George Philliph Investment Limited t/a Rock Motel v Davis & Shirliff Limited, Inticon Africa Limited & Harish K. Patel [2017] KEELC 1647 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT AT KISUMU

ELC CASE NO.94 of 2014

GEORGE PHILLIPH INVESTMENT LIMITED

T/A ROCK MOTEL ...................................................PLAINTIFF

VERSUS

DAVIS & SHIRLIFF LIMITED........................1ST DEFENDANT

INTICON AFRICA LIMITED..........................2ND DEFENDANT

HARISH K. PATEL........................................3RD DEFENDANT

RULING

1. Davis & Shirliff Limited, the 1st Defendant, filed the notice of motion dated 15th June 2016 seeking to have the suit filed by George Philliph Investment Limited T/A Rock Motel, the Plaintiff, struck out with costs.  The notice of motion is based on three grounds on its face and supported by the affidavit of Beatrice Ndungu, the credit controller with 1st Defendant, sworn on the 15th June 2016.

2. The application is opposed by the plaintiff through the grounds of opposition dated 6th July 2016.

3. The notice of motion came up for hearing on the 21st November 2016  when directions on filing of  submissions were given.  The counsel for the 1st Defendant and the Plaintiff filed their written submissions dated 13th February 2017 on the same date.

4. The following are the issues for the determination by the court;

a) Whether the plaint discloses any reasonable cause of action against the 1st Defendant.

b) Who pays the costs.

5. The court has carefully considered the grounds on the notice of motion, affidavit evidence, grounds of oppositions, the pleadings filed, counsel’s submissions and come to the following conclusions:

a) That from the pleadings filed by the Plaintiff, the prayers are for the refund of Kshs.1,300,000/=, costs  of new pool being Kshs.2,692850/=, general damages for breach of contract and loss of business costs and interests.

b) That the pleadings further show that the 1st Defendant was the one who recommended the 2nd and 3rd Defendants to the Plaintiff as entitles who could do the swimming pool project for them.  That though the 1st Defendant statement of defence and supporting affidavit is to the effect that they did not pray any further role, the Plaintiff’s position is that the 1st Defendant were also to supervise the works to completion and therefore are a necessary party in these proceedings.

c) That among the documents in the list of documents filed by the Plaintiff is the 1st Defendant complimentary slip with the 2nd and 3rd Defendants names, copy of a page of the Plaintiff’s visitors book signed by among others three persons with the 1st Defendant’s address, daily work sheet carrying the 1st Defendant’s heading and receipt dated 6th January 2014 issued by the 1st Defendant to the Plaintiff.

d) That the existence of the three documents in (c) above confirms that there was  some level of interaction between the Plaintiff and the 1st Defendant over the swimming pool project and it is only fair that the Plaintiff’s suit be allowed to continue to hearing for a decision on issues raised to be decided on merit.  The 1st Defendant is a necessary party for the issues in this suit to be determined conclusively.

e) That in the event the Plaintiff will fail to establish any claim against the 1st Defendant to the standard required, an award of costs will suffice to compensate the 1st Defendant in addition to any other legal recourse the 1st Defendant may deem necessary to pursue.

6. That flowing from the foregoing, the court finds that the 1st Defendant notice of motion dated 15th June 2016 is without merit and the same is dismissed with costs to the Plaintiff.

Orders accordingly.

S.M. KIBUNJA

ENVIRONMENT & LAND – JUDGE

DATED AND DELIVERED THIS 4TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2017

In presence of;

Plaintiff             Absent

Defendants     Absent

Counsel          M/S Nyakyeume for Kimanga for Plaintiff.

Mr Rugalo for Ogenjo for Defendants 2 & 3.

S. M. KIBUNJA

ENVIRONMENT & LAND – JUDGE

4/10/2017

4/10/17

S.M. Kibunja Judge

Oyugi court assistant

M/S Nyakyeume for Kimanga for Plaintiff.

Mr Rugalo for Ogenjo for  2nd  & 3rd Defendants/Respondents

Order: ruling dated and delivered in open court in presence of M/S Nyakyeume for Kimanga for the Plaintiff and Mr. Rugalo for Ogenjo for 2nd and 3rd Defendants.

S.M. KIBUNJA

ENVIRONMENT & LAND – JUDGE

4/10/2017