Lapun Aine & 21 Others v The Independent State of Papua New Guinea (2011) N4389

• Jurisdiction: Papua New Guinea
• Judge: Makail, J
• Judgment Date: 26 September 2011
• Court: National Court
• Docket Number: WS No 1228 of 1998
• Citation: (2011) N4389
• Year: 2011
• Judgement Number: N4389

Full Title: WS No 1228 of 1998; Lapun Aine & 21 Others v The Independent State of Papua New Guinea (2011) N4389

National Court: Makail, J

Judgment Delivered: 26 September 2011

N4389

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

[IN THE NATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE]

WS NO 1228 OF 1998

BETWEEN

LAPUN AINE & 21 OTHERS

Plaintiffs

AND

THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Defendant

Mount Hagen: Makail, J

2010: 12th July & 2011: 26th September

ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGES - Police raid - Destruction and looting of properties - Loss of houses, household items, domesticated animals, economic trees, cash and food crops -Measure of damages - General damages - Exemplary damages - Proof of - Valuation based on average purchase or retail prices of items in shops and past awards - Inflation taken into account in assessment - Allowance must be made for contingencies - Double claims - Reasonableness of losses.

Cases cited:

James Galman Okun & 123 Others -v- The State; WS No. 100 of 1996 (Unnumbered and Unreported Judgment of 02nd March 1998)

Kolaip Panapi & Another -v- Sergeant Poko & Ors (2001) N2274

Peter Wanis -v- Fred Sikiot & The State (1994) N1350

Anis Kewa -v- Desmond Kami & The State (2010) N3899

Andak Kupil -v- The State [1983] PNGLR 350

Lin Wan Xin -v- Wau Yanhang (2001) N2160

Shelly Kupo -v- MVIL (2002) N2282

Roslyne Cecil Kusa -v- MVIL (2003) N2328

Andrew Moka -v- MVIL (2004) SC 729

Aimon Aure & Ors -v- Captain Peter Boko & The State [1996] PNGLR 85

Abel Tomba -v- The State (1997) SC 518

Counsel:

Mr P Kopunye, for Plaintiffs

Ms J Tindiwi, for Defendant

JUDGMENT

26th September, 2011

1. MAKAIL, J: This is a re-trial matter on assessment of damages following the passing of Hinchliffe, J in 2009 who originally heard the matter and reserved for decision. Liability was determined by entry of default judgment on 31st July 1999. The assessment of damages arises from a police raid at Olna village in Jimi District of Western Highlands Province on 26th January 1995. As a result of the police raid, it is alleged the plaintiffs, 22 in total, suffered loss to their properties. They sought general and exemplary damages including interest and cost of the proceeding against the State.

2. At the re-trial on 12th July, 2010, the plaintiffs tendered 23 affidavits which were marked exhibits “P1” to “P23” and called one of the plaintiffs named James Galman Okun for cross-examination by defence counsel in relation to his affidavits (exhibits “P22” & “P23”). The State offered no evidence. The plaintiffs were part of a group of villagers who took the State to Court in proceeding WS No 100 of 1996 headed by their village councilor named Lapun Aine. Judgment was handed down on 2nd March 1998. The Court struck out their claims and granted leave to them to institute fresh proceeding against the State. This was because the Court found that their names appeared on two lists provided to the Court but did not plead their claims in the statement of claim. This was done to avoid possible double claims: see James Galman Okun & 123 Others -v- The State: WS No 100 of 1996 (Unnumbered and Unreported Judgment of 02nd March 1998) at 4 & 5.

