High Court of Malawi - 1992

61 judgments
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Results. 61 judgments found.

61 judgments
March 1992
Permission from the registered user (agent) defeats conversion claim absent proof of negligent driving.
  • Motor vehicle damage — Proprietary/possessory interest to sue despite registration in another’s name — Permission by registered user’s agent defeats conversion/trespass claim — No liability where no evidence of negligent or blameworthy driving — Insufficient proof of quantum of repair damages.
27 March 1992
27 March 1992
Failure to produce the alleged defamatory letter and to plead publication defeated the appellant’s defamation claim.
  • Defamation — pleading requirements for libel — statement of claim must set out words complained of or whole letter; publication must be pleaded — court’s limited duty to assist unrepresented litigants — failure to produce crucial evidence fatal to action.
27 March 1992
Summary judgment refused where defendant raised triable issue that payment was conditional on a bill of exchange.
  • Procedure — Summary judgment (Order 14) — Appropriate only where no real defence or triable issue — International sale of goods — Payment terms; bill of exchange as condition — Pleadings and affidavits must show absence of triable issue.
12 March 1992
February 1992
Assessment of damages for dog-bite: shock disallowed; plaintiff awarded K300 pain and K500 disfigurement.
  • Damages — personal injury (dog bite) — quantum — pain and suffering; disfigurement — shock requires medical evidence of nervous shock; special damages must be proved.
13 February 1992
Instalment payment refused where defendant misrepresented mortgage status and disposed assets to defeat creditors.
  • Civil procedure — application for payment by instalments of debt — misrepresentation of encumbrance/mortgage in property sale — disposal of assets to frustrate creditors — equitable considerations — costs.
10 February 1992
January 1992
Court awarded K28,880 for loss of dependency (multiplier 10) but refused unproven special damages; children’s shares to be invested in Court.
  • Damages for loss of dependency — quantification by annual dependency and multiplier — multiplier of 10 applied — apportionment between widow and children — unproven special damages not awarded — children’s shares to be paid into Court for investment.
31 January 1992
Whether a stay of execution pending appeal should be granted absent clear evidence the respondent cannot repay the damages.
  • Civil procedure — Stay of execution pending appeal (O.59 r.13) — Applicant must show payment would render appeal nugatory — Affidavit must prove respondent’s inability to repay (employment, income) — Court’s discretion exercised in favour of successful litigant; public policy and justice considerations.
30 January 1992
Whether a garage’s failure to maintain electrical installations and give notice excuses liability for a fire that destroyed a customer’s car.
  • Tort — negligence of garage in care of customer's vehicle; causation — electrical short circuit; exclusion clause and course of dealing; Fires Prevention (Metropolis) Act 1774 inapplicable to negligent fires; insurance proceeds not deducted from damages; assessment of special and general damages.
20 January 1992
Employee wrongfully dismissed, falsely imprisoned and maliciously prosecuted after employer-reported theft; damages awarded.
  • Employment law — wrongful summary dismissal — misconduct not proven; False imprisonment — employer’s report to police leading to unjustified arrest; Malicious prosecution — prosecution ending in plaintiff’s favour and motivated by malice; Damages — special, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution awards; No general damages for wrongful dismissal absent exceptional circumstances.
20 January 1992
Court accepted dependents' oral evidence to assess loss of dependency and awarded damages without deduction for widow's remarriage.
  • Damages for wrongful death — loss of dependency — oral evidence of household contributions accepted where wages not proved; split award (death-to-trial and post-trial) — multiplier fixed as at date of death; widow’s remarriage prospects not deducted; apportionment among dependents; child’s share to be invested.
8 January 1992