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\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16675573\charrsid12719324 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16675573\charrsid12719324 
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\par }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16675573\charrsid12719324 CIVIL }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12719324 JURISDICTION}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16675573\charrsid12719324 
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\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16675573\charrsid12719324 Plaintiff
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\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16675573\charrsid12719324 Defendants
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\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12719324\charrsid12719324 Counsel}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16675573\charrsid12719324 :}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12719324\charrsid12719324  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16675573\charrsid12719324 Ms P. Narayan for the Plaintiff
\par Mr Ratuvili for the Defendants
\par 
\par Hearing:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12719324\charrsid12719324  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16675573\charrsid12719324 6th August 1999
\par Decision:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12719324\charrsid12719324  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16675573\charrsid12719324 9th August 1999
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\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16675573\charrsid12719324 
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\par This is an application by the Defendants for leave to appeal the decision of the court of 15th July 1999,}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12719324  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16675573\charrsid12719324 
refusing to set aside default judgment, and for stay of the default judgment until the hearing of the appeal.
\par 
\par Section 12(2)(f) of the Court of Appeal Act provides that no appeal shall lie without the leave of the Judge or of the Court of Appeal from any interlocutory order or interlocutory judgment made or given by a Judge of the High court.
\par 
\par At the outset, I must say that the order refusing to set aside default judgment under Order 13 of the High Court Rules 1988, does not appear to be an interlocutory one.
\par 
\par Section 12(3) of the Court of Appeal Act provides that an order \'93refusing unconditional leave to defend an action shall not be deemed to be an interlocutory order within the meaning of this section\'94.
\par 
\par Furthermore the order refusing to set aside default judgment effectively disposed of the proceedings between the parties except, of course in respect of the enforcement of writ of fieri facias.
\par 
\par In the circumstances, and this was conceded by counsel for the Respondent, I hold that the appeal is not an interlocutory one, and that there is no need for the Appellants to apply for leave.
\par 
\par The remaining issue is that of stay.
\par 
\par Mr Ratuvili for the Appellants submitted that a refusal to grant a stay of the default judgment and writ of fifa would in effect render the appeal nugatory.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12719324  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16675573\charrsid12719324 Ms P. Narayan for the Respondent submitted that in the absence of a payment of the judgment debt of $31,549.18 into court, the court should refuse to grant a stay.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12719324  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16675573\charrsid12719324 She further submitted that the grounds of appeal were simply in respect of the exercise of a judicial discretion and had no merit.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12719324  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16675573\charrsid12719324 She agreed that if the Defendants are not prepared to pay the judgment debt into court, the Plaintiff will be grossly prejudiced by the}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12719324  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16675573\charrsid12719324 delay before the appeal is heard.
\par 
\par Clearly the issue at this stage is to consider whether a refusal to grant stay will frustrate the appeal.
\par 
\par As this appeal is against the refusal of the court to set aside judgment in default, a refusal of stay would mean that the Defendants would be subject to a writ of fieri facias which would lead to a seizure of their chattels.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12719324  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16675573\charrsid12719324 The Plaintiff on the other hand stand to have the judgment debt delayed in payment.
\par 
\par On a balance I am of the view that a refusal of this application would render the appeal nugatory.
\par 
\par As such despite the Defendants\rquote  inability to pay the amount in question into court, I order stay of my order of 20th July 1999, pending the outcome of the appeal.
\par 
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\par }{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16675573\charrsid12719324 JUDGE}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16675573\charrsid12719324 
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\par At Suva
\par 9th August 1999
\par }}