Latu v Tohi [2008] TOLawRp 7; [2008] Tonga LR 34 (18 February 2008)

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF TONGA
Supreme Court, Nuku'alofa

CV 1071/2007

Latu anor

v

Tohi

Andrew J
18 February 2008

Practice and procedure – strike out application – arguable case – application dismissed

The defendants applied to strike out the action principally on the ground that the pleadings did not show any proper terms of agreement which the defendants had breached. The plaintiffs had hired a container to freeze and store fresh produce to be shifted to New Zealand. The second defendant was the Tongan agent in respect of the vessel. There was a dispute as to the findings of the electricians for the respective parties and as to whether the compressor of the container was faulty or not.

Held:

1. The principles upon which an application to strike out a claim may be entertained by the court are those set out in Jagroop v Soakai [2001] Tonga LR 234 (CA) at 236. No party should have his claim denied without a hearing in the ordinary way except where the claim is so hopeless that it cannot possibly succeed.

2. The defendants may have had a strong case but there were factual matters in dispute which could only be resolved at trial and it could not be said that the defendants' case was so hopeless that they did not have an arguable case.

3. The application was dismissed with the costs of the application ordered to be costs in the cause.

Cases considered:

Jagroop v Soakai [2001] Tonga LR 234 (CA)

Tahaafe anor v Tea anors [2002] Tonga LR 13

Rules considered:

Supreme Court Rules 2007

Counsel for the plaintiffs : Mr Kaufusi
Counsel for the defendants : Mr 'Etika

Judgment

This is an application to strike out the action in this matter principally on the ground that:

"The pleadings do not show any proper terms of agreement which the defendants have breached to entitle the plaintiffs' to claim the sum of N.Z. D$17,800 by way of special damages, TOP7,326.59 by way of special damages and TOP$5,000 by way of general damages."

The application is made pursuant to Order 8 Rules 6(i), (ii), and (iii) of the Supreme Court Rules.

In Tahaafe anor v Tea anors [2002] Tonga LR 13, the principles applicable to strike out applications as set out in Jagroop v Soakai [2001] Tonga LR 234 (CA) at 236 were confirmed in the following terms:

"The principle upon which an application to strike out a claim may be entertained by the Court is clear. No party should have his claim denied without a hearing in the ordinary way except where the claim is so hopeless that it cannot possibly succeed ... If the (Plaintiff) has a cause of action which may possibly succeed he is entitled to pursue it."

The plaintiffs had hired a container known as a reefer, to freeze and store fresh produce to be shifted to New Zealand in one of the vessels which the 2nd defendant is the agent for in Tonga. They say that the reefer is hired out for the storage of frozen farm produce.

The defendants say, in essence that the plaintiff's cargo had not been pre-frozen to the set-point temperature required, prior to loading:

– That the units were not designed to be used as blast freezers.

– The plaintiffs did not accept the defendant's advice on the container's performance.

– That the plaintiff's signed in Refrigerated Container Release form which exonerated the defendants from any responsibility where the container was sued as a blast freezer and where various temperature settings were not complied with.

It may be that the defendants have a strong case but from my reading of the pleadings I am satisfied that there are factual matters in dispute. For example there are disputes in relation to the findings of the plaintiffs electrician and the defendants electrician. There is a dispute as to whether the compressor of the container was faulty or not. I think that these are issues which can only be resolved at trial and I cannot say that the defendant's case is hopeless to the extent that it does not have an arguable case. As stated there are factual issues in dispute and in these circumstances I am not prepared to strike the action out.

The application is dismissed. Costs of the application are to be costs in the cause.