High Court of Malawi Civil Division - 2018 February

8 judgments
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Results. 8 judgments found.

8 judgments
February 2018
Registrar has no authority to grant summary judgment; defective sworn statement cannot be used without court leave.
  • Civil procedure — Summary judgment (Order 12 r23) — Meaning of 'Court' — Registrar's powers (Order 25) — Final vs interlocutory relief — Sworn statement formalities (Order 18 r7(5)(c),(d)) — Leave required to use defective statement.
28 February 2018
Applicants' false imprisonment and negligence claims failed where respondent lacked knowledge of an injunction and could not reasonably foresee arrests.
  • Civil liability — False imprisonment — Requirement that detention be commenced by defendant or by his orders — Negligence — Duty of care, breach and causation — Foreseeability — Effect of intervening police discretion — Notice and timing of injunctive orders.
28 February 2018
Claimants failed to prove false imprisonment, malicious prosecution or defamation; defendant had reasonable cause to report alleged theft.
  • Tort — False imprisonment — Liability for reporting to police; Malicious prosecution — requirement of termination in favour and absence of reasonable and probable cause and proof of malice; Defamation — publication or conduct; Acquittal does not automatically negate reasonable cause for prosecution.
28 February 2018
Adultery established on balance of probabilities via call logs and witness evidence; plaintiff awarded damages and costs.
  • Family law — Adultery — proof by circumstantial evidence (call/text logs and witness admission) — damages for loss of consortium and humiliation — default judgment permitted where defendant absent.
20 February 2018
Claimant who operated machinery without authorization failed to prove employer negligence; claim dismissed with costs.
  • Personal injury — Employer negligence — Duty of care — Unauthorized operation of workplace machinery — Burden of proof on claimant — Credibility of witnesses — Causation and remoteness of damage.
19 February 2018
Driver held negligent and insurer liable to policy limits; plaintiff awarded costs and ordered to seek damages assessment.
  • Delict/Negligence — duty of care, breach and causation — road traffic accident liability; Insurance law — insurer liable to extent of policy cover; Assessment of damages and costs.
19 February 2018
Failure to meet procedural prerequisites led the court to stay, rather than dismiss, the judicial review hearing.
  • Civil procedure — premature setting down of matter — failure to file defences — absence of scheduling conference — alleged improper commencement and joinder — stay of judicial review proceedings.
9 February 2018
Assessment of personal-injury damages: quantum fixed for pain, loss of amenities and disfigurement; special claims partly awarded; earning-capacity claim dismissed.
  • Personal injury — Assessment of damages — Pain and suffering; Loss of amenities of life; Disfigurement; Special damages require pleading and proof; Loss of earning capacity — insufficient evidence.
6 February 2018