Sello v Semamola and Others (duplicate of A077 0026) (CIV/APN 319 of 96) [1996] LSHC 85 (30 August 1996)

IN T HE H I GH C O U RT OF L E S O T HO In t he m a t t er b e t w e en L E B O H A NG S E L LO a nd ' M A M O T L A T SI S E M A M O LA M O T L A T SI S E M A M O LA C I V / A P N / 3 1 9 / 96 A p p l i c a nt 1 st R e s p o n d e nt 2 nd R e s p o n d e nt T HE P R O P R I E T OR M A N G W A NE F U N E R AL S E R V I CE 3 rd R e s p o n d e nt J U D G M E NT D e l i v e r ed by t he H o n o u r a b le M r. J u s t i ce M . M. R a m o d i b e d i, A c t i ng J u d ge on 3 0 th d ay of S e p t e m b er 1 9 9 6. T he m a t t er b e f o re me c o n c e r ns an u r g e nt a p p l i c a t i on f i l ed by t he A p p l i c a nt on 4 th S e p t e m b e r, 1 9 96 f or an o r d er i n t er a l ia d e c l a r i ng t h at he is t he s o le h e ir of h is w i fe t he d e c e a s ed ' M a k a m o h e lo C e c i l ia L i e k e t s e ng S e l lo ( N ee S e m a m o l a) a nd t h at he is t he o n ly p e r s on e n t i t l ed to d e t e r m i ne t he d e c e a s e d 's b u r i al p l a c e. T he m a t t er is o p p o s e d. On 6 th S e p t e m b er 1 9 96 t he 1 st R e s p o n d e nt ' M a m o t l a t si S e m a m o la w ho is t he m o t h er of t he d e c e a s ed a nd w ho a c t u a l ly l i v ed w i th t he l a t t er at t he t i me of h er d e a th f i l ed a c o u n t er a p p l i c a t i on in w h i ch s he s o u g ht f or a R u le N i si c a l l i ng u p on t he " r e s p o n d e n t" to s h ow c a u se w hy i n t er a l ia " in v i ew of t he c i r c u m s t a n c es p r o c e e d i ng t he d e a th of ' M a k a m o h e l o, t he S e l lo f a m i ly h e a d ed by A p p l i c a n t 's f a t h e r, or a n o t h er f a m i ly 2 / . .. - 2- h e ad s h a ll n ot be o r d e r ed to a s s e m b le at ' M a k a m o h e l o 's m a i d en h o me in t he p r e s e n ce of c h i ef f r om b o th s i d es w h e r e at t h ey s h a ll m e et F i r st a nd S e c o nd R e s p o n d e n ts h e r e in a nd d i s- c u ss t he r e l e a se of t he d e c e a s ed ' M a k a m o h e lo S e l l o ." T h at a p p l i c a t i on is a l so b e f o re me f or d e t e r m i n a t i on t o d ay a nd it is a l so o p p o s e d. To c o m p o u nd t he m a t t er f u r t h er on 1 0 th S e p t e m b er 1 9 96 t he F i r st R e s p o n d e nt f i l ed y et a n o t h er a p p l i c a t i on b e i ng f or c o n t e m pt of c o u rt a g a i n st F i r st R e s p o n d e nt f or a l l e g e d ly h a v i ng f a i l ed to c o m p ly w i th t he c o u rt o r d er in t he a b o ve m e n t i o n ed c o u n t er a p p l i c a t i o n. T h is a p p l i c a t i on is a l so o p p o s e d. A ll t he t h r ee a p p l i c a t i o ns w e re f or c o n v e n i e n ce a r g u ed t o g e t h er w i th t he c o n s e nt of a ll t he p a r t i es on 1 9 th S e p t e m b er 1 9 9 6. I p r o c e ed t h en to d e al w i th t he m e r i ts of e a ch a p p l i- c a t i on in t he s e q u e n ce in w h i ch t h ey w e re f i l ed w h i ch w as a l so t he s e q u e n ce in w h i ch t h ey w e re a r g u e d. T he m a in A p p l i c a t i on A l t h o u gh t h is a p p l i c a t i on w as i n i t i a l ly o p p o s ed t he c o u rt w as h o w e v er i n f o r m ed on t he 1 2 th S e p t e m b er 1 9 96 t h at t he p a r t i es h ad r e a c h ed a c o n s e n s us in t he m a t t er to t he f o l l o w- i ng e f f e c t: ( 1) t h at t he d e c e a s ed w o u ld be b u r i ed at Ha M a b o te in M a s e ru d i s t r i c t; ( 2) t h at t he d a te of b u r i al w as b e i ng d e f e r r ed u n t il t he a p