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\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11868453 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 AT THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par AT SUVA
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11868453 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11868453 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 CIVIL ACTION NO. HBC0376R OF 2002S
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11868453 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11868453 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 Between:}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453 
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11868453 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 AIR FIJI LIMITED
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 Plaintiff
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11868453 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11868453 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 And:}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11868453 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11868453 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 SUN FIJI NEWS LIMITED
\par ASHOK DESAI
\par ILIESA TORA
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 Defendant
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11868453 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 
\par Counsel for the Plaintiff: K. Muaror, Muaror & Associates
\par Counsel for the Defendants}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453 : }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 S. Sharma, Patel & Sharma}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453 
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11868453 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 RULING
\par (Ex-Tempore)
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11868453 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 
\par This is an O.19}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 r.9 application. It follows a judgment in default of defence pursuant to O.19}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 r.3. There is no doubt that the default judgment was obtained regularly.
\par 
\par For the applicant to convince the Court to set aside the judgment, it must be shown by an affidavit of merits that it has a good defence (}{\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 Farden v. Richter}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453  (1889) 23}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 QBD 124).}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 In this regard, it needs only to disclose an arguable or trialable issue. The law on setting aside of default judgment
 is well settled and supported by case law. The Fiji Court of Appeal in }{\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 Wearsmart Textiles Ltd. v. General Machinery Hire Ltd}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 . (Civil Appeal No. ABU0030/97S:1998) had extensively canvassed the principles on which the Court should act on an application to set aside a judgment that has been regularly obtained. 

\par 
\par The facts of this case are very much in dispute and given that the merits of the claim has not been tested because of the absence of defence, it is clear that the parties\rquote  claims can only be substanti
ated at a hearing. The fact that the default judgment is for defamation, an}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453 d}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 
 consequently claims for unliquidated damages, makes it all the more reason why the Court should exercise extreme care.
\par 
\par There has not been an overdue delay in this application, ha
ving being made after only four (4) days from the sealing of the order. In addition, the reasons for the delay and the inability of the defendant to file its statement of defence within the prescribed period, as set out in its affidavits, is one which the
 court accepts as a reasonable one under the circumstances.
\par 
\par Order is made for the default judgment entered on 11 October 2002 to be set aside.
\par 
\par Defendant is given 21 days to file its defence and thereafter the matter is to take its normal course.
\par 
\par I award costs of $300.00 to the plaintiff.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453 
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11868453 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 F. Jitoko
\par JUDGE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11868453 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 
\par At Suva
\par 10th }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453 April 2003}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11868453\charrsid11868453 
\par }}