{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\uc1\deff0\stshfdbch0\stshfloch0\stshfhich0\stshfbi0\deflang5129\deflangfe5129{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\f2\fmodern\fcharset0\fprq1{\*\panose 02070309020205020404}Courier New;}{\f59\froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f60\froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\f62\froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f63\froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f64\froman\fcharset177\fprq2 Times New Roman (Hebrew){\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\f65\froman\fcharset178\fprq2 Times New Roman (Arabic){\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f66\froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f67\froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Times New Roman (Vietnamese){\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\f79\fmodern\fcharset238\fprq1 Courier New CE;}{\f80\fmodern\fcharset204\fprq1 Courier New Cyr;}{\f82\fmodern\fcharset161\fprq1 Courier New Greek;}{\f83\fmodern\fcharset162\fprq1 Courier New Tur;}{\f84\fmodern\fcharset177\fprq1 Courier New (Hebrew);}
{\f85\fmodern\fcharset178\fprq1 Courier New (Arabic);}{\f86\fmodern\fcharset186\fprq1 Courier New Baltic;}{\f87\fmodern\fcharset163\fprq1 Courier New (Vietnamese);}}{\colortbl;\red0\green0\blue0;\red0\green0\blue255;\red0\green255\blue255;
\red0\green255\blue0;\red255\green0\blue255;\red255\green0\blue0;\red255\green255\blue0;\red255\green255\blue255;\red0\green0\blue128;\red0\green128\blue128;\red0\green128\blue0;\red128\green0\blue128;\red128\green0\blue0;\red128\green128\blue0;
\red128\green128\blue128;\red192\green192\blue192;}{\stylesheet{\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 \snext0 Normal;}{
\s1\qj \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f2\fs24\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 \sbasedon0 \snext0 heading 1;}{
\s2\qc \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel1\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f2\fs24\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 \sbasedon0 \snext0 heading 2;}{
\s3\qr \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel2\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f2\fs24\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 \sbasedon0 \snext0 heading 3;}{
\s4\qc \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel3\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\f2\fs24\ul\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 \sbasedon0 \snext0 heading 4;}{\*\cs10 \additive \ssemihidden Default Paragraph Font;}{\*
\ts11\tsrowd\trftsWidthB3\trpaddl108\trpaddr108\trpaddfl3\trpaddft3\trpaddfb3\trpaddfr3\trcbpat1\trcfpat1\tscellwidthfts0\tsvertalt\tsbrdrt\tsbrdrl\tsbrdrb\tsbrdrr\tsbrdrdgl\tsbrdrdgr\tsbrdrh\tsbrdrv 
\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1024\langfe1024\cgrid\langnp1024\langfenp1024 \snext11 \ssemihidden Normal Table;}}{\*\rsidtbl \rsid5379835\rsid13917232}{\*\generator Microsoft Word 10.0.6612;}{\info
{\title IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI (AT SUVA)}{\author Amelia Rasovo}{\operator blake_r}{\creatim\yr2004\mo8\dy30\hr14\min22}{\revtim\yr2004\mo8\dy31\hr14\min20}{\printim\yr2001\mo4\dy27\hr11\min39}{\version3}{\edmins1}{\nofpages3}{\nofwords1126}
{\nofchars6419}{\*\company Judicial Department}{\nofcharsws7530}{\vern16389}}\widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\noxlattoyen\expshrtn\noultrlspc\dntblnsbdb\nospaceforul\hyphcaps0\formshade\horzdoc\dghspace180\dgvspace180\dghorigin1701\dgvorigin1984\dghshow0\dgvshow0
\jexpand\viewkind4\viewscale100\pgbrdrhead\pgbrdrfoot\nolnhtadjtbl\rsidroot13917232 \fet0\sectd \linex0\endnhere\sectdefaultcl\sftnbj {\*\pnseclvl1\pnucrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl2\pnucltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang 
{\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl3\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl4\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl5\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl6\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang 
{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl7\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl8\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain 
\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5379835 \fs20\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI}{
\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835\charrsid5379835 
\par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 (AT SUVA)
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5379835 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5379835 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 CIVIL ACTION NO. HBC 395 OF 1998
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5379835 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5379835 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 Between:
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5379835 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5379835 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 NEW INDIA ASSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 Plaintiff
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5379835 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5379835 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 and
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5379835 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5379835 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 JAGAT NARAYAN
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 (trading as }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 DIAMOND EXPRESS}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 )
\par Defendant
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5379835 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
\par G. O\rquote Driscoll for the Plaintiff
\par M. Arjun for the Defendant
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5379835 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 JUDGMENT
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5379835 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
\par The Plaintiff is an insurance company which has for several years insured the Defendant and his transport business.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 The Defendant
\rquote s policies included motor vehicle, fire, homeowners and workmen\rquote s compensation.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
The annual premiums were substantial amounting, in year in dispute to almost $20,000.
\par 
\par The dispute between the parties is very simple.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 The Plaintiff\rquote s case is that it renewed the policies
 in question at the request of the Defendant but that the Defendant failed to pay the premiums.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 The Defendant\rquote 
s case is that he never requested renewal of the policies and therefore he owes the Plaintiff nothing.
\par 
\par Perhaps because of the apparent simplicity of the issue between the parties the Plaintiff\rquote s case was not prepared with the care that it merited and two policies were omitted from paragraph 1 of the Statement of Claim.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 In view of the fact that the inclusion of the policies did not result in a var
iation of the amount claimed and that the nature of the Defendant\rquote 
s defence was also unaffected I gave leave to the Plaintiff to amend the statement of Claim so as to include the two additional policies and treated the defence as though it also included a denial that instructions had 
been given by the Defendant that the policies were to be renewed.
