PacLII Home | Databases | WorldLII | Search | Feedback

Supreme Court of Vanuatu

You are here:  PacLII >> Databases >> Supreme Court of Vanuatu >> 2021 >> [2021] VUSC 159

Database Search | Name Search | Recent Decisions | Noteup | LawCite | Download | Help

  Download original PDF


Pakoa v Amos [2021] VUSC 159; Civil Case 3472 of 2018 (7 July 2021)

IN THE SUPREME COURT
OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
(Civil Jurisdiction)

Civil
Case No. 18/3472 SC/CIVL


BETWEEN:

Dolcy Pakoa
Claimant
AND:
Harry Amos and Family, Mark Amos and Family, Leisalae Amos and Family, Kalsong Amos and Family, Joseph Amos and Family, Philip Amos and Family, Caleb Amos and Family, David Amos and Family, Marie John Delwin Manaon, Telma John Delwin and Family, Dolcy John Delwin and Family, Mark Robert and Family Jacob and Leipunusar Lukai and Family, Jack Robert and Family, Tiamua Lukai and Family, Ethah Lukai and All Family
Defendants


Before:
Justice Oliver Saksak
In Attendance:
No appearance for Claimant

Jack I Kilu for Defendants/ Counter-Claimants

Date of HEARING:
Date of Decision :
2nd day of July, 2021 at 2:00 PM
7th July 2021

DECISION


  1. The claim of the claimant filed on 17 December 2018 is dismissed.
  2. The claimant sought three reliefs: (a) an eviction order against the defendants from Lease title 11/0821/030 within 30 days; (b) mesne profits; and (c) costs.
  3. On 17 April 2019 the claimant filed an application seeking leave to remove the first relief sought, for reasons the defendants had vacated the title from 1 March 2019 and therefore eviction was no longer an issue.
  4. On 22 May 2019 Mrs Marie-Noelle F Patterson ceased acting for the Claimant. As such no leave had been granted and no amended claim was filed.
  5. The Claimant has not taken any active steps to pursue her claims since her lawyer ceased acting.
  6. Under Rule 9.10 (1) and (2) of the Civil Procedure Rules the Court strikes out the claim and proceeding.
  7. The defendants have however pursued their counter-claims for –
  8. The defence and counter-claim was filed on 6 March 2019 after the defendants had vacated the claimant’s property.
  9. The Claimant filed a reply on 22 March 2019 stating –
  10. The Claimant therefore denied the counter-claims stating –
  11. The Claimant sought an order striking out the counter-claims with indemnity costs. The claimant relied on her sworn statement filed on 4 April 2019.

Discussion

  1. At the hearing in Chambers on 2 July 2021 the Claimant was not present. Neither was she ever present at any other previous conferences by herself or a lawyer since her previous lawyer ceased acting.
  2. I had indicated orally to Mr Kilu after hearing submissions from him that I would grant judgment in favour of the defendants on their counter-claim, but that it was to be for a reduced amount.
  3. I have however reflected on that position after reading the evidence by sworn statements filed by the defendants and the replies of the claimant filed on 23 March 2019 and the sworn statement filed by the claimant on 4 April 2019 in support of her replies.
  4. The views I expressed orally to Mr Kilu must now change in light of further scrutiny of the defendants’ counter –claim in light of the pleadings and evidence before the Court.

Findings


  1. From the evidence I find as follows:-

Conclusion

  1. For those reasons the counter-claims of the defendants fail in their entirety and are hereby dismissed.
  2. In the circumstances of this case it is my view there will be no order as to costs. Each party is to bear their own costs.

DATED at Port Vila this 7th day of July, 2021

BY THE COURT


...........................

Oliver Saksak

Judge



PacLII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback
URL: http://www.paclii.org/vu/cases/VUSC/2021/159.html