High Court of Malawi - 2019 April

26 judgments
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Results. 26 judgments found.

26 judgments
April 2019
Summary judgment granted where defendants' contributory‑negligence plea was a bare, unverified holding defence.
  • Civil procedure — Summary judgment (Order 12 r.23 CPR) — Sham/holding defence — Pleading requirements (Order 7 r.1, r.7 CPR) — Contributory negligence — Need for factual particulars, verification and list of documents.
30 April 2019
30 April 2019
30 April 2019
30 April 2019
30 April 2019
30 April 2019
Appeal against dismissal for failing to secure a failed train dismissed; disciplinary process found fair and lawful.
  • Employment law — unfair dismissal — validity of reason — failure to secure failed train with sprags; Procedural fairness — right to be heard and impartial disciplinary panel; Labour Relations Act s65 — appeals on question of law; Internal appeal — effect on procedural defects; Justice and equity under Employment Act.
29 April 2019
Whether circumstantial evidence and retracted caution statements can sustain a murder conviction absent a body.
  • Criminal law — Murder — Circumstantial evidence and confessions — Admissibility and weight of retracted caution statements (s.176 CP&EC) — Conviction without recovery of body — Common intention (ss.21–22 Penal Code).
26 April 2019
25 April 2019
24 April 2019
Court taxed party-and-party costs after reducing excessive time, allowed mediation costs, fixed hourly rate at K25,000, and taxed total K4,498,556.50.
  • Costs taxation — principles of reasonable and proportionate costs; hourly rates for counsel; recoverability of mediation costs; care and conduct allowance; instruction fees; limits on messenger/filing at counsel rates.
23 April 2019
18 April 2019
15 April 2019
15 April 2019
12 April 2019
11 April 2019
Court reversed acceptance of a presidential nomination due to lack of party authorization and improper countersignature.
  • Electoral law — nomination irregularity at nomination stage — justiciability of intra-party disputes — onus of proof under Political Parties Act s.37 — authority of party office-bearer to countersign nomination papers.
11 April 2019
The applicant was awarded compensation for unfair dismissal, severance pay, and damages for defamatory slander by the respondent.
  • Employment law — unfair dismissal — assessment under s63(4),(5) Employment Act 2000; employer blameworthiness and employee contribution; calculation of compensation and severance pay
  • Defamation — slander actionable per se where criminal conduct (theft) is imputed; assessment of general damages, comparable awards and inflation considerations
10 April 2019
Applicant failed to show sufficient reason to extend time to file a client’s own bill of costs.
  • Civil Procedure — Extension of time — Order 31 r.12 CPR — "sufficient reason" for delay — discretion exercised in interests of justice — inadequate affidavit — taxation of client’s own bill of costs — prejudice to administration of justice.
9 April 2019
Decree nisi granted for cruelty; custody to petitioner, maintenance, compensation and costs awarded; matrimonial house claim dismissed.
  • Divorce — Applicable law for pre-Act marriages — pre-2015 marriages governed by prior law; Jurisdiction — domicile; Grounds — adultery condoned; cruelty established by one act and pattern of conduct; Custody — best interests of children; Maintenance order; Compensation; Matrimonial house claim inapplicable to civil marriage; Costs awarded to petitioner.
9 April 2019
9 April 2019
8 April 2019
5 April 2019
Court refused late-stage live broadcasting request, balancing press freedom against accused’s right to a fair trial and court discretion.
  • Broadcasting court proceedings — audiovisual and audio coverage — balancing freedom of expression/press with accused’s right to fair trial — open justice — judicial discretion and safeguards — late-stage applications risk prejudice to accused.
3 April 2019
2 April 2019
The applicant proved on the balance of probabilities that the insured driver's negligent overtaking caused a fatal accident, making the respondent insurer liable.
  • Motor-vehicle accident — negligence — duty of care of driver — admissibility and probative value of police accident reports — insurer liability for negligence of insured driver.
1 April 2019