High Court of Malawi - 1981

9 judgments
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Results. 9 judgments found.

9 judgments
November 1981
Lease expired by effluxion of time; no new tenancy proved and acceptance of payments did not create one; possession and mesne profits awarded.
  • Landlord and tenant — expiry of fixed-term lease by effluxion of time — whether correspondence and acceptance of arrears create new tenancy or waive notice to quit — burden of proof for arrears.
25 November 1981
October 1981
Contractor breached an entire building contract by failing to complete within the agreed time; plaintiff recovered K4,000, special damages and counterclaim dismissed.
  • Contract law — entire contract; time made of the essence and agreed extension; breach by contractor for non‑completion; recovery of interim payments where consideration has failed; insufficient proof of special damages; counterclaim dismissed for contractor’s breach.
21 October 1981
1 October 1981
May 1981
Whether employer or vehicle owner bears vicarious liability for negligent driving; court finds owner liable as principal/agent.
  • Vicarious liability — respondeat superior — course of employment — owner liability as principal/agent — burden of proof — special damages (repair costs).
30 May 1981
April 1981
6 April 1981
February 1981
Plaintiff proved oral defamation; defendant's truth defence failed and damages of K2,500 awarded.
  • Defamation — oral publication — actionable per se; defence of truth/justification — burden on defendant — absence of proof; damages for injury to reputation and business; hearing in absence after personal service.
26 February 1981
Delay and refusal to deliver essential agricultural items breached an indivisible contract, entitling the buyer to repudiate and recover the deposit.
  • Contract law — mixed written and oral terms — representations as contractual terms; Sale of goods — entire/indivisible contract; time of delivery of essence; fundamental breach entitling repudiation; proof and certainty of damages (loss of profits).
23 February 1981
Provocation did not reduce compensatory damages for assault causing permanent hearing loss; plaintiff awarded K4,000 plus costs.
  • Tort — Assault and battery — Damages for physical injury — Provocation as mitigation — Permanent eardrum perforation and partial hearing loss — Compensatory damages not reduced by trivial provocation.
9 February 1981
January 1981
Whether the defendant could withhold the purchase balance where a limited repair warranty existed and defects were minor.
  • Sale of goods — specific goods v. sale by description — scope of verbal warranty limited to repair of manufacturer’s defects (6,000 miles/6 months) — minor intermittent oil leaks do not amount to lack of conformity — post-sale accidents/misuse attributable to buyer — buyer not entitled to withhold balance.
16 January 1981