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\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par AT SUVA
\par CIVIL}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266  }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 JURISDICTION}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1449266 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 WINDING UP ACTION NO.HBE 0115J OF 2001S
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1449266 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1449266 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 IN THE MATTER OF SHELL FIJI LTD.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1449266 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1449266 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 And
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1449266 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1449266 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES
\par ACT 1983 (Cap. 247).
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1449266 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
\par Counsel for the Plaintiff:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266\charrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 Mr Deo Raj, In Person
\par Counsel for the Defendant:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266\charrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 Q. B. Bale & Associates
\par 
\par Date of Judgment:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266\charrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 26/07/02
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1449266 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 JUDGMENT}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1449266 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
\par This is a Petition by one Mr Deo Raj f/n Dwarka Prasad of Nasinu, businessman for the Winding Up of Shell Fiji Limited (\'93the Company\'94).}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 The Petitioner contends that the Company owes him the sum of two hundred and eighty two thousand three hundred and ninet
y six dollars and seventy eight cents ($282,396.78) for cartage fees, refunds of deposits on 240 empty oil drums, plus interests.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
The said debt had been incurred for the period between July 1993 to April 1994 whilst the Petitioner was plying his trade in Vanua Levu and specifically, Labasa and its surrounds Savusavu and Buca Bay and Taveuni.
\par 
\par The Winding-up Petition together with the Affidavit of Compliance as required under Rule 25 of the Companies (Winding Up) Rules 1987, were duly served on the Company\rquote s head office on 13 December 2001, and Affidavit of Service filed.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 There is some dispute by the Company as to whether the Service of Notice of Demand under section 221 of the Companies Act (\'93the Act\'94
) had been properly complied with, although the Petitioner asserted in his Affidavit of 7th May 2002 that he had personally served a copy of the Demand Notice on the Company\rquote 
s Walu Bay office by leaving a copy of the same with the Receptionist on 22 October 2001.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 In all other respects, insofar as the requirements
 under Rule 24(2) and Rule 23(a) of the Companies (Winding Up) Rules are concerned, the Petitioner has complied.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
\par 
\par The Company in opposing the Petitioner, is disputing the alleged debt.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 In its Affidavit in Reply, its}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 Finance Manager states that the Company does not owe any money claimed by the Petitioner.
\par 
\par The Petitioner submits that his distribution agreement of the Company\rquote s products entered into between the parties on 12 November 1993 was on a cash basis only.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 This was either through a commission basis for delivery of the Company\rquote s products to customers or rebates for purchase of fuels, lubricants and greases.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 According to the terms of the Agreement, the Petitioner was to be granted a \'9321 days credit account\'94
 for all his purchases provided he presented to the Company a Bank guarantee \'93of $50,000.00 to cover your monthly purchases from Shell.\'94}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 Also the Company was to take over first mortgage over Crown Lease 10488.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
The Petitioner claimed that the agreement}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 went ahead notwithstanding the fact that he failed 
to provide to the Company the Bank guarantee required.
\par 
\par In his submission to the Court, the Petitioner stated that the arrangement started getting into problems very early due to billing mistakes made by the Company.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 In 1993 the Company invoiced him with an amount of $7,442.56 which belonged to another of the Company\rquote s clients.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 Inspite of his protestations, the Company did not concede to the mistaken billing, and the Petitioner later successfully recovered the amount through a Magistrates\rquote  Court action.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 The
 Petitioner further claimed, that over a period of time, he had been paying deposits to the Company for the return of empty drums which was agreed that he should be paid at the rate of $50 each plus $1 VAT.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266 
 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 These payments of 240 drums remain outstanding to this day and forms the bulk of the claim of the Company\rquote s indebtedness.
\par 
\par There were numerous other mistakes made by the Company which the Petitioner claims, the Company failed to acknowledge and/or rectified, that he had no alternative but to terminate the agreement prematurely.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266 
 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 This was done on 28 April 1994 after the Company had failed consistently to respond to his many requests for the records of his 1993/94 accounts.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 To the present he still continues to request the Company for the details of his accou
nt and as recent as 14 March 1998 the Petitioner alleges, the Company had written to the Petitioner advising that it will provide him with all the records of his cartage payments.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 This was never done.
