Supreme Court of Zambia - 2016 April

7 judgments

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7 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
April 2016
Dismissal for dishonest conduct was reasonable; appellate court reversed trial judge's costs order due to partial success and respondent's deficient defence.
Employment law — Unfair dismissal — Reasonableness and ‘range of reasonable responses’ — Disciplinary procedure and natural justice — Burden on employee to prove unfair dismissal — Costs: award where party partially succeeds and opponent fails to defend.
25 April 2016
A fixed-term contract contingent on a client contract can validly terminate when that client contract ends; negotiated terminal benefits apply.
Employment law – fixed-term written contracts conditional on client contract – lawful termination when client contract ends; terminal benefits limited to negotiated/lettered package; section 21 Employment Act applies only to oral contracts; unearned wages constitute unjust enrichment; costs follow the event.
20 April 2016
The respondent must mitigate loss; loss‑of‑use damages limited to six months and dollar judgment interest capped at LIBOR or 6%.
Assessment of damages – duty to mitigate – loss of use/business of income‑producing vehicle – reasonable period for loss (six months) – interest on judgment sums – Order 36 Rule 8; Judgments Act s.2 – foreign currency judgments: LIBOR or 6% cap.
20 April 2016
Duty to mitigate limits loss‑of‑use damages and dollar judgments should bear interest at LIBOR or 6% (whichever less).
Damages — mitigation of loss — income‑earning chattel — loss of use limited to reasonable period; Assessment of damages — trial judge must evaluate evidence; Interest on judgments — Order 36 Rule 8 and Judgments Act s.2; Foreign currency judgments — interest at LIBOR or 6% p.a., whichever lower.
20 April 2016
15 April 2016
Acknowledgement of debt restarts limitation for contract claims, but prior litigation on same contractual dispute rendered the later claim res judicata.
Limitation of actions – contract claims governed by six‑year limitation; acknowledgement restarts limitation period (Limitation Act s.23(4)); res judicata – prior High Court action covering same contractual dispute bars later claim; procedural discretion – judge may set aside earlier leave and may hear later application which could set aside earlier orders; unfounded bias allegations dismissed.
14 April 2016
1 April 2016