p l i c a nt h ad a r r i v ed b a ck f r om t he m i n es in t he R e p u b l ic of S o u th A f r i ca a nd t h at o n ce s u ch d a te h ad b e en d e t e r m i n ed 3 / . .. - 3- t he F i r st R e s p o n d e nt ' M a m o t l a t si S e m a m o la w o u ld be i n f o r m ed t h r o u gh h er c h i e f. ( 3) t h at a f t er t he d a te h ad b e en d e t e r m i n ed t he F i r st R e s p o n d e nt ' M a m o t l a t si S e m a m o la w o u ld go to t he A p p l i c a n t 's h o me w h e re s he a nd d e c e a s e d 's m o t h er in l aw w o u ld p e r f o rm t h e ir l a st r i t u a l s. I n d e ed at t he h e a r i ng of t he m a t t er on 1 9 th S e p t e m b er 1 9 96 t he R e s p o n d e n ts c o n c e d ed t he A p p l i c a n t 's r i g ht to b u ry t he d e c e a s e d. C o n s e q u e n t ly I c o n f i r m ed t he R u le in t e r ms of. p r a y e rs 2 ( a) a nd ( c) a nd r e l e a s ed t he d e c e a s e d 's b o dy to t he A p p l i c a nt f or b u r i a l. T he a r g u m e nt b e f o re me w as t h e r e f o re c o n f i n ed to c o s ts w h i ch M r. P h o o f o lo f or t he A p p l i- c a nt i n s i s t ed u p on a nd s u b m i t t ed t h at t h ey s h o u ld be on a t t o r n ey a nd c l i e nt s c a l e. It is t r i te l aw t h at t he q u e s t i on of c o s ts is p r e- e m i n e n t ly a m a t t er f or t he d i s c r e t i on of t he t r i al c o u r t. T he c o u rt m u st h o w e v er e x e r c i se t he d i s c r e t i on j u d i c i a l ly a nd n ot a r b i t r a r i ly or c a p r i c i o u s l y. M o r e o v er it is t r i te l aw t h at c o u r ts a re l o a th to g r a nt c o s ts on a t t o r n ey a nd c l i e nt s c a le l i g ht h e a r t e d ly a nd t h at it w i ll o f t en be in v e ry c l e ar c a s es w h e re s u ch c o s ts a re a w a r d ed s u ch as a b u se of c o u rt p r o c e s s, f r i v o l o us or v e x a t i o us c l a i m, t he c o n d u ct a n d / or m i s c o n d u ct of a l i t i g a nt as w e ll as h is a t t o r n e y, d i s- c o u r t e sy to t he c o u r t, m o r al c o n s i d e r a t i o n s, d i s h o n e s ty or f r a ud ( t he l i st is n ot e x h a u s t i v e ). s ee N el v W a t e r b e rg L a n d b o u w e rs K o - O p e r a t i e we V e r e n i g i ng 1 9 46 A . D. 5 9 7. A c l o se r e a d i ng of t he p a p e rs b e f o re me h as l e ft me in 4 / . .. -4- no d o u bt t h at t he f i r st t wo r e s p o n d e n ts h a ve c o n c e d ed t he A p p l i c a n t 's r i g ht to b u ry t he d e c e a s e d. I am s a t i s f i ed t h at t he f i l i ng of o p p o s i ng p a p e rs a nd c o u n t er a p p l i c a t i on w as m e r e ly to e n a b le t he r e s p o n d e n ts to e n t er i n to d i s- c u s s i o ns w i th t he A p p l i c a n t 's f a m i ly r e g a r d i n g, i n t er a l i a, f u n e r al a r r a n g e m e n t s. In t h is r e g a rd p a r a g r a ph 3 of t he o p p o s i ng a f f i d a v it of s e c o nd R e s p o n d e nt M o t l a t si S e m a m o le s t a t es in p a r t :- "I a nd t he f a m i ly h as no i n t e n t i on of h o l d i ng on to t he r e m a i ns of o ur d e c e a s ed s i s t e r. B ut at t he s a me t i me we do n ot h a ve a p a r c el ( p h a h l o) in o ur p o s s e s s i o n. We a re s t i ll a w a i t i ng t he A p p l i c a nt a nd h is f a m i ly to c o me to us to d i s c u ss h er e x p u l s i o n / n g a l a e ng a nd h er f u n e r a l. We a ll r e c o g n i ze t h at A p p l i c a n t 's e x p u l s i on of o ur s i s t er n ot w i t h- s t a n d i ng he h as t he r i g ht to b u r y. B ut t h at d o es n ot m e an A p p l i c