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Samoa - Index to Western Samoa Law Reports - 1970-1979 |
WESTERN SAMOA LAW REPORTS
1970-1979
Prepared & compiled by Neroni Slade
Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Western Samoa
Case Name
Court
&/or citationDate
Ah Mu v Ah Mu & Ah Mu (CA)
Appeal against dismissal of action seeking a declaration of nullity of a deed of conveyance of land - credibility of witnesses - judge's assessment of evidence at trialCourt of Appeal
25 & 27
October 1977Ao (Pauga) v Leota (Pu'a) et al
Land law - Samoan freehold land held by a Samoan as an individual - customary rights of family and community not applicable - successionSupreme Court
3, 4 & 18
August 1978Apia Bottling Company Limited v A-G & Director of Economic Development
Administrative Law - Cabinet - exercise of discretionary powers - duty to act fairly - power to grant economic incentives to proposed enterprises - compliance with statutory requirements - equity - laches - civil procedure - declaratory judgment - how court's jurisdiction to be exercisedSupreme Court
27 & 28 February;
6 April 1979A-G v Watson
Breach of Civil Aviation Regulations - dangerous operation of aircraft - failure to meet aeroplane take-off performance requirementsSupreme Court
28 August 1972
A-G v Western Samoa National Provident Fund & Berking
Administrative law - Statutory Corporations - Powers of appointment of managers and staff governed by empowering statute - civil procedure - role of declaratory orders in cases where other coercive measures inappropriateSupreme Court
10 & 12
January 1979Breckwoldt & Company Limited v Samoa Iron & Steel Fabricators Limited
Sale of goods - conditions of sale specified on confirmation of order - merchantable quality of goodsSupreme Court
20 & 21 September;
14 October 1977Breckwoldt & Company Limited v Samoa Iron & Steel Fabricators Limited (No. 2)
Civil procedure - Judgment - settlement of date for conversion into Western Samoan currency where plaintiff entitled to judgment in $USSupreme Court
2 February 1978
Breckwoldt & Company Limited v Samoa Iron & Steel Fabricators Limited (No. 3)
Civil procedure - leave to appeal must be sought in spite of fact that appeal lies as of rightSupreme Court
1 May 1978
Commission of Inquiry and Tauvaga (Tofilau), In re:
Function and Procedures of Commissions of Inquiry - natural justiceSupreme Court
28 November 1973
Commissioner of Inland Revenue v Samoa Printing & Publishing Company Limited
Company law - income tax - carrying forward of losses - change of shareholders - legal and beneficial ownership of shares under Agreement for Sale of Shares
Contract - Sale of total shareholding of company - whether vendors trustees for purchasers pending completionSupreme Court
25 & 29
September 1972Commissioner of Inland Revenue v Samoa Printing & Publishing Company Limited (CA)
Appeal - Error in Agreed Statement of Facts placed before trial judge by counselCourt of Appeal
30 May;
1 June 1973Commissioner of Inland Revenue v Western Samoa Handicrafts Industry Development Corporation
Administrative law - statutory corporations - whether immune from taxationSupreme Court
25 July;
3 August 1977Commissioner of Labour v Electric Power Corporation
Administrative law - statutory corporations - express terms required to constitute a statutory corporationSupreme Court
12 & 22 July 1977
Election Petitions re Palauli North (Le Falefa) Territorial Constituency No. 41
Qualification of electors - Holders of a matai title appearing on Register of Matais - "lawful holder" - - unauthorized method of polling votesSupreme Court
27, 28, 29 & 30 March;
18 & 23 July 1973Election Petition re Gagaifomauga No. 1 Territorial Constituency No. 30
Qualifications of candidates - registration of matai title - procedural requirements, especially publication of particularsSupreme Court
29 March;
5 September 1973Election Petition re Fa'asaleleaga No. 4 Territorial Constituency No. 26
Candidates polling equal number of votesSupreme Court
5 May 1976
Election Petition re Safata Territorial Constituency No. 13
Election - corrupt practices - bribery - standard of proof - evidence - accomplices - petition for declaration that election voidSupreme Court
17, 18 & 30 April;
10 May 1979Election Petition re Individual Voter's Roll
Election - corrupt practices - treating - distributing large quantities of beer and foodSupreme Court
26 April;
10 May 1979Election Petition re Aleipata (Itupa i Lalo) Territorial Constituency No. 19
Elections - corrupt practices - bribery and treating - lavish gifts of food and moneySupreme Court
19, 20, 23 & 24
April;
10 May 1979Election Petitions re Fa'asaleleaga No. 2 Territorial Constituency No. 24
Jurisdiction of courts to investigate - Qualifications of voters including customary matters - conferring matai titles - objections to conferral of matai titles - customary reconciliation - corrupt practices - bribery and treatingSupreme Court
3, 4, 7 & 10
May 1979Election Petition re Palauli North (Le Falefa) Territorial Constituency No. 41 (No. 2)
Elections - corrupt practices - bribery - standard of proof - evidence - corroboration and accomplicesSupreme Court
1, 2 & 10
