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\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid10496173 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par AT SUVA
\par CIVIL JURISDICTION
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10496173 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid10496173 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10496173 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 CIVIL ACTION NO. }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1471155 HBC0}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 247 OF 2003
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10496173 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid10496173 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10496173 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid10496173 Between:
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10496173 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid10496173 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10496173 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid10496173 RAMESH KUMAR
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid10496173 f/n Ram Jattan
\par Plaintiff
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10496173 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid10496173 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10496173 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid10496173 and
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10496173 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid10496173 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10496173 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid10496173 RAKUWAR PRASAD
\par CORE TECHNOLOGIES
\par JET PATCHER WORKS FIJI LIMITED
\par TELECOM FIJI LIMITED
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid10496173 Defendants
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1471155 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid10496173 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10496173 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 Mr. S.P. Sharma for the Plaintiff
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1471155 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid10496173 Ms. P. Narayan for the 4th Defendant
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10496173 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid10496173 DECISION
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\par This is }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 Telecom Fiji Limited\rquote s}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155  (4th defendant \endash  }{
\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 applicant}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 ) application under }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 Order 18 Rule 1 }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 of the }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 High Court Rules 1988}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 
 seeking an order to strike out the plaintiff\rquote s Writ of Summons and the Statement of Claim on the ground that it discloses no reasonable cause of action against it and that it is scandalous and vexatious.
\par 
\par As ordered both counsel filed written submissions which I have considered.
\par 
\par The facts are fully set out in the Statement of Claim.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1471155  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 All it says about the applicant is that it was \'93
at all material times responsible for proper maintenance of telephone cables and pine pole to which these cables are affixed to.\'94
\par 
\par Mr. Sharma for the plaintiff submits that: \'93the 4th Defendant which has a statutory duty to safely and professionally erect pine poles was negligent to ensure that pine poles were erected of a reasonable durability and reliability.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1471155  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 On this premise it is respectfully submitted a reasonable cause of action which has some chance of success is now evident\'94.
\par 
\par I completely disagree with the plaintiff\rquote s submissions and accept wholly the applicant\rquote s (4th defendant\rquote s) counsel\rquote s submission.
\par 
\par In this case the plaintiff was a bus driver driving along the road at Lami when the first defendant drove a \lquote prime mover\rquote  conveying a digger on the 3rd defendant\rquote 
s tractor so negligently that the arm of the digger snapped a telephone cable causing the power pole on which the cable was attached to fall on to the bus.
\par 
\par I agree with Ms. Narayan that the following facts (as in her submission) emerge from the pleadings:
\par 
\par {\pntext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (a)\tab}}\pard \ql \fi-720\li1440\ri0\widctlpar{\*\pn \pnlvlbody\ilvl0\ls2\pnrnot0\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent360\pnsp120\pnhang 
{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls2\adjustright\rin0\lin1440\itap0\pararsid10496173 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 the digger was negligently placed on the trailer}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183 
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\par {\pntext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (b)\tab}}\pard \ql \fi-720\li1440\ri0\widctlpar{\*\pn \pnlvlbody\ilvl0\ls2\pnrnot0\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent360\pnsp120\pnhang 
{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls2\adjustright\rin0\lin1440\itap0\pararsid10496173 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 the arm of the digger was outstretched;}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183 

\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar{\*\pn \pnlvlcont\ilvl0\ls0\pnrnot0\pndec }\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10496173 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10496173\charrsid1471155 
\par {\pntext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (c)\tab}}\pard \ql \fi-720\li1440\ri0\widctlpar{\*\pn \pnlvlbody\ilvl0\ls2\pnrnot0\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent360\pnsp120\pnhang 
{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls2\adjustright\rin0\lin1440\itap0\pararsid10496173 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 the arm of the digger pulled the telephone cables whilst it was moving forward;}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183 
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\par {\pntext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (d)\tab}}\pard \ql \fi-720\li1440\ri0\widctlpar{\*\pn \pnlvlbody\ilvl0\ls2\pnrnot0\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent360\pnsp120\pnhang 
{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls2\adjustright\rin0\lin1440\itap0\pararsid10496173 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 as a result
 of the cables being pulled, the pine pole upon which the cables were attached was forcefully uprooted.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183 
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\par {\pntext\pard\plain\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 (e)\tab}}\pard \ql \fi-720\li1440\ri0\widctlpar{\*\pn \pnlvlbody\ilvl0\ls2\pnrnot0\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent360\pnsp120\pnhang 
{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls2\adjustright\rin0\lin1440\itap0\pararsid10496173 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 the uprooted pine pole fell on the bus driven by the Plaintiff
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\par By no stretch of imagination can it be said that in the circumstances the applicant is liable.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1471155  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 No question of negligence}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1471155  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 or a duty of care arises on the part of the}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1471155  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 applicant.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1471155  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 
Why blame the applicant if others strike against the cable and bring down the pole?}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1471155  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 
In fact they should be the ones paying for damage caused to applicant\rquote s properties.
\par 
\par The plaintiff certainly has no chance of success against the applicant.
\par 
\par The claim against the 4th defendant is therefore dismissed as it is frivolous and there is no reasonable or any cause of action against it.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1471155  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 
I award costs against the plaintiff in the sum of $250.00 to be paid within 14 days.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1471155 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 D. Pathik
\par }{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 Judge}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1471155 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11684183\charrsid1471155 
\par At Suva
\par 13 May 2004
\par }}