a nt s h o u ld i g n o re t he c i r c u m s t a n c es t h at s u r r o u n d ed my s i s t er b e i ng at h er m a i d en h o m e ." In p a r a g r a ph 14 of h er o p p o s i ng a f f i d a v it t he F i r st R e s p o n d e nt h e r s e lf c o n c l u d es by s t a t i ng as f o l l o w s: "I am m a k i ng t h is a f f i d a v it to s h ow t h at n o b o dy d e n i es t h at A p p l i c a nt h as b e t t er r i g h ts to ' M A K A M O H E L O, b ut t h at S E M A M O LA f a m i ly d o es n ot k n ow of a p a r c el w h i ch A p p l i c a n t, h is m o t h er a nd h is s i s t er c a me l o o k i ng f o r ." W h at I f o u nd m o st d i s t u r b i ng in t h is m a t t er is t he c a v a l i er m a n n er in w h i ch t he c o u rt w as t r e a t ed by t he A p p l i c a nt a nd h is c o u n s e l. On t he r e t u rn d a te of t he m a t t er on 6 th S e p t e m b er 1 9 96 t he c o u rt a nd r e s p o n d e n t s' a t t o r n ey w e re k e pt w a i t i ng t he w h o le d ay w i t h o ut e v en a d e c e n cy of 5 / . .. - 5- an e x p l a n a t i on f u r n i s h ed to t he c o u rt w hy t he A p p l i c a n t 's c o u n s el c o u ld n ot a p p e ar in c o u r t. It is t h is t y pe of a r r o g a n ce a nd d i s c o u r t e sy to t he c o u rt t h at h as led me to d e ny t he a p p l i c a nt c o s ts in t he m a t t er as a m a rk of t he c o u r t 's d i s p l e a s u r e. In t he r e s u lt t h e r e f o re t he R u le is c o n f i r m ed in t e r ms of p r a y e rs 2 ( a) and ( c) of t he N o t i ce of M o t i o n. T h e re s h a ll be no o r d er as to c o s t s. T he C o u n t er A p p l i c a t i o n. I h a ve a l r e a dy f o u nd t h at t he f i l i ng of t he c o u n t er c l a im in t h is m a t t er w as m e r e ly to e n a b le t he r e s p o n d e n ts to e n t er i n to d i s c u s s i o ns w i th t he A p p l i c a n t 's f a m i ly r e g a r d i ng f u n e r al a r r a n g e m e n t s. T he c o u n t er a p p l i c a t i on w as c o u c h ed in t he f o l l o w i ng t e r m s :- " 1. T h at r u l es of C o u rt as to f or and s e r v i ce be dispensed with on account of the Urgency of this matter, 2. T h at a R u le N i si be i s s u ed c a l l i ng u p on R e s p o n d e nt to s h ow c a u se w hy ( a) A p p l i c a nt or h is a g e n ts s h a ll n ot be i n t e r d i c t ed f r om r e m o v i ng t he b o dy of C E C E L IA M A K A M O H E LO S E L LO f r om M a n g w a ne F u n e r al S e r v i ce p e n d i ng t he o u t c o me of t h e se p r o c e e d i n g s. 6/... - 6- ( b) In v i ew of t he c i r c u m s t a n c es p r o c e e d i ng t he d e a th of M A K A M O H E L O, t he S e l lo f a m i ly h e a d ed by A p p l i c a n t 's f a t h e r / or a n o t h er f a m i ly h e ad s h a ll n ot be o r d e r ed to a s s e m b le at M A K A M O H E L O 'S m a i d en h o me in t he p r e s e n ce of c h i ef f r om b o th s i d es w h e r e at t h ey s h a ll m e et F i r st a nd S e c o nd R e s p o n d e n ts h e r e in and d i s c u ss t he r e l e a se of t he d e c e a s ed M A K A M O H E LO S E L L O. ( c) S h o u ld p r a y er ( c) of t he m a in A p p l i c a t i on be i n t e r p r e t ed to m e an t h at t he H o n o u r a b le C o u rt h as a l l o w ed t he r e l e a se of t he b o dy of M A K A M O H E LO to A p p l i c a nt t h en t he R e s p o n- d e n ts p r ay t h at t he A p p l i c a nt s h o u ld s h ow c a u se w hy he and h is f a m i ly h e a d ed by h is f a t h er or f a m i ly h e ad s h a ll n ot m e et w i th R e s p o n d e n t 's f a m i ly at M A K A M O H E L O 'S m a i d en h o me to