Senone and Another v Senone (C of A (CIV) 48 of 2011) [2012] LSCA 11 (27 April 2012)

IN THE COUR T OF AP PE AL OF LE S OTH O C OF A (CIV) NO. 4 8 / 2 0 1 1 In t h e m a t ter b etween : MOTONOS I SE NONE F IR S T AP PE LLANT ‘MAKAR ABO MOTJ OTJ I S E COND AP PE LLANT R E S P ONDE NT AND OE LE ANNA S E NONE (bo r n MOQULO) COR AM: S MALBE RGE R, J A S COTT, J A TE E LE , AJ A HE ARD: 1 7 APRIL 2 0 1 2 DE LIVE RE D: 2 7 APRIL 2 0 1 2 S UMMAR Y Ap p ea l a ga in s t r efu s a l of a p p lica t ion for r es cis s ion - b on a fid e d efen ce n ot es t a b lis h ed – a p p ea l d is m is s ed – m in or a lt er a t ion m a d e t o cou r t a qu o’s or d er – n o or d er a s t o cos t s of a p p ea l. J UDGME NT S MALBE RGE R, J A [1 ] On 2 8 J u n e 2 0 1 1 t h e r es p on d en t (a s a p p lica n t) b r ou gh t a n u r gen t a p p lica tion a ga in s t t h e a p p ella n ts (a s r es p on d en t s ) in t h e High Cou r t in wh ich s h e s ou gh t in ter d ict or y a n d ot h er r elief a ga in s t t h e r es p on d en t s (t h e m a in a p p lica tion ). A r u le n is i wa s gr a n t ed in h er fa vou r . On t h e s a m e d a y t h e r es p on d en ts , t h r ou gh t h eir a t t or n ey, filed a n otice of in ten tion to op p os e. No a n s wer in g a ffid a vits wer e filed b y t h e r es p on d en ts wit h in t h e p er iod p r es cr ib ed in High Cou r t Ru le 8 (1 0 ), a n d on 2 8 J u ly 2 0 1 1 , t h e exten d ed r etu r n d a y of t h e r u le n is i, Ch a k a -Ma k h ooa n e J con fir m ed t h e r u le n is i a n d m a d e t h e followin g or d er : (a ) (b ) 1 s t Res p on d en t livin g Ap p lica n t of p ea cefu l s ta y a n d m a tr im on ia l h om e a t Kh u b elu Ha Ab ia d is tr ict of Ma s eru p en d in g d ivor ce ca s e; is in terd icted fr om d es p oilin g th e th e th e in in th e 1 s t Res p on d en t b e ord ered a p p lica n t p os s es s ion of a ll th e room s of m a tr im on ia l res tore to to h om e a t Kh u b elu Ha Ab ia in th e d is tr ict of Ma s eru p en d in g d ivor ce ca s e; (c) (d ) (e) (f) (g) 1 s t Res p on d en t fr om th rea ten in g Ap p lica n t with th r ea ts of a s s a u lt a n d d ea th ; in terd icted for th with is 1 s t Res p on d en t is in ter d icted for th with fr om ta k in g wom en to m a tr im on ia l h om e u n d er th e p reten ce of h ir in g th em with ou t Ap p lica n t ’s con s en t; 2 n d Res p on d en t is ejected fr om Ap p lica n t ’s a n d 1 s t Res p on d en t’s m a tr im on ia l h om e; 1 s t Res p on d en t is or d ered to con tr ib u te to cos ts of Ap p lica n t’s lega l rep res en ta tion in th e m a in d ivor ce ca s e in th e a m ou n t of M1 2 ,0 0 0 .0 0 ; 1 s t Res p on d en t is or d ered to con tr ib u te a n d or p a y th e a m ou n t of cos ts of M8 ,0 0 0 .0 0 ”. th is a p p lica tion in I s h a ll con tin u e t o r efer to t h e p a r ties a s in t h e cou r t a qu o. [2 ] On 3 1 Au gu s t 2 0 1 1 t h e r es p on d en ts la u n ch ed a n u r gen t a p p lica t ion for t h e r es cis s ion of t h e cou r t a qu o’s or d er a n d for a s ta y of execu tion , t h e fou n d in g a ffid a vit b ein g a tt es ted b y t h e fir s t r es p on d en t (t h e r es cis s ion a p p lica tion ). Th e m a tt er wa s op p os ed b y t h e a p p lica n t . No a n s wer in g a ffid a vit wa s filed , t h e a p p lica n t b ein g con ten t (t h r ou gh h er lega l r ep r es en ta t ive) t o con fin e h er s elf, a s s h e wa s en titled t o, to r a is in g cer t a in p oin t s of la w in ter m s of High Cou