Ball v Lambert 2001 Civil Jur. No. 161

• Jurisdiction: Bermuda
• Judgment Date: 17 December 2001
• Date: 17 December 2001
• Docket Number: Civil Jurisdiction 2001: No. 161
• Court: Supreme Court (Bermuda)

In the Supreme Court of Bermuda

Meerabux, J

Civil Jurisdiction 2001: No. 161

BETWEEN

Edward G. Ball JR.

Plaintiff

-and-

Michael Colin David Lambert

Defendant

Mr. K. Unwin for the Plaintiff.

Mr. P. Harshaw for the Defendant.

Evans v BartlamELR[1973] AC 473

Alpine Bulk Transport Co Inc v Saudi Eagle Shipping Co InUNK[1986] 2 Lloyds Rep 221

Vann v Awford[1986] Times 23 April

Allen v TaylorUNK(1992) 1 PIQR 255

Application to set aside judgment in default of defence — Discretion

RULING

PRELIMINARY

This is an application by the Defendant, Michael Lambert, for an Order that the existing Judgment in Default of Defence dated 22 June 2001 be set aside and that the Defendant be at liberty to file a Defence and Counterclaim.

THE LAW

The leading case of Evans v BartlamELR[1973] A.C. 473, a highly persuasive decision of the House of Lords, sets out the propositions or guidelines which are applicable to this case. The law on the point is founded in the cases of Alpine Bulk Transport Co. Inc. V Saudi Eagle Shipping Co. Inc.[1986] 2 Lloyd's Law Rep. 221 (C.A.), Vann v Awford (C.A.), The Times Law Report April 23, 1986 and Allen v TaylorUNK(1992) 1 PIQR 255.

In the Alpine Bulk Transport caseELR, mentioned supra, Sir Roger Ormrod said at 223:

“The following ‘general indications to help the Court in exercising the discretion: (per Lord Wright at p. 448) can be extracted from the speeches in Evans v BartlamELR[1937] A.C. 473, bearing in mind that ‘in matters of discretion no one case can be authority for another’ (ibid. p. 488):

• (i) a judgment signed in default is a regular judgment from which, subject to (ii)...