\par 
\par In summary, the Petitioner\rquote s claim of $282,396.78 against the Company consists of :
\par 
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$98,028.50 being the balance of the amount, owed for cartage fees or charges between July 1993 and April 1994;
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1449266 {\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
\par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 b)\tab}}\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\wrapdefault\faauto\ls2\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid1449266 {\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
$13,200.00 being refund of deposits for the 240 empty drums; and
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1449266 {\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
\par {\listtext\pard\plain\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 c)\tab}}\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\wrapdefault\faauto\ls2\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid1449266 {\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 $171,168.28
 claimed as interest on the amounts at 13.5 per cent from June 1994 to October 2001.
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1449266 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
\par The Company, according to the Petitioner, has not settled the debt and it must be presumed that it is not in a position to pay, hence this Winding Up actions.
\par 
\par For its part, the Company argues that all of the Petitioner\rquote s outstanding claims had been settled in December 1996, except for the amount of $4,700.00 which was in dispute.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 This was resolved finally on the Small Claims Tribunal.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
(Case No. 3020/97) in favour of the Petitioner.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 The Company does not owe anything at all to the Petitioner.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 Quite apart from this, the Company says that the Petitioner\rquote s existing claim is devoid of}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 any details of}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
the alleged debt.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 For example, while}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 he is claiming cartage fees, there are no details provided by the Petitioner.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 Similarly, the refund on drums although identifiable in the numbers (240 drums) no specific details as to delivery and documentation has been provided.
\par 
\par But even if there exists any debts, the learned Counsel for the Company argued that the claim is statute-barred under the Limitation Act Cap. 35 (\'93the Act\'94).}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 According to Counsel, the cartage fees claimed by the Petitioner were in respect of distributions of the Company\rquote s products that the Petitioner carried out between Ju
ly 1993 to April 1994.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 Similarly, the deposits for the 240 empty drums had been paid between July 1993 and April 1994.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 This Petition was filed in December 2001, more than 6 years after the cause of action accrued.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 Unfortunately the argument that the Petitioner\rquote 
s Claim is statute-barred was not raised by the Company in its Affidavit or anytime prior to the hearing of the Petition.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
It is the duty of Counsel to raise legal arguments and especially on matters that substantially affect the proceedings and to bring them to the attention of the Court as early as possible.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
Especially in cases such as this where the Petitioner is a layman and acting on his own behalf and where the legal and technical details do not necessarily show up more clearly in the documents filed than it would otherwise have done.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 It would certainly have been propitious}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 to the Court as indeed it would be for all the parties concerned if the issue was raised before the actual hearing.
\par 
\par As it happens, the Petitioner, while acknowledging that the claim is over 6 years old nevertheless asserts that the limitation period is not applicable to his case.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 Firstly, the Company had been leading him on by the management promising him from the period in question up to 1998, first to reconcile his accounts an
d pay any outstanding balance, and again later in late 1998 when the Company undertook that it will provide the Petitioner the full details of this account.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 The Petitioner further argued that the Company finally gave a \'93partial statement\'94 of his account on 29 August 1999.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 It is for these reasons and the belief that the Claim was eventually going to be settled by the Company according to the Petitioner that prevented him from seeking Court redress any sooner.

\par 
\par The learned Counsel for the Company stated that the Company denied it had entertained the Petitioner\rquote 
s requests for settlements and that the claims that were settled by the lower Courts were in respect of those that had been found to be genuine and valid by the Company.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 The Petitioner has, according to the Counsel for the Company, a further 9 other proceedings against the Company on similar types of claim, and he is no more than a vexatious litigant.
