High Court of Malawi Civil Division - 1993 May

7 judgments
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Results. 7 judgments found.

7 judgments
May 1993
The applicant awarded substantial damages for serious, permanent injuries caused by the respondent's negligent driving.
  • Motor-vehicle negligence — Assessment of damages — Personal injuries — Serious and permanent injury — Closed head injury and open fracture with deformity — Application of restitutio in integrum and reliance on comparable awards — Default defendants absent at quantum assessment.
31 May 1993
Failure to obtain required ministerial consent rendered the local authority’s contract illegal, barring the contractor’s recovery.
  • Public law / procurement — Local Government (Urban Areas) Act — statutory tender requirements — ministerial consent for accepting non‑lowest tender — failure to obtain consent renders award and contract illegal and void ab initio — innocent contractor cannot recover under illegal contract.
27 May 1993
A nationally broadcast false allegation that the plaintiff stole money was defamatory per se; K300,000 awarded; exemplary damages considered.
  • Defamation — slander actionable per se — nationwide broadcast — aggravating factors (plaintiff’s high reputation, extent of publication, political motive, lack of apology) — exemplary damages — Rookes v. Barnard considered but Malawian courts retain broader discretion — compensatory award K300,000
26 May 1993
Court awarded compensatory and, where justified, exemplary damages for prolonged false imprisonment and destruction of property by public officers.
  • Civil liability — False imprisonment and trespass to land and goods; exemplary (punitive) damages versus aggravated (compensatory) damages; assessment of quantum; misconduct by public officers; deterrence and punishment.
19 May 1993
Arbitrary police arrest and detention without lawful cause attract discretionary general and exemplary damages.
  • False imprisonment — assessment of damages — discretionary nature of awards for loss of liberty and injury to feelings — exemplary damages against public officers for arbitrary arrest and delay in release after court order.
19 May 1993
Interlocutory injunction discharged where equity showed respondent might be unjustly enriched and substantive issues were for trial.
  • Interim injunctions — vacation/discharge — equitable principles — bills of exchange — remittance and exchange control — alleged fraud and unjust enrichment — interlocutory discretion.
19 May 1993
Summary judgment refused where authenticity of minutes, authorization of directors’ remuneration and tax-evasion allegations raised triable issues.
  • Civil procedure — Summary judgment (Order 14 r.3(1)) — Genuine triable issues of fact — Authenticity of minutes — Directors’ remuneration and authorization — Alleged tax-avoidance entries — Counterclaim treated as defence — Discovery and trial directions.
18 May 1993