r t Ru le 8 (1 0 ) (c). Th es e r ela ted , in s ofa r a s t h ey a r e r eleva n t , t o t h e r es p on d en ts ’ a lleged fa ilu r e to es t a b lis h t h a t t h ey wer e n ot in wilfu l d efa u lt in fa ilin g to file a n s wer in g a ffid a vit s in t h e m a in a p p lica tion t im eou s ly, a n d t h a t t h ey h a d fa iled to d is clos e a b on a fid e d efen ce. On 2 3 Sep tem b er 2 0 1 1 Ch a k a -Ma k h ooa n e J , in a n “ex tem p or e r u lin g”, u p h eld t h e p oin ts of la w r a is ed , d is m is s ed t h e r es p on d en t s ’ a p p lica tion for r es cis s ion , a n d d ir ected t h e cos ts t o b e cos ts in t h e ca u s e, p r es u m a b ly in t h e p en d in g m a tr im on ia l p r oceed in gs b etween t h e fir s t r es p on d en t a n d t h e a p p lica n t . Th e p r es en t a p p ea l is d ir ect ed a ga in s t h er or d er in t h a t r ega r d . [3 ] Th e a p p ea l r ecor d in clu d es a n a n s wer in g a ffid a vit b y t h e fir s t r es p on d en t, a n d a s u p p or tin g a ffid a vit b y t h e s econ d r es p on d en t, b ot h d a t ed 1 1 Au gu s t 2 0 1 1 i.e. a fter t h e or d er in t h e m a in a p p lica tion h a d a lr ea d y b een gr a n ted . Th ey d o n ot b ea r t h e s t a m p of t h e Regis tr a r of t h e High Cou r t a n d it is u n cer ta in a s t o wh et h er t h ey wer e ever filed . Th e fir s t r es p on d en t’s fou n d in g a ffid a vit in t h e r es cis s ion a p p lica tion r efer s on ly t o t h eir p r ep a r a tion a n d a n a t tem p t t o file t h em on 1 7 Au gu s t 2 0 1 1 . Th ey a r e n ot ot h er wis e a llu d ed to or in cor p or a ted b y r efer en ce in h is fou n d in g a ffid a vit . [4 ] In or d er for t h e r es p on d en ts to s u cceed in t h eir a p p lica tion for r es cis s ion it wa s in cu m b en t u p on t h em to es t a b lis h t h a t t h ey wer e n ot in wilfu l d efa u lt a n d t h a t t h ey h a d a b on a fid e d efen ce in t h e m a in a p p lica tion . Th ey cla im ed in t h eir fou n d in g a ffid a vits in t h e r es cis s ion a p p lica tion t h a t it h a d a lwa ys b een t h eir in ten tion t o op p os e t h e m a in a p p lica tion , b u t b la m ed t h eir a tt or n ey’s illn es s for t h eir fa ilu r e tim eou s ly t o file t h eir a n s wer in g a ffid a vits . It a p p ea r s to b e com m on ca u s e t h a t t h eir a t tor n ey, wh o op er a ted a on e m a n p r a ctice, wa s in d is p os ed d u e t o illn es s a t t h e r eleva n t tim e, a n d t h a t t h e r u le n is i wa s b y con s en t exten d ed on a ccou n t of t h a t, p r es u m a b ly to en a b le t h e n eces s a r y a n s wer in g a ffid a vit s t o b e filed . Yet n ot h in g h a p p en ed d es p ite a s s u r a n ces fr om th eir a t t or n ey t h a t a lter n a tive a r r a n gem en t s wou ld b e m a d e t o a s s is t t h em . In t h e cir cu m s ta n ces I wou ld b e d is in clin ed to h old t h a t t h e r es p on d en ts wer e in wilfu l d efa u lt . I wou ld wa r n , h owever , a ga in s t t h e in cr ea s in g ten d en cy on t h e p a r t of p a r ties in d efa u lt to r ely u p on t h e la xity of t h eir lega l r ep r es en ta tives a s p r ovid in g a s u fficien t a n d a ccep ta b le exp la n a tion for s u ch d efa u lt . Litiga n ts s h ou ld b e a wa r e of t h e fa ct t h a t t h er e is a lim it b eyon d wh ich t h ey ca n n ot es ca p e t h e r es u lt of t h eir lega l r ep r es en t a tives ’ la ck of d iligen ce. [5 ] Wh ile t h e r es p on d en t s a r e a b le to over com e t h