d i s c u ss t he c i r c u m s t a n c es s u r r o u d i ng h er e x p u l s i on n g a l a i n g. ( d) T h at A p p l i c a nt s h ow c a u se w hy he s h a ll n ot be r e s t r a i n ed f r om b u r y i ng M A K A M O H E LO S E L LO p e n d i ng t he f u l f i l l m e nt of p r a y e rs ( b) or ( c) a b o v e. ( e) T h at in v i ew of t he c i r c u m s t a n c es p r o c e e d i ng t he d e a th of M A K A M O H E LO S E L L O, A p p l i c a n ts s h ow c a u se w hy t he p a r t i es s h a ll n ot a g r ee on t he d a te of t he b u r i al of t he d e c e a s ed M A K A M O H E LO S E L L O. ( f) T h at A p p l i c a nt s h a ll n ot pay c o s ts of t h is A p p l i c a t i on on t he a t t o r n ey and c l i e n ts s c a l e. ( g) R e s p o n d e n ts s h a ll n ot be g i v en f u r t h er and or a l t e r n a t i ve r e l i e f. 3. T h at p r a y e rs a, b, c and d, o p e r a te as I n t e r im O r d er w i th i m m e d i a te e f f e c t ." - 7- T he R u le N i si w as g r a n t ed on 6th S e p t e m b er 1 9 96 r e t u r n a b le on 1 1 / 9 / 96 a f t er t he c o u rt h ad b e en a s s u r ed by M r s. K o t e lo t h at t he A p p l i c a n t 's a t t o r n ey M r. P h o o f o lo h ad b e en m a de f u l ly a w a re of t he a p p l i c a t i o n. O n ly p r a y e rs 1, 2 ( a) ( b) a nd ( d) w e re o r d e r ed to o p e r a te w i th i m m e d i a te e f f e c t. M r. P h o o f o lo h as m a de m u ch of t he f a ct t h at t he i n t e r im o r d e rs in t h is m a t t er w e re g r a n t ed in t he a b s e n ce of h is c l i e n t. W e ll I c an o n ly s ay t h at t h ey h a ve t h e m s e l v es to b l a me f or t r e a t i ng t he c o u rt in t he c a v a l i er m a n n er t h at t h ey d id a nd a b s e n t i ng t h e m s e l v es w i t h o ut a ny e x c u se f u r n i s h ed to t he c o u r t. On t he o t h er h a nd t he c o u rt h ad no r e a s on to d o u bt w h at M r s. K o t e lo i n f o r m ed it n a m e ly t h at t he A p p l i c a n t 's a t t o r n ey w as f u l ly m a de a w a re of t he c o u n t er a p p l i c a t i o n. M r s. K o t e lo is an o f f i c er of t h is c o u rt a nd t he m a t t er w as by its v e ry n a t u re e x t r e m e ly u r g e n t. In a ny e v e nt t he c o u rt c o n s i d e r ed t h at t he A p p l i c a nt s u f f e r ed no p r e j u d i ce f r om t he i n t e r im o r d e rs it m a de in as m u ch as w h at w as s o u g ht t h e r e in w as m e r e ly c o n s u l t a t i on b e t w e en t he t wo f a m i l i es c o n c e r n e d. T he A p p l i c a n t 's r i g ht to b u ry as s u ch w as n ot b e i ng c h a l l e n g e d. T he c o u rt c o n s i d e r ed t h at s u ch c o n s u l t a t i on w as n e c e s s a ry if t h e re w as to be a d e c e nt b u r i al to t he d e c e a s e d 's b o dy and t he c o u rt w as d e t e r m i n ed to a c h i e ve t h is e n d. It w as f or t he a b o ve r e a s o ns t h at t he c o u rt f e lt t he c i r c u m s t a n c es of t h is c a se d i f f e r ed f r om t h o se in K h a k e t la v M a l a h l e ha a nd o t h e rs C of A ( C i v) N o. 18 of 1991 w h i ch M r. P h o o f o lo r e l i ed so h e a v i ly on . 