May 1979Election Petition re Palauli North (Le Falefa) Territorial Constituency No. 41 (No. 3)
Constitutional law - loss of citizenship on acquisition of another nationality - elections - qualifications of candidatesSupreme Court
1 & 3
October 1979ET Oldhaver & Company Limited v A-G on behalf of Minister of Lands
Lease for a term of years with right of renewal - failure to give written notice to renew - constructive notice - action for specific performance based on part performance - tenant at will - claim for relief against forfeitureSupreme Court
19 May;
17 June 1977ET Oldhaver & Company Limited v A-G on behalf of Minister of Lands (CA)
Appeal - Lease for a term of years with right of renewal - failure to give written notice to renewCourt of Appeal
25 & 27
October 1977Fuala'au v Fuamatu
Theft - appropriation of money by servant - defence of intention to repay - information amended to charge forgerySupreme Court
3 July;
6 September 1974International Finance & Services Limited v South Pacific Island Airways Inc & Wray & Steffany
Breach of contract - application for stay of proceedings - whether action oppressive or vexatious or an abuse of process - balance of convenience - principles applicable when parties resident outside jurisdictionSupreme Court
13 & 24
August 1979Laufasa et al v A-G on behalf of Land Board of Western Samoa
Appeal against decision of Land Board re lease to reclaimed land - civil procedure - form and procedure for appealSupreme Court
27 August 1979
Leia et al v Police
Criminal law - sentencing process - previous convictionsSupreme Court
26, 29 & 30
November 1979Leota (Lesitala) v Police
Wilful damage - review of authorities - recklessnessSupreme Court
7 & 14
August 1978Lone v Kalati
Claim for damages for breach of bailmentSupreme Court
8 & 11
October 1979Manuao (Leilua) v Police
Criminal law - admissibility of evidence in other cases - receiving stolen property - judicial notice of prior convictionsSupreme Court
6 August 1979
Matatumua v Samoa Times (Apia) Limited & Fa'alogo
Defamation - libel - plea of justification - proof of truth of material statements or "substance" - inaccuracies in detail not necessarily defeating pleaSupreme Court
4, 22 & 24 August;
13 September 1977Meisake v Public Service Appeal Board
Administrative Law - Natural justice - method of appointment of Public Service Commission - applicant's right of appeal - Civil Procedure - power of court to order joinder of parties discretionary - equitable principlesSupreme Court
23 September;
19 October;
16 November 1970;
13 January 1971New Samoa Industries Limited v A-G
Practice and Procedure - Discovery - State privilege to refuse disclosure of documents if such disclosure would be "injurious to the public interest"Supreme Court
18 December 1978;
19 February 1979Ng Lam v Ng Lam
Petition for dissolution of marriage - separation for not less than 5 years - birth of child during "separation" - denial of paternitySupreme Court
14 May;
12 August;
2 September 1971Ng Lam v Ng Lam (No. 2)
Petition for dissolution of marriage - separation for not less than 5 years - wilful desertion - paternity of child born while "living apart" - Independent evidence of relationship between parties - corroboration
"Living apart" - casual and intermittent acts of sexual intercourse do not necessarily terminate separation - whole circumstances to be considered - likelihood of reconciliation - Court's discretion - general policy of law re irretrievable failure of marriage - wrongful conduct of a partySupreme Court
17 February 1972
Police v Alofia
Jurisdiction of Magistrates' Courts - contempt of court - inherent power of courts to deal with contempt at common lawSupreme Court
12 & 17
October 1977Police v Faisaovale, Paila, Mo'a & Sita
Murder - joint accused - joint venture - proof of common intention - no evidence as to who fired shotSupreme Court
15 October 1975
Police v Fuataga et al
Criminal Law - Motion for severance of trials - 4 accused jointly charged with murder - interests of justice - Constitutional right to fair trial - conspiracySupreme Court
21 & 22
April 1970Police v Iosefa & Sao
Evidence - admissibility of confessions - theft - means of obtaining admissions - joint charge and proof of joint possessionSupreme Court
22 & 23 March;
11 & 12 April;
1 May 1978Police v Meleisa
Narcotics offences - possession and dealing - addiction as mitigation - sentencingSupreme Court
18 August 1978
Police v Meredith
Unauthorized parking on wharf - repugnancy re RegulationsSupreme Court
26 September 1972
Police v Moli & Eni
Murder - joint accused - no evidence of which accused administered fatal blow - no evidence of common intentSupreme Court
8 March 1979
Police v Musu
Admissibility of evidence - statement to police by accusedSupreme Court
5 & 6
March 1975Police v Patu
Appeal from conviction for conspiracy to defraud - uncorroborated evidence of accompliceSupreme Court
5 & 12
September 1977Police v Pula
Driving offences - negligent driving - failing to stop after an accident - driving under the influence of alcohol - driving "on a road"Supreme Court
7 & 18
April 1978Police v Tapa
Sexual intercourse with girl under 21 alleged to be ward of accused and living as member of his familySupreme Court
