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{\title IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI (AT SUVA)}{\author Amelia Rasovo}{\operator blake_r}{\creatim\yr2004\mo8\dy30\hr10\min56}{\revtim\yr2004\mo8\dy31\hr10\min3}{\version3}{\edmins1}{\nofpages3}{\nofwords699}{\nofchars3988}{\*\company Judicial Department}
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\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9712333 \fs20\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI}{
\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333\charrsid9712333 
\par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 (AT SUVA)
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9712333 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9712333 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 CIVIL ACTION NO. HBC 29 OF 1993S
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9712333 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9712333 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 Between:
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9712333 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9712333 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 ISIKELI RAISUNI
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 Plaintiff
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9712333 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9712333 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 and
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9712333 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9712333 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 HOUSING AUTHORITY
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 Defendant
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9712333 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 
\par Ms. U. Fa for the Plaintiff
\par V. Maharaj for the Defendant
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9712333 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 DECISION
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9712333 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 
\par This is an application by the Defendant brought under the inherent jurisdiction of the court to dismiss the action for want of prosecution.
\par 
\par The writ was issued in January 1993.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 It soug
ht cancellation of a native lease issued to the Plaintiff, return of a deposit paid by the Plaintiff and damages.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 
The cause of action is not clear and neither is the basis for the claim for damages.
\par 
\par A Defence was filed in March 1993.
\par 
\par In January 1994 an amended Statement of Claim was filed.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 
The Plaintiff alleged breach of contract by the Defendant and sought the return of his deposit and damages.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 
On the same date that the amended Statement of Claim was filed a notice of change of solicitors was also filed by Fa & Company (the solicitors now on the record) replacing Messrs Munro Leys.
\par 
\par In April 1994 Byrne J order the parties \'93to give discovery in strict compliance with the rules\'94.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 
In May 1994 an amended Defence was filed.
\par 
\par In September 1994 Byrne J ordered that his order of April 1994 be complied with.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 In October 1994 discovery}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 not having yet taken place Byrne J adjourned the matter sine die.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 In April 1996 the Defendant issued a summons to dismiss the action for want of prosecution, the Plaintiff having taken no step in the action since October 1994.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 After thirteen adjournments the April 1996 summons was set down for hearing before Byrne J on 11 March 1997.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 For reasons which have not been recorded on the file no hearing took place either on 11 March or on an adjourned date of 26 March.}
{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 After five further adjournments before Byrne J the matter was again adjourned sine die on 18 August 1997.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 It appears that no order was ever been made on the April 1996 summons.
\par 
\par In January 1998 the Plaintiff took out a summons for directions and the usual orders were made on 11 February 1998.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 
Both parties filed affidavits verifying lists of documents, the Plaintiff in February 1998 and the Defendant in April 1998.
\par 
\par In April 1998 a notice requesting a pre-trial conference under the provisions of Order 34 was issued.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 
Thereafter nothing happened until November 2000 when the Plaintiff issued a notice of intention to proceed under Order 3 rule 5.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 
Nothing then happened until the present application was filed in March 2002.
\par 
\par In support of this application the Defendant\rquote s Manager Legal Jagdish Prasad filed a supporting affidavit.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 
This affidavit has not been answered.
\par 
\par After rehearsing the history of the litigation Mr. Prasad deposed that the Defendant\rquote s solicitors had several times telephoned Plaintiff\rquote s solicitors attempting to take the matter forward but to no avail.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 Mr. Prasad averred the Defendants had been prejudiced by the delay}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 in the prosecution of the action principally by not being able to deal with the land in question since 1993.
\par 
\par The principles upon which the court will dismiss for want of prosecution on grounds of intentional and contumelious default by the Plaintiff and inordinate and inexcuseable delay are well known and have frequently been applied in Fiji (see for example }{
\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 Merit Timber Products v. NLTB}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333  (1994) 40 FLR 279).
\par 
\par In }{\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 Abdul v. Carpenters Ltd}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333  HBC 13/1997S I explained in detail that in addition to the principles applied in }{
\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 Merit}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333  a new principle has evolved which allow
s the court to strike out proceedings where it is satisfied that the manner in which they have been prosecuted amounts to an abuse of the process of the court (see especially }{\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 
Govit v. Doctor}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333  [1997] 1WLR 640).
\par 
\par Ms. Fa told me that the Plaintiff intended to proceed with this action but no Notice of Intention to proceed has been filed as required by the rules.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 She told me that the Plaintiff had been away overseas for peacekeeping duties.
\par 
\par Mr. Maharaj advised that the Defendant was agreeable to the cancellation of the lease and to the return of the Plaintiff\rquote s deposit.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 It was only the damages which are still in issue.
\par 
\par In my opinion the dilatory manner in which this action has been prosecuted falls so far short of what is acceptable that it amounts to an abuse of the process of the court.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 As is evident from the pleadings establishing responsibility for the failure of the contract between the parties would, after all these years, present major difficulties.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 The Defendant\rquote s inability to deal with the land since 1993 amounts to a serious prejudice to it.
\par 
\par The application succeeds.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 Following Mr. Maharaj\rquote s indication I order that the lease be cancelled and that the Plaintiff
\rquote s deposit be refunded.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9712333  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 The action will then be dismissed.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9712333 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 M.D. Scott
\par Judge
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9712333 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11420788\charrsid9712333 
\par 21 May 2002
\par }}