8 / . .. -8- It is i n d e ed c o m m on c a u se t h at t he d e c e a s ed p a s s ed a w ay w h i le l i v i ng w i th h er m a i d en p a r e n ts s i n ce t he 1 5 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. T he A p p l i c a nt a l l e g es s he h ad n g a l a ed b ut t he r e s p o n- d e n ts say s he h ad b e en e x p e l l ed f r om h er m a r i t al h o m e. As I s ee i t, it d o es n ot r e a l ly m a t t er w h e t h er s he h ad n g a l a ed or h ad b e en e x p e l l e d. N ow t h at s he h ad d i ed w i t h o ut t he i s s ue h a v i ng b e en t h r a s h ed o ut by t he t wo f a m i l i es in a c c o r d a n ce w i th c u s t om t he q u e s t i on of h er b u r i al h ad to be a d d r e s s ed as a m a t t er of u r g e n c y. D i c t a t es of g o od m o r a ls d e m a n d ed c o n- s u l t a t i on b e t w e en t he t wo f a m i l i e s. I t h e r e f o re r e j e ct M r. P h o o f o l o 's s u b m i s s i on t h at b e c a u se t he A p p l i c a nt h ad t he r i g ht to b u ry c o n s e q u e n t ly he w as n ot b o u nd to e n t er i n to a ny c o n s u l t a t i o ns w i th t he d e c e a s e d 's m a i d en p a r e n ts r e g a r d- ing h er b u r i a l. In h is i n v a l u a b le b o ok : C o n t e m p o r a ry F a m i ly L aw of L e s o t ho : W . C . M. M a q u tu p u ts t he m a t t er v e ry s u c c i n t ly on p a ge 1 95 :- " T he M a b o na c a se a nd o t h er c a s es i m p ly t h at t h e re s h o u ld be c o n s u l t a t i on b e f o re t he p a r ty w ho h as a f i n al say p r e v a i l s. C u s t om m a k es it a c o n d i t i on p r e c e d e nt t h at p a r t i es s h o u ld c o n s u lt a nd e v en a sk f or f a m i ly i n t e r v e n t i on b e f o re a ny of t he p a r t i es e x e r c i s es t he l e g al r i g ht to p r e v a i l. In B a s o t ho s o c i e ty t he g e n e r al p r a c t i ce is to c o n- s u lt w i d o ws a nd t a ke t h e ir w i s h es i n to a c c o u nt w h en m a le r e l a t i v es d e c i de b e f o re a f i n al d e c i- s i on on t he q u e s t i on of b u r i al is r e a c h e d ." It is a l so c o r r e ct as t he l e a r n ed a u t h or W . C . M. M a q u tu o b s e r v es on p a ge 1 90 of h is b o ok t h at " a l t h o u gh c o u r ts a re t r y i ng to f o r m u l a te g e n e r al p r i n c i p l es on t he s u b j e ct ( t he D u ty to b u r y) o ur c o n f u s ed d u al s y s t em is a p r o b l em in i t s e l f ." 9/. -9- I w o u ld c a u t i o n, t h e r e f o r e, a g a i n st t he a ir of s e l f- r i g h t e o u s n e ss as d e m o n s t r a t ed by t he A p p l i c a nt in t h is c a s e, s i m p ly b a s ed on t he f a ct t h at he is t he d e c e a s e d 's h u s b a nd a nd h e i r. In my v i ew e a ch c a se m u st be d e c i d ed on i ts o wn m e r i ts a nd t he c o u rt m u st n ot be b o u nd by a ny i n f l e x i b le r u l es w h en d e t e r m i n i ng t he q u e s t i on as to w ho h as t he r i g ht to b u r y. It is t r ue t he h e ir m u st a l w a ys be g i v en f i r st p r e f e r e n ce w h e n e v er it is j u st to do so b ut t h e re m ay w e ll be c a s es w h e re e v en t he h e ir h i m s e lf is u n s u l t ed to b u ry t he d e c e a s ed s u ch as for e x a m p le w h e re he h as n ot l i v ed w i th t he d e c e a s ed f or a v e ry i n o r d i n a te l e n g th of t i me a nd h as a c t u a l ly k i l l ed t he l a t t er in c i r c u m s t a n c es r e p u g n a nt to p u b l ic m o r a l i ty s u ch as f or r i t u al p u r p o s e s. T h is c o u rt s u b s c r i b es to t he v i ew t h at in d e t e r m i n i ng t he d u ty to b u ry t he c o u rt m u st be g u i d ed by a s e n se of w h at is r i g ht as w e ll as p u b l ic p o l i c y. In d e v e l o p i ng h is a r g u m e nt t h at t he A p p l i c a nt w as e n t i t l ed to i g n o re t he r e s p o n d e n ts a nd go a h e ad w i th t he b u r i al w i t h o ut a ny c o n s u l t a t i on M r. P h o o f o lo r e f e r r ed t he c o u rt to S e r e ma L e t h u n ya a nd a n o t h