e fir s t h u r d le in s eek in g r es cis s ion t h ey fa lt er a t t h e s econ d – a fa ilu r e t o es t a b lis h a b on a fid e d efen ce, s a ve in on e m in or r es p ect . As I u n d er s t a n d t h e r es p on d en ts ’ d efen ce it r es ts on es s en tia lly th r ee legs : (1 ) t h e m a in a p p lica tion wa s “n ovel” a n d “ir r egu la r ” h a vin g r ega r d t o t h e fa ct t h a t t h er e wer e d ivor ce p r oceed in gs p en d in g b etween t h e p a r ties a n d t h a t t h e is s u es r a is ed wer e on es t h a t fell t o b e d ea lt wit h a t t h e tr ia l; (2 ) t h a t t h er e wa s n o lega l ju s tifica tion for t h e a wa r d of a con tr ib u tion towa r d s cos ts , m or e p a r ticu la r ly in a n a m ou n t of M1 2 ,0 0 0 .0 0 ; a n d (3 ) t h a t t h e or d er (g) t o con tr ib u t e or p a y cos t s of t h e a p p lica tion in t h e a m ou n t of M8 ,0 0 0 .0 0 wa s n ot ju s t ified . I s h a ll d ea l wit h ea ch of t h em in t u r n . [6 ] Wit h r ega r d t o th e fir s t a r gu m en t , t h er e wa s n ot h in g t h a t p r eclu d ed t h e a p p lica n t fr om b r in gin g t h e m a in a p p lica tion on a n u r gen t b a s is . Nor wa s t h er e a n yt h in g ir r egu la r in t h e p r a yer s s ou gh t b y h er . Ba s ed on t h e a llega tion s in h er fou n d in g a ffid a vit s h e wa s en titled to s eek t h e r elief s h e d id a ga in s t t h e r es p on d en ts in p r a yer s (b ) t o (g) h a vin g r ega r d p a r ticu la r ly t o t h e a lleged u n la wfu l con d u ct of t h e fir s t r es p on d en t . In t h e a b s en ce of a n s wer in g a ffid a vits fr om t h e r es p on d en t s t h e lea r n ed ju d ge a qu o wa s fu lly ju s tified in gr a n tin g s u ch p r a yer s . Th e fir s t r es p on d en t in h is fou n d in g a ffid a vit in t h e r es cis s ion a p p lica tion h a s fa iled t o r evea l a n y d efen ce t o t h e a p p lica n t ’s a llega tion s . He s eek s t o r ely on t h e fa ct t h a t h e h a s in s tit u ted d ivor ce p r oceed in gs a ga in s t h er , b u t t h a t in it s elf is n o a n s wer t o h er s p ecific a llega tion s of m is con d u ct . E ven if on e a s s u m es in t h e fir s t r es p on d en t’s fa vou r t h a t h is a n s wer in g a ffid a vit in t h e m a in a p p lica tion wa s filed , a lb eit ou t of tim e a n d a fter t h e r elief s ou gh t b y t h e a p p lica n t h a d b een gr a n ted , a n d t h a t r ega r d m a y b e h a d t o it in t h e r es cis s ion a p p lica tion , it t oo d oes n ot r evea l a n y s u s ta in a b le d efen ce to t h e a p p lica n t ’s cla im s . Pa r a gr a p h 9 in fa ct con t a in s a n a d m is s ion of a n a s s a u lt u p on t h e a p p lica n t , a n d h er ot h er a llega tion s a r e s im p ly m et wit h b a ld d en ia ls or va gu e a n d u n s a tis fa ctor y r es p on s es . [7 ] As fa r a s t h e s econ d p oin t r a is ed is con cer n ed , wh ile t h er e is n o s p ecific p r ovis ion in t h e High Cou r t Ru les for a n a p p lica tion for a con tr ib u tion towa r d s cos ts in m a tr im on ia l m a t ter s , t h er e is n ot h in g in t h e High Cou r t Act 1 9 7 8 wh ich p r eclu d es s u ch a n or d er b ein g s ou gh t, or d en ies t h e High Cou r t ju r is d iction t o gr a n t it , a n d s u ch or d er s h a ve b een m a d e in t h e p a s t – s ee t h e u n r ep or ted ju d gm en t in MOKUKU v MOKUKU CIV/ APN/ 2 9 8 / 9 7 d eliver ed on 1 4 Ap r il 1 9 9 8 . Th er e wa s t h er efor e n ot h in g ir r egu la r in p r a yer (h ) b ein g s ou gh t a n d gr a n t ed . Th e a m ou n t of M1 2 ,0 0 0 .0 0 cla im ed wa s s a id t o cor r es p on d t o t h e a m ou n t t a k en fr om t h e join t es ta te fu n d s b y t h e fir s t r es p on d en t to p a y for h is lega l fees . On ce a ga in t h is wa s n ot d ea lt wit h in t h e fir s t r es p on d en t ’s fou n d in g a ffid a vit in th e r es cis s ion a p p lica tion . In h is a n s wer in g a ffid a vit t h e fir s t r es p on d en t a d m it ted t h a t h e wa s ob liged to con tr ib u te t owa r d s a p p lica n t’s lega l cos t s b u t h e d is p u ted t h e r ea s on a b len es s of t h e a m ou n t cla im ed , a n d d en ied t h a t h e h a d ta k en M1 2 ,0 0 0 .0 0 fr om t h e p a r ties com m u n ity fu n d s t o p a y for h is lega l fees . Th e ju d ge a qu o h a d a d is cr etion t o gr a n t t h e a m ou n t cla im ed , or a les s er a m ou n t. S h e elect ed t o gr a n t t h e a m ou n t cla im ed . On t h e fa ce of it t h e a m ou n t is n ot u n r ea lis tic, a n d it ca n n ot b e s a id t h a t s h e exer cis ed h er d is cr etion im p r op er ly. [8 ] Wit h r ega r d to t h e t h ir d p oin t r a is ed , t h e ju d ge a qu o or d er ed t h e fir s t r es p on d en t (s ee p a r a gr a p h (g) of t h e cou r t’s or d er ) “to con tr ib u te or p a y cos ts of t h is a p p lica tion in t h e a m ou n t of M8 ,0 0 0 .0 0 ”. Th e s tip u la tion of a n a m ou n t of M8 ,0 0 0 .0 0 wa s clea r ly m a d e in er r or . Th e a p p lica n t wa s en titled t o t h e cos ts of t h e m a in a p p lica tion a s la ter t a xed , n o m or e. If t h e t a xed cos ts a r e les s t h a n M8 ,0 0 0 .0 0 (a s I s u s p ect t h ey m igh t b e) t h er e is n o r ea s on wh y t h e a p p lica n t s h ou ld r eceive m or e t h a n s h e is en titled to; in t h e u n lik ely even t of t h e ta xed cos t s b ein g m or e, s h e wou ld b e en titled to r ecover t h e fu ll a m ou n t . Th e wor d in g of p a r a gr a p h (g) of t h e or d er a ccor d in gly r equ ir es cor r ection . Th a t , h owever , wou ld n ot h a ve a m ou n ted to a s u fficien t p r os p ect of s u cces s to ju s tify t h e gr a n tin g of t h e r es cis s ion a p p lica tion , a lt h ou gh it m igh t h a ve fou n d ed a gr ou n d of a p p ea l. [9 ] It follows t h a t a s t h e r es p on d en ts fa iled t o m a k e ou t a ca s e for r es cis s ion t h eir a p p lica tion wa s cor r ectly r efu s ed a n d t h eir a p p ea l fa lls t o b e d is m is s ed . Th e a lter a tion of p a r a gr a p h (g) of t h e cou r t’s or d er r ep r es en ts a m in or d egr ee of s u cces s on a p p ea l – s o m in or t h a t it d oes n ot ju s tify a cos ts ’ or d er in fa vou r of t h e r es p on d en t s . However , it wou ld s eem to b e fa ir to m a k e n o or d er a s to t h e cos ts of a p p ea l. [1 0 ] Th e followin g or d er is m a d e: 1 . Th e a p p ea l is d is m is s ed . 2 . Pa r a gr a p h (g) of t h e or d er of t h e cou r t a qu o in t h e m a in a p p lica tion d a t ed 2 8 J u ly 2 0 1 1 is a lter ed t o r ea d : “1 s t R e s p o n d e n t is o r d e r e d t o p a y t h e c o s t s o f t h is a p p lic a t io n ” . 3 . Th er e will b e n o or d er a s t o t h e cos ts of a p p ea l. _______________________ J . W. S MALBE R GE R J US TICE OF APPE AL ______________________ D. G. S COTT J US TICE OF APPE AL _____________________ M. E . TE E LE ACTING J US TICE OF APPE AL I a gr ee: I a gr ee: For Ap p ella n ts For Res p on d en ts : : Ad v R. A. Nt em a Ad v K. Nd eb ele