\par 
\par The basic consideration in the Court\rquote s determination to grant or refuse an application for a Winding Up Order is whether there is a substantial dispute as to whether or not a debt is actually owed.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }
{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 The law on this was comprehensively examined by Pathik J. in }{\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
In the Matter of All Safe Safety and Protection Proprietary Limited}{\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 (Winding Up Cause No. 43 of 2001 Unreported).}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 There His Lordship began with the general principle to be borne in mind in a Court\rquote s consideration as set out in Palmer\rquote 
s Company Law (Vol. 3 para. 15.214) to whit :
\par 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid1449266 {\b\i\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 \'93To fall within the general principle the dispute must be 
bona fide in both a substantive and objective sense.}{\b\i\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\b\i\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
Thus the reason for not paying the debt must be honestly believed to exist and must be based on substantial or reasonable grounds \'93substantial\'94 means having substance and not frivolous, which disputes the Court should ignore.}{
\b\i\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\b\i\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
There must be so much doubt and question about the liability to pay the debt that the Court sees that there is a question to be decided.}{\b\i\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{
\b\i\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 The onus is on the Company \'93to bring forward is prima facie case which satisfies the Court that 
there is something which ought to be tried either before the Court itself or in an action, or by some other proceedings.\'94
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1449266 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
\par His Lordship then alluded to the discretion of the Court as per Barker J A in }{\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 Offshore Oil NL and Investment Corporation of Fiji Limited}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266  (Civil App. 29/84 FCA at p.15) and the Privy Council\rquote s decision in }{\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
Bateman Television (In Liquidation) and Another vs Coleridge Finance Company Limited}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266  [1971] 1 NZLR, on whether to hear a petition or not.
\par 
\par From the evidence submitted to the Court, it i
s very clear that the agreement signed on 12 November 1993 between the Petitioner and the Company was for payment by the latter to the former be it by commission or rebate, of distribution (service), and sale (concession) of the Company\rquote 
s products to retailers.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 It is equally clear that there have been one or two instances of wrongful billing by the Company of the Petitioner
\rquote s accounts resulting in successful recovery actions by the Petitioner.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
\par 
\par However, the Company has totally denied the existence of any debts owed by the Company to the Petitioner which represent cartage fees and refunds for deposits on empty drums which are detailed in the Petitioner\rquote s claim.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 In support of this assertion, the Co
mpany states that the Petitioner has never provided sufficient details or particulars of the claims to lend credence to them.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
All the Petitioner had provided for example were in the case of empty drums individual monthly accounts supposedly owed by the Company for unspecified number of empty drums between July 1993 to March 1994.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  
}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 Under the circumstances the test set out by Harman J.in }{\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 In Re a Company}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266  (No.001946 of 1991) }{\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 exp. Fin. Soft Holding SA (1991) BCLC 740,}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266  and referred to by Pathik J. in }{\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 In the Matter of All Safe Safety and Protection Proprietary Limited}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266  (supra) whether there is a substantial dispute as to the debts must be answered in the affirmative, in this case.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 The fact that there exists, as far as the Petitioner is concerned, a very unsatisfactor
y state of affairs pertaining to his account with the Company, is not of itself ground for Winding Up of the Company.
\par 
\par The learned Counsel for the Company in its opposition to the Petition also argued that the grounds under which the Petition is filed and relied upon, namely that \'93the Company is unable to pay its debt\'94 (s.220 of the Act) is misconceived .}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 Counsel argued that the Company is a multi-national, operating world-wide and has the ability to pay its debts.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 With respect to this argument and Counsel, the definition of what constitutes inability to pay debts under section 221 of the Act makes}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 clear that such inability does not necessarily mean that it can be negated by proving one\rquote 
s ability to pay, but also failure to do so through omission or neglect.
\par 
\par Finally the argument on the application of Limitation Act as I have already stated, it is}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
unfortunate that the issue was raised very late in these proceedings.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
However, the Petitioner conceded that he was conscious of the fact that his claim falls outside the 6 years limitation period allowed under the Act.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 But, he argued, that the Company had waived the application of the Act by its continuing negotiation with him, on the debts well after the 6 years had lapsed.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 But to succeed in this argument that Petit
ioner has to satisfy that exceptions to the limitation period provided under any of the provisions of Part III of the Act.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
Unfortunately the Petitioner does not fall into one of the exceptions recognised in law.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 The sad fact of the matter is whilst it may 
be strongly argued by the Petitioner that the Company had continued to openly entertain approaches on his claims even after the 6 years period had expired, in the absence of any written acknowledgment by the Company of the existence of the debt and even p
art-payment of the same, the action is statute-barred.
\par 
\par Under the circumstances, the Petition is dismissed and costs in the sum of $200.00 I award to the Company.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1449266\charrsid1449266 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1449266 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 F. Jitoko
\par }{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 Puisne Judge}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1449266 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14756909\charrsid1449266 
\par At Suva
\par 26 July 2002
\par }}