er v M a t l e re T h e j a ne a nd a n o t h er C I V / A P N / 1 7 8 / 8 7. I do n ot t h i n k, h o w e v e r, t h at M r. P h o o f o lo r e ad t he f o l l o w i ng r e m a r ks of L e h o h la J. on p a ge 2 of t he j u d g m e n t :- " B ut d e a l i ng as we a re h e re w i th a m a t t er of c u s t om I h a ve r e s o l v ed to t a ke t he v i ew t h at in as m u ch as a m a t t er of c u s t o m a ry l aw m a r r i a ge d e n o t es n ot m e r e ly a U n i on b e t w e en t he p a r t i es to t h at m a r r i a ge b ut a l so t h e ir r e s p e c t i ve p a r e n t s' f a m i l i e s' i n t e r e st a nd r i g ht in t he m a r r i a g e, t h e re d o es n ot s e em 1 0 / . .. - 1 0- to be a ny g r a ve d a n g er in a s s u m i ng t h at L e s e s a 's e l d er b r o t h er as h e ad of t he L e t h u n ya f a m i ly as he a v e rs a l b e it b e l a t e d ly in his r e p l y i ng a f f i d a- v it is a t r ue a nd p r o p er r e p r e s e n t a t i ve of L e s e sa b e f o re t h is c o u r t ." W i th r e s p e ct I a g r ee e n t i r e ly w i th t he p r i n c i p le e n u n c i a t ed t h e r e i n. I c o n c l u de t h e r e f o re t h at t he d e c e a s e d 's m a i d en p a r e n ts c o u ld n ot s i m p ly be i g n o r ed in t he m a t t er a nd t h at t he a p p l i c a t i on f or c o n s u l t a t i on w as w e ll t a k en in t he c i r c u m s t a n c e s. I o b s e r ve t h at in L e t h u n y a 's c a se t he c o u rt w as c o n c e r n ed n ot w i th c o n s u l t a t i on as s u c h, b ut w i th w h e t h er a r e s o l u t i on of t he q u e s t i on of t he d e c e a s e d 's n g a la s h o u ld be d e t e r m i n ed b e f o re t he b u r i a l. T he t wo c a s es a re t h us d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e. M r. P h o o f o lo r a i s es t he o b j e c t i on f or t he f i r st t i me in a r g u m e nt b e f o re me t h at M a m o t l a t si S e m a m o la w ho f i l ed t he c o u n t er a p p l i c a t i on h ad no l o c us s t a n di to do so " it b e i ng o b v i o us f r om t he a f f i d a v i ts t h at M o t l a t si is t he m a le i s s u e, s on of t he r e s p o n d e nt a nd h e ir of t he f i r st r e s p o n d e n t ." As I s ee it t h e re a re f o ur p r o b l e ms to t h is a r g u m e nt w h i ch I h a ve no h e s i t a t i on in d i s m i s s i ng s t r a i g ht a w a y. T h ey a re t h e s e :- (!) As s t a t ed a b o ve t h e re h as b e en no o b j e c t i on to t he c o u n t er a p p l i c a t i on b a s ed on l o c us s t a n d i. ( 2) T h e re is n o w h e re in t he a f f i d a v i ts t h at M o t l a t si is s h o wn to be t he h e i r. ( 3) T he q u e s t i on w h e t h er a p e r s on h as l o c us s t a n di or n ot is a q u e s t i on of f a ct w h i ch 1 1 / . .. - 1 1- m u st be p r o v ed on t he f a c t s. T h e re is no s u ch p r o of b e f o re m e. ( 4) T he A p p l i c a nt h ad h i m s e lf s u ed M a m o t l a t si S e m a m o la in t he m a in a p p l i c a t i o n. T he l a t t er w as t h e r e f o re in my v i ew e n t i t l ed to b r i ng a c o u n t er a p p l i c a t i on in t he s a me m a t t e r. M r. P h o o f o lo t h en s u b m i ts t h at p r a y er 2 ( b) of t he c o u n t er a p p l i c a t i on w as s e r i o u s ly f l a w ed in as m u ch as t he c o u rt w as b e i ng a s k ed to g r a nt o r d e rs a g a i n st p e o p le w ho w e re n ot p a r t i es to t he p r o c e e d i n gs b e f o re it s u ch as t he A p p l i c a n t 's f a t h e r. I c o n s i d er t h at t e c h n i c a l ly s p e a k i ng t h e re is m e r it in t