THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SUPREME COURT
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
SVGHCV1995/0148
BETWEEN:
MABEL CAMBRIDGE
(By her duly appointed Attorney-on-Record Alinda Harry)
-AND-
ALINDA HARRY CLAIMANTS
- AND –
R. THEODORE L. V. BROWNE
-AND- LAURA BROWNE DEFENDANTS
Appearances: Mr. Samuel E. Commissiong for the Claimants, Mr Parnel R. Campbell Q.C. and Mr Jonathan Lewis for the Defendants.
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2015: Mar.19 & 26
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Decision
BACKGROUND
[1] Henry, J. (Ag.): The claim in this matter was commenced almost 20 years ago. In it, Mabel Cambridge deceased and Alinda Harry are seeking against Theodore L. V. Browne (an attorney) and his wife, Laura Browne damages for deceit and other reliefs. Ms Cambridge and Ms Harry claim that Mr Browne having “successfully” represented Ms Cambridge in recovering land from a third party, influenced her to sell a portion of her property to pay his legal fees. They also assert that the reported success in the suit was short-lived as the decision was set aside having been obtained ex parte. They allege further that Mr Browne acting as their agent arranged for sale of the property to his mother and soon after purchased it from her and subsequently transferred it to his wife and himself. Mrs Browne is sued as joint owner of the subject land.
[2] Based on those assertions, they seek a declaration that Mr Browne in breach of his fiduciary duty as their agent for sale was the de facto purchaser when he arranged the sale to his mother. Ms Cambridge has since died and no order has been made appointing anyone to represent her estate in these proceedings although in 2001 Alinda Harry applied for an order to that effect. The application was never heard. This matter was set down for trial on two occasions prior to March 19, 2015 but had to be aborted due to counsel’s illness and failure to locate the file respectively. In the absence of the file, the court fixed a new trial date in anticipation of the court office locating it by that date. It was located just in time for the March 19 trial date, both counsel during the intervening period having assisted with provision of trial bundles and other relevant documentation. Mr and Mrs Browne filed written submissions in which they raise the issue of Ms Harry’s capacity to seek the reliefs, presumably in respect of Mabel Cambridge’s estate. Ms Harry filed written submissions the day before the hearing.
ISSUE
[3] The sole issue to be decided is whether a new party should be substituted for Mabel Cambridge.
ANALYSIS
Should a new party be substituted to represent Mabel Cambridge?
[4] The court is vested with very wide discretion to add a new party to proceedings, where the existing party’s interest or liability has passed to the new party. The court may exercise this discretion if it can more effectively resolve the issues by substituting a new party or where the existing party’s interest or liability has passed to the new party. It is trite law that a person’s interests and liabilities pass to her personal representative when she dies. It is accepted by the parties that Mabel Cambridge’s interests and liabilities have passed to her personal representative. This is accordingly an appropriate case in which the court may appoint a new party to replace Ms Cambridge.
[5] The assertions Mabel Cambridge has made against Mr and Mrs Browne in this claim, if proved on a balance of probabilities could result in her estate being awarded one or more of the reliefs claimed. Her claim is founded on the common law action of deceit and undue influence as outlined in the statement of claim and particularized in Alinda Harry’s witness statement. The issues raised are serious ones which Mabel Cambridge evinced an intention to pursue by filing the claim. Mr and Mrs Browne filed a defence in which they deny the allegation of deceit. Mabel Cambridge’s claim raises a genuine cause of action against the Brownes which constitutes a good and arguable case. Unless an order is made substituting a new party to represent her estate, her claim will have to be dismissed for want of prosecution and the court would not be in a position to resolve all the issues in the claim as it now stands. Such an outcome would be unjust and contrary to the overriding objective as it would deprive Ms Cambridge’s estate the opportunity to ventilate and have those issues resolved.
[6] The court is also empowered with or without an application, to appoint someone to represent a deceased person’s estate if it appears that the deceased was interested in the proceedings but has no personal representative. The appointee must be someone who has no adverse interest to the estate and can fairly and competently conduct the proceedings. It appears from the pleadings in the instant case that Mabel Cambridge deceased has no legal representative, the executor of her will having passed away. There is no evidence that the executor has been replaced. In those circumstances, the rules of court prohibit her estate from taking any step in the proceedings apart from applying to have a representative appointed, until the court has appointed someone to represent her estate. Even more significantly, Mr or Mrs Browne may apply to have her claim struck out if no application is made for the appointment of a substitute claimant in her place. They have not made such an application nor has an application been made by Ms Cambridge’s personal representative for a substitute claimant to be appointed.
[7] The fact that an order substituting a claimant to represent Ms Cambridge’s estate has not been made is not attributable to any negligence or default of her estate’s, the executor of her will having died after her own demise without administering her estate it seems. In fact, an application was filed, albeit not by her estate, over 13 years ago. It is not clear why it was never disposed of, but that apparent oversight by the court should not prevent her estate from pursuing this claim and having the issues ventilated. Such an order would not prejudice Mr and Mrs Browne’s case as they would have had notice that this matter was presented to the court for consideration since 2001 and their defence is before the court. In all the circumstances, this is a case where it is just to make an order substituting someone to represent Mabel Cambridge’s estate.
[8] On her death, Ms Cambridge’s interest and liability passed to her executor who has since died. No other personal representative has been appointed. In the absence of such a representative, the claim by Mabel Cambridge deceased will fail. The pleadings disclose a good and arguable case as between Mabel Cambridge’s estate and Mr Browne in relation to undue influence and the common law tort of deceit and marginally between Mabel Cambridge’s estate and Mrs Browne. The court may make an order appointing a representative of a decedent’s estate of its own volition or pursuant to an application by an existing party or a person who wishes to be substituted. In both instances, the court must exercise its discretion judicially and in doing so must consider the overriding objective which is to deal with cases justly.
[9] Mindful of the factual matrix and all of these factors, I have concluded that the interests of justice require that this is a fitting case in which the court of its own volition should appoint a representative to represent Mabel Cambridge’s estate pursuant to Civil Procedure Rules 2000 (“CPR”) Parts 19.3 (1), 19.2 (5) (a), 21.7 (1) and (3). I so hold.
[10] Alinda Harry’s claim against Mr and Mrs Browne arise of the same facts as Ms Cambridge’s claim. In fact they are seeking identical remedies. Ms Harry’s case is not adverse to Ms Cambridge’s and they appear compatible. In addition, the record discloses that Ms Harry represented Ms Cambridge as her attorney on record which suggests that Ms Cambridge trusted her to represent her interests. There is nothing in the record from which the court can infer that Ms Harry is incapable or disinclined to represent Ms Cambridge’s estate in the instant claim. There is no information before the court indicating whether a personal representative has been appointed to represent the estate of Ms Cambridge’s executor. Further the court does not know whether such person would be willing and competent or disqualified from being so substituted. The court is accordingly inclined to appoint Ms Alinda Harry to represent Ms Cambridge’s estate but notes that her written consent is required.
ORDER
[11] It is therefore ordered as follows:
1. Alinda Harry be and is hereby substituted in these proceedings as personal representative for the claimant Mabel Cambridge, pursuant to Civil Procedure
Rules, 2000 Parts 19.3 (1), 19.2 (5) (a), 21.7 (1) and (3), on condition that she files a written consent to this appointment, at the court office on or before April 9, 2015.
2. This matter is adjourned to April 13, 2015 for the court to give such directions as may be necessary.
3. No order as to costs.
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Esco L. Henry
HIGH COURT JUDGE (Ag.)