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\f168\fs26\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par }{\b\caps\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 At Labasa
\par }{\b\caps\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13593475\charrsid13593475 Civil Jurisdiction}{\b\caps\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 
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\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 ACTION NO. 0033 OF 2001
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\par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13593475 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 MEREIA TABUVALE
\par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 Plaintiff
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\par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13593475 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 THE DIVISIONAL ENGINEER NORTHERN
\par THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
\par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 Defendants
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13593475 {\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 
\par Mr. H. Robinson for the Plaintiff
\par Mr. R. Green for the Defendants/Applicants
\par 
\par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15018794 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid15018794 RULING
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\par This case concerns a young girl who fell into an uncovered hole in the footpath whilst making her way to school.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 
As a result of her fall}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 the plaintiff suffered lacerations to her leg, hip and knee.}{
\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 The footpath was being repaired by the defendants at the time.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794  }{
\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 The plaintiff claims dama}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794 ges for her personal injuries.}{
\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 
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\par The particulars of negligence allege that the defendant }{\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 failed}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 
 to take any or adequate precautions for the safety of the plaintiff;}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794  }{\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 failed}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475  to provide a safe surface on the footpath}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794 ; }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 and }{
\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 failed}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475  to warn the plaintiff of the dangers to which she was exposed whilst walking on the footpath.
\par 
\par The defendant is sued as the relevant authority charged with the duty to build and maintain public roads.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 
The defendant after acknowledging service, seeks the dismissal of the action on the ground that it discloses no reasonable cause of action.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 No affidavit has been filed in support.
\par 
\par In its written submissions the defendant denies liability on the basis that the plaintiff\rquote s claim is based on a failure or omission on the defendants\rquote  part rather than on any positive act(s) committed by the defendants\rquote }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794 ; }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 secondly}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475  the plaintiff\rquote 
s injuries were solely caused by her own negligence in failing to keep a proper lookout when walking along the footpath rather than by anything the defendant did}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794 ; }{
\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 thirdly}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 , the policy of the relevant legislation namely the }{
\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 Roads Act}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475  (Cap. 125) militates against the imposition of a duty of care in the particular circumstances}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794 ; }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 and }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 fourthly}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 , imposing a duty in the circumstances would expose the defendants to an indeterminate liability and to claims by an infinite class of road users.
\par 
\par In reply the plaintiff submits that her claim is not one based on nonfeasance but rather for misfeasance on the part of the defendant in rendering the footpath unsafe through its negligent actions in carrying out the repair works.
\par 
\par The principles that guide the Court in considering an application to dismiss a cause of action are not in dispute.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 
It is only where the pleaded claim is so plainly wrong or insupportable on its face that the Court\rquote s pre-emptive powers may be exercised.
\par Having considered the plaintiff\rquote s }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 Statement of Claim}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 
 and the written submissions it is sufficient to dispose of this application by reference to the headnote in }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 Oamaru Borough v. McLeod}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475  (1967) N.Z.L.R. 940 which reads}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794 :}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s19\ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid15018794 \b\i\f168\fs26\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\i0\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 
\lquote Where in the course of improving a street or roadway a borough Council creates new conditions which themselves create a danger which ought to have been foreseen and reasonable steps are not taken to gu
ard against the danger, the council is responsible for damage which results from its negligent performance of the work.\rquote 
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13593475 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid15018794 
\par }\pard\plain \s15\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13593475 \f168\fs26\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 
Accepting the pleaded facts as I am obliged to, the road works being conducted by the defendants at the relevant time left exposed an uncovered, unfenced and unsign-posted hole on the footpath into which the plaintiff fell.}{
\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 
This was an act of misfeasance on the part of the defendants that created a potentially dangerous situation for which a claim for consequential damages is ordinarily available to anyone injured thereby.}{
\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 The claim is plainly well-founded.
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13593475 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 
\par The application is accordingly dismissed with costs of $100 awarded to the plaintiff and the defendants are ordered to file and serve a }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 Statement of Defence}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475  within 14 days of the date hereof.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15018794 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid13593475 (D.V. Fatiaki)
\par }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid15018794 Chief Justice
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13593475 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15018794\charrsid15018794 
\par At Suva,
\par 23rd January, 2004.
\par }}