\par 
\par The only witness was an assistant manager with the Plaintiff company, Mr. Jagdish Chandra Khatri.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
Mr. Khatri told me that he had over 20 years experience in the insurance business and that he had been dealing with the Defendant\rquote s account since 1990.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 He told me that he was thoroughly familiar with the Defendant\rquote 
s files and from the ease with which he found his way around them while giving his evidence this was clearly the case.
\par 
\par Mr. Khatri described the Defendant\rquote s account as \'93major\'94.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 He explained that as e
ach individual policy expired a renewal intimation notice was sent out to the Defendant.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
An example of such a notice was the third document in a bundle of documents, Exhibit 16.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
The practice with major accounts was to speak personally to the insured who might want to vary some aspects of the policy before renewing it.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 Once agreement to renew was given a fresh policy was issued containing a schedule giving details of the new policy. Renewal certificates for the defendant\rquote 
s various policies were produced as Exhibits 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 16.
\par 
\par Mr. Khatri explained that the Defendant had a current account with the Plaintiff covering all his policies.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
Rather than pay for each individual policy by way of lump sums the Defendant, with the agreement of the Plaintiff, paid by way of reasonably regular instalments.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 In turn the Plaintiff would send the Defendant a monthly statement.
\par 
\par After the Defendant\rquote s payments to the Plaintiff stopped two statements were prepared by the Plaintiff for the periods June 1994 to December 1996 and February 1997 to July 1997.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 Copies of these statements were produced as exhibits 13 & 14.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 Mr. Khatri explained that payments received were credited to the account rather than to individual policies but were set against policies on a \'93first in, first out\'94
 basis, in other words policies were retired by age as sums credited to the unpaid premiums were received.
\par 
\par As will be seen from the renewal certificates the various policies did not all expire on the same day but generally all fell in between the second half of 1996 and February 1997.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 As can be seen by comparing Exhibit 13 with Exhibit 
14 the number of payments received from the Defendant began to dwindle quite markedly from December 1996 and a number of dishonoured cheques were received including one drawn in July 1997 (Exhibit 15).
\par 
\par In August 1997 the Plaintiff wrote to the Defendant (Exhibit 8) pointing out that premiums in respect of seven policies were well overdue and requiring immediate payment of the sum outstanding.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 When the sum claimed was not paid demand was again made and failing payment these proceedings were commenced.
\par 
\par Mr. Khatri told me that at no time had the Plaintiff received any instructions from the Defendant not to renew the policies and that none of the renewal intimations or new policies had been returned.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }
{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
So far as the Plaintiff was aware the Defendant continued to act as though insured and it was only after payments were not made that the Defendant alleged, through his solicitors, that the Plaintiff had renewed the policies without his agreement.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
In support of his claim that the relationship of insured and insurer continued and was acknowledged to be continuing by the Defendant after the policies had been renewed Mr. Khatri produced Exhibit 17, a claim made in
 October 1996 on policy 27940 which had been issued in August 1996 and a letter dated 22 November 1996 (Exhibit 10) referring to a vehicle covered by policy 27242 which was issued in August 1996 but which is one of those policies disputed by the Defendant
 (Exhibit 5).
\par 
\par Mr. Khatri was cross examined at some length by Mr. Arjun.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
The major concession obtained was that Mr. Khatri had not himself dealt with the Defendant personally and that he relied for his assertion that the Defendant requested renewal of the
 policies on file notes made by other employees of the Plaintiff and on what he said was the Plaintiff\rquote s established practice.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 It was put to Mr. Khatri that the case really}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
involved Mr. Khatri\rquote s word on the one hand largely based on hearsay and the Defendant\rquote s word on the other.
\par 
\par In his skeleton submission Mr. Arjun again emphasised the lack of direct evidence that the Defendant had ever agreed to the renewal of these policies.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 He submitted that such evidence as had been produced was of such an unsatisfactory nature that even on the balance of probabilities the Plaintiff\rquote s case had to fail.
\par 
\par In answer Mr. O\rquote Driscoll (who also filed a helpful written submission) pointed out that Mr. Khatri\rquote s evidence was largely unchallenged.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 In particular there was nothing to contradict his assertion that the Plaintiff\rquote s practice was not to renew policies except at the request of the insured.
\par 
\par In my opinion the central weakness in the Defendant\rquote s case was his failure to testify.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
The defence as pleaded is a mere series of denials.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
But such denials do not even begin to answer the very real questions posed by the Defendants failure to instruct the Plaintiff not to renew the policies and by his failures to return either the renewal intimations or the new policies when t
hey were sent to him.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
The inferences reasonably to be drawn from the letter (Exhibit 10) and the claim (Exhibit 17) are also unchallenged.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
If indeed the Defendant intended to terminate his relationship with the Plaintiff then he would surely have had to make alternative arrangements to have his property insured elsewhere.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 But whether the Defendant in fact ever made such arrangements or not we were not told.
\par 
\par While I accept that there is no direct first hand evidence that the Defendant requested renewal of the policies there is in my view a substantial body of circumstantial evidence which suggests that in fact he did.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 The inferences to be drawn from this evidence are all the stronger because of the Defendant\rquote s failure to testify (see }{
\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 Jones v. Dunkel}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835  195}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835 9 101 CLR 298, especially 308).}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
\par 
\par There will be judgment for the Plaintiff for the sum claimed.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5379835  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 I will hear counsel both as to interest and costs.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5379835 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 M.D. Scott
\par Judge
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5379835 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13917232\charrsid5379835 
\par 1 May 2001
\par }}