h is a r g u m e nt a nd t h at t he p r a y er as w e ll as t he o r d er t h e r e in w e re i n e l e g a n t ly d r a f t e d. It is s i g n i f i c a nt h o w e v er t h at on t he 1 2 th S e p t e m b er 1 9 96 t he c o u rt w as i n f o r m ed by b o th p a r t i es t h at a c o n s e n s us h ad b e en r e a c h ed a f t er a ll a nd t h at c o n s u l t a t i on b e t w e en t he p a r t i es h ad t a k en p l a ce as o r d e r e d. In t he c i r c u m s t a n c es t he a r g u m e nt b e f o re c o u rt m a i n ly t u r n ed on c o s ts on t he i n s i s t e n ce of M r. P h o o f o lo f or t he A p p l i c a n t. In t he c i r c u m s t a n c es of t h is c a se I s ee no r e a s on f or d e p a r t i ng f r om t he c o u r t 's a p p r o a ch on c o s ts in t he m a in a p p l i c a t i on h e r e in as a b o ve s t a t ed in as m u ch as we a re d e a l- i ng w i th e s s e n t i a l ly o ne a nd t he s a me m a t t e r. T h is w as a f a m i ly m a t t er in w h i ch r e c o n c i l i a t i on a nd c o n s u l t a t i on s h o u ld h a ve b e en u p p e r m o st on t he m i n ds of t he l i t i g a n ts in o r d er to h a ve a d e c e nt b u r i a l. A l ot of u n n e c e s s a ry a c r i m o ny w as 1 2 / . .. - 1 2- a l l o w ed to d e v e l op b e t w e en t he p a r t i es w i th t he r e s u lt t h at t he c o u r t 's v a l u a b le t i me w as w a s t ed in t he p r o c e s s. C o n- s e q u e n t ly I o r d er t h at t h e re s h a ll be no o r d er as to c o s t s. C o n t e m pt of C o u rt I h a ve a l r e a dy f o u nd t h at p r a y er 2 ( b) of t he c o u n t er a p p l i c a t i on as w e ll as t he o r d er t h e r e in w e re i n e l e g a n t ly d r a f t e d. P r e d i c a t a b ly t he A p p l i c a nt h as s o u g ht to h i de b e h i nd t h is t e c h n i c a l i ty on t he g r o u nd t h at t he i n t e r im c o u rt o r d er d id n ot d i r e ct h im to " s p e c i f i c a l ly do a n y t h i n g ." N or d o es t he m a t t er e nd t h e r e. In p a r a g r a ph 7 of h is answering a f f i d a v it t he A p l i c a nt s t a t es as f o l l o w s: " W h i le I h a ve no d e s i re to d i s o b ey an o r d er of t h is c o u r t, I s u b m it t h at it is n ot p o s s i b le to c o m p ly in as m u ch as I h a ve a l r e a dy s t a t ed s u ch an a t t e m pt h as a l r e a dy b e en m a d e, a nd my e f f o r ts w e re f r u i t l e s s. I a l so c a n 't i n s t r u ct a ny m e m b er of my f a m i ly w ho is n ot c i t ed as a p a r ty in t h is p r o c e e d i n gs to go to d e c e a s e d 's h o me as t h is H o n o u r a b le C o u rt h as o r d e r e d. I r e s p e c t f u l ly s u b m it t h at t h is o r d er w as e r r o n e o u s ly g r a n t ed in my a b s e n c e, and a f t er r e s p o n d e n ts d id n ot d i s c l o se to t h is H o n o u r a b le C o u rt t he f a ct t h at I and my f a m i ly h a ve a l r e a dy v i s i t ed t h em f or d i s c u s s i o ns as p r a y ed f or in my a p p l i c a- t i o n. F u r t h e r m o re t he o r d er is p r e j u d i- c i al a nd h u m i l i a t i ng to me a nd my f a m i ly b e c a u se my f a m i ly is no l o n g er on t a l k i ng t e r ms w i th r e s p o n d e n ts in t he m a t t e r. C o n s e q u e n t ly I am g o i ng to a sk at t he e a r l i e st o p p o r t u n i ty t h at t he r u le be dischared." 