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\li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2429474 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FIJI}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid329214\charrsid2429474 \par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 (WESTERN DIVISION) \par AT LAUTOKA}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2429474\charrsid2429474 \par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2429474 CIVIL JURISDICTION}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2429474 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2429474\charrsid2429474 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2429474 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid7805927 Action No. 54 of 1977}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid329214\charrsid7805927 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2429474 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid329214\charrsid2429474 \par }\pard \qc \fi-180\li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2429474 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 BETWEEN}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11420966\charrsid2429474 :}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid228585 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11822410\charrsid2429474 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2429474 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 SADA SIWAN}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3094923 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 s/o Gundu Mani Gounder \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2429474 Plaintiff}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tx0\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2429474 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2429474 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 AND}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2429474 :}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2429474 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2429474 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 MILLERS LIMITED \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2429474 Defendant}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2429474 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 \par Mr. C. Gordon for the Plaintiff \par Mr. Ram Krishna for the Applicant/Defendant \par \par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid3952738 COURT: \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid3952738 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 This application is made by the defendant to strike out the plaintiff}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2429474 '}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 s Statement of }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid3952738 Claim }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 on the }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid3952738 ground that the plaintiff has not shown a cause of action. The Statement of Claim is certainly a curious document. Paragraph 1 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1001424\charrsid3952738 a}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1001424\charrsid2429474 ver}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1001424 s}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 that the plaintiff purchased of defendant a secondhand caterpillar tractor in November 1972 for $5000, paying a deposit of $1800 and}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7805927 leaving $3200 secured under}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 Bill of Sale. Paragraph 2 alleges that the defendant agreed to insure the machine and although the Statement of Clai}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5649800\charrsid2429474 m is somewhat d}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 elphic in this respect, the use of the word }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2429474 '}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 charged}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2429474 '}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 implies that defendant did in fact insure the tractor and charge the c ost of insurance to the plaintiff. Paragraph 3 recites that three weeks after the purchase the tractor was damaged by flood, and the inference to be drawn from what is said is that as a result of being so damaged by flood it was seized by the defendant. H owever}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1246130 , there is no allegation that is}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 was wrongfully seized. Then the plaintiff alleges that he called upon defendant}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3023050\charrsid2429474 to repair the tractor}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1246130 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3023050\charrsid2429474 -}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1246130 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3023050\charrsid2429474 presumably from damage caused by the flood}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1246130 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3023050\charrsid2429474 -}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1246130 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3023050\charrsid2429474 and eventually the defendant and the insurance company agreed to settle the plaintiff}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2429474 '}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3023050\charrsid2429474 s claim. What the plaintiff claims has not been disclosed, but if it was a claim for reimbursement of damage by flood, which is the most likely conclusion from what has been set out in the Statement of Claim, then it would be a claim again st the insurance company and I cannot see how the defendant has come into it. Then the Statement of Claim goes on to say that the defendant then secured judgment against the plaintiff for $4204. 32. I assume, although it is certainly not stated, that this was done instead of repairing the tractor in pursuance of the settlement. So far it is difficult to work out what wrong the plaintiff alleges himself to have suffered. He does not say how that judgment came to be obtained, but reference to the Court file s hows that it was entered in default of defence. Plaintiff entered an appearance to the writ but did not file a defence and judgment was entered against him. No application has ever been made to set aside that judgment. Then the last paragraph says that th e defendant has failed to account to the plaintiff for what happened to the tractor, and so he claims $5000. I think that in looking at the Statement }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13976673\charrsid2429474 of Claim I should not take into account what the defence has said, and if I do this, I am left with the plaintiff claiming damages because defendant has apparently still has his machine}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1246130 and has not told the plaintiff}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13976673\charrsid2429474 what had been done with it. It is quite true that if I then look at the defence I see that the machine was sold for $400 and the amount credited t o the plaintiff, but the fact that a machine which cost $5000 in November 1972 should be worth only $400 in September 1974, not quite two years later, would appear to require some explanation. It is true that the plaintiff is unlikely to succeed unless he can show wrongful seizure and deposition, yet at the core of it there might be a cause of action and I should not prevent him from putting his story before the Court. The defendant}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2429474 '}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13976673\charrsid2429474 s ap}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11539175\charrsid2429474 plication must accordingly fail, a}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13976673\charrsid2429474 nd the plaintiff must have his costs of the application $8.40. Nevertheless I think that plaintiff}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2429474 '}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13976673\charrsid2429474 s solicitor might be wise to consider his own position carefully because if it turns out that there is in fact no cause of action he may find himself paying the costs of the action.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15674884\charrsid2429474 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13976673\charrsid2429474 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2429474 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13895578\charrsid2429474 (SGD.) K.A. STUART}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13976673\charrsid2429474 \par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13895578\charrsid2429474 JUDGE \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2429474 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13895578\charrsid2429474 \par LAUTOKA,}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13976673\charrsid2429474 \par 27th Ma}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13895578\charrsid2429474 y, 1977}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4537028 .}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13976673\charrsid2429474 \par }}