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Tanzania Judgment

TZHC

19940516 TZHC Dodoma1

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Source document

01

Holding and result

Given that both parties sustained injuries in a fight, and the respondent had already served a prison sentence, an award of shs 50,450/= would be excessive, but shs 10,000/= is inadequate considering the appellant lost a finger. A fair and adequate compensation is shs 30,000/=.

Court disposition

appeal partly allowed

Orders

  • Respondent to pay appellant shs 30,000/= as compensation.
  • Each party to bear her own costs in this and the court below.

02

Material facts

Parties

Marlahu Mpinga

Appellant

Angelina L. Kilanga

Respondent

Amounts and remedies

  • Compensation Awarded by Primary Court: TZS 50,450
  • Compensation Awarded by District Court: TZS 10,000
  • Compensation Awarded by High Court: TZS 30,000

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Civil Appeal / Judgment on Second Appeal

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
The appellant argued that the sum of shs 10,000/= awarded by the District Court was too small and sought restoration of the Primary Court's judgment awarding shs 50,450/= as compensation for her injuries.
Respondent
The respondent contended that both parties sustained injuries during the fight, and the appellant had already received compensation in the criminal matter; the District Court's reduction was justified.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    District Court reasoning and appellate review

    Compensation for personal injuries must be fair and adequate, reflecting the extent of harm suffered and any prior punishment or compensation.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

Given that both parties sustained injuries in a fight, and the respondent had already served a prison sentence, an award of shs 50,450/= would be excessive, but shs 10,000/= is inadequate considering the appellant lost a finger. A fair and adequate compensation is shs 30,000/=.

Obiter and limits

  • Each party to bear her own costs in this and the court below.

Court disposition

appeal partly allowed

  • Respondent to pay appellant shs 30,000/= as compensation.
  • Each party to bear her own costs in this and the court below.

Source and reliance status

TZHC · 16 May 1994

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Judgment reading view

Judgment text

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Source document

TZHC

Judgment· 16 May 1994

19940516 TZHC Dodoma1

IN Tm:: UIGH COURT OF '1.1.lillZ.ANIA (PC) CIVIL iJ?Ffil NO. 88 OF 1993 FROM :.I11-lh -1E:CLHON OF 'I'HE 1JISTRICT COURT f.T :arnmor OF IITOT'.IBOI· IN CIVIL 1'\.PPEAL NO. 25/92. ORIGINAL CIVIL CASE / NO~ 1/92 OP UiM10 PRIM.ARY COURT,. Mii.RI.AI1U MPING.A •••••••••••••• APPfilJLANT versus 1:.NGELINA l I.iiILNGA • • • ••••••••• RESPON1ENT 1 JU1JGMENT MSOFFE 2 J: • The appellant successfully sued the responlent before Ulemo compensation~ . . . Primary Court in a claim of shs 50,450/~ as .. ror 1nJur1es sustF1/,'•.e"'· o The responient appealed to the l)istrict Court awl her appeal was parlJy allowed in that the latter decreed that a sum of shs 10,000/= wauld be fair and adequate compensation in the matter~ Disatisfied the appellant is now appealing~ In essence 9 it is gathered from her memorandUli\ cf appeal to this Court that a sum of shs 10 1 000/= is too small. She wants I restoration of the Primary Court jui.gment that she be paid shs 50,450/= as compensation. It is clear from.the record that these parties were once involved in a fight after which the respon .:i_ ent was commicted 9 sentenced to seven months imprisonment ana. then orde:ced to pay the appellant a sum of shs 2,000/= as compensation. As a result of the fight both these parties sustained injuries i.e. The responient -iid. bite the appellant I s £inger to the extent that it had to be amputated in hospital while

on the other han1 the appellant bit one of the responient 1 s breasts to the extent that she has since been left with~ 'permanent scar on the same. It is apparent that the appellMt ,·ras di.satisfied with the 2,000/= offered as her compensation in the criminal matter ani that is why· she filed the Civil action in que~t~on praying for shs 50 1 450/= as her.compensation. \ As the learned Senior District Magi$trate who sat in appeal pointed out, it is quite evi ient that both the appellant ani the responient sustained injuries as a result of the fi©lt 0 What really differs between them is the extent of harm 9 I share the reasoning of the Senior Di.strict : 2 .• Magistrate that given the fact that this was a fight, ani that the responient had since been punished by being imprisoned for a period of seven months a sum of shs 50,450/= as the appellant 1 s compensation would be :t'clther on the high si i.e. However, it is my consi1ered view too that a sum of shs 10,000/= is aiso inadequate given the fact that as a result of the fight the appell2nt has since been left without one of her fingers for the rest of her life. In my considered opinion a sum of shs 30,000/= woulrJ. be fair Qll1 adequate compensation in the matter. Accordingly this appeal is partly allm·red to the extent that the responient shall pay the appellant only shs 30,000/= as compensation. E~ch party to bear her own

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