13/... - 1 3- T he A p p l i c a n t 's a t t i t u de as a f o r e s a id w as p e r s i s t ed in by h is a t t o r n ey M r. P h o o f o lo b e f o re me on t he 1 1 th S e p t e m b er 1 9 96 w h en he a r g u ed t h at t he i n t e r im c o u rt o r d er w as " i m p o s s i b le a nd h u m i l i a t i n g" to h is c l i e n t. T he c o u rt t h en w a r n ed M r. P h o o f o lo t h at h is c l i e n t 's a t t i t u de a m o u n t ed to c o n t e m pt a nd t h at u n t il s u ch c o n t e m pt h ad b e en p u r g ed he c o u ld n ot be h e a r d. I am s a t i s f i ed t h at t he m a in r e a s on f or t he A p p l i c a n t 's n on c o m p l i a n ce w i th t he i n t e r im c o u rt o r d er w as b e c a u se t he A p p l i c a nt f e lt t h at it w as e r r o n e o us a nd h u m i l i a t i ng to h i m. T h us he d id n ot e v en m a ke a t o k en a t t e m pt to c o m p ly t h e r e t o. I n d e ed a f t er t he m a t t er h ad b e en s t o od d o wn a f t er t he c o u r t 's w a r n i ng as a f o r e s a id t he c o n t e m pt w as f u l ly p u r g e d. T h e re w as c o n s u l t a t i on b e t w e en t he p a r t i es r e s u l t i ng in a c o n s e n s us as e a r l i er s t a t e d. I f i nd t h at t he a p p l i c a t i on f or c o n t e m pt w as b o th b o na f i de a nd n e c e s s a ry to p r e s e r ve t he c o u r t 's d i g n i t y. In t he c i r c u m s t a n c es of t he c a se I d e c l i ne h o w e v er f r om c o m m u t i ng t he A p p l i c a nt to c o n t e m p t. I do so v e ry r e l u c t a n t ly on t he t e c h n i c a l i ty a d v a n c ed a b o v e. In f a i r n e ss to M r s. K o t e l o, s he d id n ot i n s i st on a f i n d i ng of c o n t e m pt as s u ch a f t er t he c o n s e n s us r e a c h ed by t he p a r t i e s. T h e re h as n ow b e en s u b s t a n t i al c o m p l i a n ce w i th t he c o u rt o r d e r. O n ce m o re t he a r g u m e nt b e f o re me t u r n ed on t he q u e s t i on of c o s ts u p on t he i n s i s t e n ce of M r. P h o o f o lo w ho f e lt t h at h is c l i e nt w as in t he r i g ht a nd t h at c o n s e q u e n t ly he w as e n t i t l ed to c o s t s. O ne w as r e m i n d ed of t he d u b i o us S hy l o ck in t he s t o ry b o o k: T he M e r c h a nt of V e n i c e. T h at g e n t l e m an is c r e d i t ed w i th h a v i ng i n s i s t ed u p on h is p o u nd of f l e sh w h i ch u l t i m a t e ly b a c k - f i r ed on h i m. 1 4 / . .. -14- As e a r l i er s t a t ed I h a ve t a k en i n to a c c o u nt t he c a v a l i er m a n n er in w h i ch t he c o u rt w as t r e a t ed by t he A p p l i c a nt a nd h is c o u n s el in t h is m a t t e r. T he c o u rt d e s e r v es to be t r e a t ed w i th d i g n i ty a nd r e s p e ct at a ll t i m es e v en w h en l i t i g a n ts m ay f e el t h ey h a ve b e en w r o n g e d. H o w e v er t h is w as a f a m i ly m a t t er f or w h i ch t he c o u rt d o es n ot f i nd t he n e ed to p u n i sh o ne l i t i g a nt as a g a i n st t he o t h er w i th c o s ts in t he i n t e r e s ts of p r e s e r v i ng h a r m o ny b e t w e en t he t wo f a m i l i es c o n c e r n e d. In t he r e s u lt t h e r e f o re t h e re s h a ll be no o r d er as to c o s t s. T he A p p l i c a nt m ay c o u nt h i m s e lf l u c ky t h at he h as e s c a p ed h a v i ng to p ay c o s ts m e r e ly on t he t e c h n i c a l i ty in t he d r a f t i ng of t he i n t e r im c o u rt o r d er as a f o r e s a i d. O t h e rs r e l y i ng on s u ch t e c h n i c a l i t i es in f u t u re m ay n ot be so l u c ky as e a ch c a se m u st be d e t e r m i n ed on i ts o wn m e r i t s. M . M. R A M O D I B E DI A C T I NG J U D GE 3 0 th S e p t e m b er 1 9 96 F or A p p l i c a nt ; M r. P h o o f o lo F or 1 st a nd 2 nd R e s p o n d e n t s: M r s. K o t e lo