21 August;
13 September 1974Police v To'alua, Taupulega, Si'omia, Sio (TP) & Sio (OP)
Criminal procedure - Application for retrial - new evidence disclosed after trial - rape - contradictory medical evidence - relevance of victim's injuries to issue of consentSupreme Court
3 & 6
December 1974Police v Uasu et al
Sentence for assault - Matai & wife convicted of assault but daughter pleading guilty to assume entire blame - perjury - duties of mataiHigh Court
4 & 5
September 1958Price Control Officer v Morris Hedstrom Limited
Sale of goods in breach of Price Order and failure to display list of prices fixed by Price Control Board - statutory interpretation - drafting error creating ambiguity - application of ejusdem generis ruleSupreme Court
14 September 1972
Registrar of Electors and Voters v Macdonald
Elections - qualifications of voters - new voters - statutory interpretationSupreme Court
10 & 20
September 1979Sale v Police
Armed with a dangerous weapon without lawful purpose - Matai armed with a broomstick - purpose of "keeping the peace" - whether sufficientSupreme Court
3 April 1978
Samoa Iron & Steel Fabrication Limited v Breckwoldt and Company Limited
Appeal against judgment for payment of drafts given in payment for galvanised steel - findings of fact - findings must be demonstrably wrong and not supported by the evidence - civil procedure - leave to adduce new evidenceCourt of Appeal
30 & 31 October;
1 November 1978Samoan Public Trustee v Patu
Torts (Negligence) - Common law duty of master to take reasonable care for safety of servants - contributory negligence - burden of proof - quantum of damages in fatal accidents - method of assessment
Customary ceremony held not to be in settlement of claim for damages for loss of lifeSupreme Court
25, 26, 27 & 28
October 1971;
27 January 1972Sesega v Lesã
Theft by government employee - fee paid for forged document - whether fee property of governmentSupreme Court
8 & 12
June 1970Si'omia (Ti'a) v Police
Criminal Law - burden of proof - presumption of innocence - evidential onus on accused to prove "lawful purpose" - legal burden of proving guilt beyond reasonable doubt remains on prosecution
Constitutional law - enactment by Legislature inconsistent with Constitution declared void to extent of inconsistency
Statutory InterpretationSupreme Court
23 March 1970;
26 March 1971Su'a (Tofamamao) v Su'a (Tamara Cecilia)
Jurisdiction of Land and Titles Court - "customary land" - claim to house on landSupreme Court
21 March;
17 April 1978Timoteo (Tupe Peter) v Police
Appeal against conviction for unlawful sexual intercourse - proper conduct of trial - inadmissible evidence of conversations - false written statements - cross-examination without leave - no self-direction by trial judge as to evidence and prior inconsistent statements - alleged admission of guilt unsupported by relevant admissible testimony - effect of evidence of son regarding father's denial not weighedSupreme Court
30 October 1978
Tolova'a v Police
Criminal procedure - trial with assessors - Right and duty of assessors to deliberate in private - irregularity in principle of privacy and fair trial - application for retrialSupreme Court
5 December 1973
Tolova'a v Police (No. 2)
Murder - provocation - plea of automatism - evidence of provocationCourt of Appeal
10 October 1974
Tuiletufuga v Tuiletufuga & Weaver
Custody of children - welfare of child of paramount importance -Supreme Court
24 & 29
August 1979Tumanuvao v Police
Evidence - statement to police - voluntariness - procedure to determine admissibility - criminal procedure - procedure for "voir dire" - distinction between admissibility and weight of statement - admissibility of past wrong doing - corroboration - magistrate's failure to deal with discrepancies in evidence - Magistrate's personal knowledgeSupreme Court
3 April;
1 May 1978Ulugia (Alefosio, Lavata'i, Leaitu & Simo) v A-G, Stanley & Samoan Public Trustee
Action for possession of customary land improperly incorporated in a subdivision - jurisdiction of Supreme Court - civil procedure - locus standiSupreme Court
15 May 1978
Vili (Mila) v Police
Speeding - apparent irregularity in information - appeal against conviction and penaltySupreme Court
29 October 1976
Wesley v Police
Criminal Law (Appeal) - Hearing and determination - function of appellate court re: proper inference to be drawn from facts - onus on appellant to show Magistrate's decision wrong
Evidence - Identification - credibility of witnesses - method of assessing credibilitySupreme Court
17 June;
7 July 1971Western Samoa National Provident Fund Board v Samoa Holdings Ltd
Constitutional Law - fundamental Rights - no compulsory acquisition of property without compensation - compulsory contributions by employer to employee benefit plan - taxation - attributes of a taxSupreme Court
8 August;
2 November 1977Western Samoa Trust Estates Corporation v Faisaovale
Property law - adverse possession - claim by registered owner for recovery of land - Samoan customary communal holding - burden of proofSupreme Court
28 April;
16 June
7 & 15 July;
9 August 1977
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