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}{\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11498976\charrsid4465069 (WESTERN DIVISION)}{\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15222406\charrsid4465069 \par }{\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11498976\charrsid4465069 AT LAUTOKA \par }{\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11498976\charrsid16477777 Appellate Jurisdiction \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16477777 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16477777 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4465069 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11498976 Civil Appeal No. 6 of 1979 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4465069 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11498976 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4465069 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11498976 B}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13191051 ETWEEN}{ \fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11498976 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4465069 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11498976 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4465069 {\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11498976\charrsid4465069 BAL KARAN}{ \b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13191051 \par }{\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11498976\charrsid4465069 s/o Behari \par }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4465069 Appellant \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4465069 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4465069 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4465069 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4465069 A}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13191051 ND}{ \fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4465069 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4465069 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4465069 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4465069 {\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4465069\charrsid4465069 RAM SUMER}{ \b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13191051 \par }{\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4465069\charrsid4465069 s/o Ram Asre \par }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4465069 Respondent \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4465069 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4465069 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14091517 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4465069 Mr. C. Gordon, Counsel for the Appellant \par Mr. S. Prasad, Counsel for the Respondent. \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4465069 {\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11498976\charrsid4465069 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4465069 {\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4465069\charrsid4465069 JUDGMENT}{ \b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15222406\charrsid4465069 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14091517 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15222406\charrsid14091517 \par }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4465069 This is an appeal from the decision of the magistrate at Lautoka giving judgment for the plaintiff for the sum of $759.01 and costs.}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15222406 \par }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4465069 \par The particulars of the claim show a sum of $824.28 owing b}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13388073 y the defendant to the plaintiff}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4465069 under an acknowledgement of debt dated 21/5/73 less a total of $388 paid in three instalments on 28/6/76, 29/1/77 and 21/6/77, and interest at 10% per annum on the amounts outstanding at various times leaving an amount still due and owing as $759.01. \par \par }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5269382 That figure is clearly wrong, being $100 too high, the error creeping in where the particulars state $756.61 less $88 paid on 29/1/77 equals $768.61 whereas it should of course equal $668.61. There will have to be adjustment}{ \fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4073418 s}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5269382 to the various calculations of int erest and I make the figure which should be due and owing according to the particulars of claim as $646.18 and not $759.01. \par \par }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4465069 The basis for the claim was an acknowledgment of debt signed by the defendant on 21/5/73, but the evidence given by the plaintiff and other witnesses was to the effect that the plaintiff}{ \fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13191051 '}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4465069 s father had lent the defendant some money to purchase a vehicle, but the defendant}{ \fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14036509 had not repaid it. The plaintiff}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13191051 '}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14036509 s father found his }{ \fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4073418 health failing and wished his so}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14036509 n to bear the burden of the debt . The plaintiff, his father and the defendant then met, the acknowledgment of debt was drawn up and signed by the defendant in the presence of all three.}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4465069 \par }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14036509 \par Although in a written statement of defence the defendant gave another explanation for the acknowledgment of debt he gave no evidence and so the court is bound by the evidence given by and for the plaintiff. \par \par It seems to be an accepted fact from the pleadings, although there was no evidence on the point, that since the acknowledgment of debt the defendant has paid to the plaintiff a total of $388, and although in his written statement of defence the defendant counterclaimed that this was paid under a mistake, again it must be accepted that the payments were made for the purpose of repaying the amount state d in the acknowledgement of debt. So there seems to be }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4073418 no }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14036509 question but that the defendant recognised that he was under an obligation to pay money to the plaintiff. \par \par }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14036509\charrsid1788539 Thi}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3766228 s really makes nonsense of the 1st }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14036509\charrsid1788539 ground of appeal that the magistrate has misconstrued the acknowledgement of debt because the plaintiff had said that he was not owed money by the defendant. What the plaintiff said }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13191051 was "No -}{ \fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11691121\charrsid1788539 on 21/5/73 [the date of the acknowledgment of debt]}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7614140 the defenda}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13191051 nt owed me no money personally -}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7614140 he owed the money to my father and my father assigned to me his debt.}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13191051 "}{ \fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7614140 Clearly what the plaintiff was saying was that the money was not originally owed to him but to his father, but clearly also unless he thought that after the acknowledgment of debt the defendant did owe money to him he could hardly have sued upon it. }{ \fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4943805 Clearly also when he said his father assigned the debt to him, that was the sort of inaccurate language that might be expected of a lay man. A lay man is unlikely to know the difference between an assignment or a novation. Even lawyers are sometimes less than precise in distinguishing between them. Hence the use of the word }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13191051 "}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4943805 assignment}{ \fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13191051 "}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4943805 in the defence to the counterclaim.}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14036509 \par }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4943805 \par From the evidence before the court it is clear that there was no proper legal assignment of the debt owed by the defendant to the plaintiff}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13191051 '}{ \fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4943805 s father. Whatever the debt was, it was replaced by another debt owed by the defendant to the plaintiff, and as the father himself said he no longer had any right to recover the debt from the defendant. The ne w debt was recognised by the defendant in the presence of all three parties, and although the defendant}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13191051 '}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4943805 s counsel has argued that there was no consideration for the novation, the acknowledgment of debt itself sets out the consideration, namely that the defendant was to be given extra time in which to pay off the debt. \par \par The appeal is without merit and is dismissed with costs. \par \par }\pard \ql \li3600\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin3600\itap0\pararsid4943805 {\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13191051 (S}{ \b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4943805\charrsid14514540 gd.) G.O.L. Dyke}{\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4943805 \par }{\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13191051 JUDGE}{\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13191051\charrsid14514540 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4943805 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4943805 \par LAUTOKA, \par }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2298824 6th July, 1979}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4943805\charrsid11691121 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14091517 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15222406\charrsid14091517 \par }}