unnecessary. They further argued that the applicants should bear the costs of the application and any wasted costs in the main action.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Uniform Rule 13(3)(b)
A party may serve a third party notice with leave of the court under Uniform Rule 13(3)(b) where it appears that another party may be liable to contribute to or indemnify against any judgment.
- 02
Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956 (Act No 34 of 1956)
Section 2(4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956 permits a defendant to deliver a notice to any person alleged to be liable for a portion of the damages, with leave of the court.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The court found that the applicants had satisfied the requirements for leave to serve third party notices on the Road Accident Fund under Uniform Rule 13(3)(b), as the Fund may be liable for a portion of the damages claimed in the main action. The court further held that leave should be granted to deliver apportionment notices in terms of Section 2(4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956, to ensure that all potentially liable parties are properly notified and joined in the proceedings. The applicants were ordered to pay the costs of the application and the first respondent's wasted costs in the main action, jointly and severally.
Court disposition
Leave granted to serve third party and apportionment notices; costs awarded against applicants.
- The first applicant is granted leave in terms of Uniform Rule 13(3)(b) to serve the third party notice on the fourth respondent.
- The first applicant is granted leave in terms of Section 2(4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956 (Act No 34 of 1956) to deliver the notice in terms of section 2(2) of the Apportionment of Damages Act.
- The second applicant is granted leave in terms of Uniform Rule 13(3)(b) to serve the third party notice on the fourth respondent.
- The second applicant is granted leave in terms of Section 2(4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956 (Act No 34 of 1956) to deliver the notice in terms of section 2(2) of the Apportionment of Damages Act.
- The applicants shall pay the cost of this application and the first respondent's wasted costs in the main action jointly and severally.
Source and reliance status
Western Cape High Court, Cape Town
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Judgment reading view
Judgment text
The complete available source text.
Western Cape High Court, Cape Town
Order
Republic of South Africa
IN THE HIGH COURT OF
SOUTH AFRICA
(WESTERN CAPE HIGH COURT, CAPE TOWN)
Case Number: 13813/07
In the matter of:
VUSELA CONSTRUCTION (PTY) LTD ….......................................................First Applicant
and
LEONARD
THEODOR VOLKER …............................................................First Respondent
THE
PREMIER OF THE WESTERN CAPE ….......................................Second Respondent
JOHANNES
H LOUW …............................................................................Third Respondent
THE
ROAD ACCIDENT FUND …............................................................Fourth Respondent
PREMIER
OF THE WESTERN CAPE …....................................................Second Applicant
VUSELA CONSTRUCTION (PTY) LTD ….............................................Second Respondent
In re:
LEONARD
THEODOR VOLKER …............................................................................Plaintiff
And
THE
PREMIER OF THE WESTERN CAPE …........................................First Respondent
JOHANNES
H LOUW …................................................................................Third Defendant
Order MIA (AJ) Having regard to all the above the following orders are made: 1. The first applicant is granted leave in terms of Uniform Rule 13 (3)(b) to serve the third party notice on the fourth respondent.
2. The first applicant is granted leave in terms of Section 2 (4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956 (Act No 34 of 1956) to deliver the notice in terms of section 2 (2) of the Apportionment of the Damages Act.
3. The second applicant is granted leave in terms of Uniform Rule 13 (3)(b) to serve the third party notice on the fourth respondent.
4. The second applicant is granted leave in terms of Section 2 (4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act. 1956 (Act No 34 of 1956) to deliver the notice in terms of section 2 (2) of the Apportionment of the Damages Act.
5. The applicants shall pay the cost of this application and the first respondents wasted costs in the main action jointly and severally.
MIA AJ 29 July 2011
Order
MIA (AJ)
Having regard to all the above the following orders are made:
1. The first applicant is granted leave in terms of Uniform Rule 13 (3)(b) to serve the third party notice on the fourth respondent.
2. The first applicant is granted leave in terms of Section 2 (4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act, 1956 (Act No 34 of 1956) to deliver the notice in terms of section 2 (2) of the Apportionment of the Damages Act.
3. The second applicant is granted leave in terms of Uniform Rule 13 (3)(b) to serve the third party notice on the fourth respondent.
4. The second applicant is granted leave in terms of Section 2 (4)(b) of the Apportionment of Damages Act. 1956 (Act No 34 of 1956) to deliver the notice in terms of section 2 (2) of the Apportionment of the Damages Act.
5. The applicants shall pay the cost of this application and the first respondents wasted costs in the main action jointly and severally.
MIA AJ
29 July 2011
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