3. According to the statement of claim, they make the following claims which are particularised below:

Name of plaintiff Description of property Damages Total claimed

Lapun Aine 57 years old	500 x 50 x 2 x 3 x	Young & matured coffee trees @ K10.00 Pandanus palm @ K3.00 each Double mattress @ K70.00 each Collar shirt @ K6.00 each TOTAL	K 5,000.00 K 150.00 K 140.00 K 18.00 K 5,308.00	K 5,308.00
Mond Tabil 25 years old	15 x 30 x 10 x 1 x 1 x	Avocado trees young & matured @ K4.00 Sugarcane clumps young & matured @ K4.00 Forks @ K0.70 each Knife @ K45.00 each Overall Trousers TOTAL	K 60.00 K 120.00 K 7.00 K 45.50 K 28.00 K 260.50	K 5,568.50
Seine Okun 49 years old	10 x 8 x 1 x 1 x	Guava trees young & matured @ K1.00 each Soda cups @ K2.50 each Double mattress Rainbow blanket TOTAL	K 10.00 K 20.00 K 70.00 K 20.00 K 120.00	K 5,688.50
Pengem Alu 36 years old	200 x 10 x 4 x	Coffee trees young & matured @ K1.00 each Forks @ K0.70 each Bed sheets @ K6.00 each; TOTAL	K 2,000.00 K 7.00 K 24.00 K 2,031.00	K 7,719.50
Justin Waiyan Alu 40 years old	15 x 20 x 1 x 1 x 2 x	15 x Avocado trees young & matured @ K4.00 each 20 x sugarcane clumps young & matured @ K4.00 Coleman (lantern) Bed sheet Collar shirt @ K6.00 each TOTAL	K 60.00 K 80.00 K 62.00 K 6.00 K 12.00 K 220.00	K 7,939.50
Kolip Guants 25 years old	15 x 7 x 1 x 3 x	Bamboo clumps young & matured @ K3.00 each Soda cups @ K2.50 each Double mattress Bed sheets @ K6.00 each TOTAL	K 45.00 K 17.50 K 74.00 K 18.00 K 154.50	K 8,094.00
Kombkun Walep 31 years old	300 x 10 x 50 x 1 x 5 x 1 x	Coffee trees young & matured @ K10.00 each Bamboo clumps young & matured @ K3.00 Pumpkin @ K2.00 each Coleman lantern Pillow @ K3.00 each Sports wear TOTAL	K 3,000.00 K 30.00 K 100.00 K 62.00 K 15.00 K 7.00 K 3,214.00	K11,308.00
Peter Wapi 30 years old	30 x 25 x 1 x 2 x 1 x	Tanget trees young & matured@ K1.00 Sugarcane clumps @ K4.00 each Double Mattress Sports wear @ K7.00 each Handbag Cash money from sales and savings Bride price TOTAL	K 30.00 K 100.00 K 70.00 K 14.00 K 30.00 K 1,300.00 K 1,544.00	K12,852.00
Dal Mund 62 years old	21 x 7 x 1 x 6 x 2 x	Avacado trees young & matured K4.00 Spoons @ K0.80 each Double mattress Domestic piglets @ K70.00 Blankets @ K20.00 each TOTAL	K 84.00 K 5.60 K 70.00 K 420.00 K 40.00 K 619.60	K13,471.60
Paul Wandil 39 years old	18 x 15 x 13 x 1 x 2 x 25 x	Tanget trees young & matured @ K1.00 Soda plates @ K3.00 each Spoons @ K0.80 each Double speaker Radio Double mattress @ K74.00 each Coffee bags (60 x 25 x K1.35 per kg) TOTAL	K 18.00 K 45.00 K 10.40 K 182.00 K 148.00 K 2,025.00 K 2,428.40	K15,900.00
Noliye Amul 35 years old	12 x 50 x 52 x 10 x 10 x 9 x 3 x 1 x 8 x 2 x	Avocado trees young & matured @ K4.00 each Yar tree young and matured @ K4.00 Pandanus palms young & matured @K3.00 each Vegetable garden @ K5.00 each Soda Cups @ K2.50 each Soda plates @ K3.00 each Bed sheets @ K6.00 each Sports wear Domestic pigs @ K200.00 each Blankets @ K20.00 each TOTAL	K 48.00 K 200.00 K 156.00 K 50.00 K 25.00 K 27.00 K 18.00 K 7.00 K 1,600.00 K 40.00 K 2,171.00	K18,071.00
James Bonnong 27 years old	37 x 10 x 3 x 6 x	Avocado trees young & matured @ K4.00 Kerosene stove Single mattresses @ K20.00 each Plates @ K2.50 each TOTAL	K 148.00 K 70.00 K 60.00 K 15.00 K 293.00	K18,364.00

Keli Masol 19 years old	15 x 1 x 7 x 2 x	Tanget trees young & matured @ K1.00 Knife Floor mats (15 meters) @ K5.50 each Domestic cassowaries @ K200.00 each TOTAL	K 15.00 K 45.50 K 82.50 K 400.00 K 543.00	K18,907.00
Mukul Opo 40 years old	17 x 2 x 5 x 4 x 2 x	Tanget trees young & matured @ K1.00 Double mattress @ K74.00 each Pillow @ K3.00 each Domestic pigs @ K200.00 each Domestic cassowaries @ K200.00 each TOTAL	K 17.00 K 148.00 K 15.00 K 800.00 K 400.00 K 1,380.00	K20,287.00
Seine Mukul Opo 24 years old	42 x 50 x 6 x 4 x 5 x 8 x 1 x	Roofing iron (9 ft) @ K28.00 each Timbers (3x2x2.5) @ K2.50 each Soda plates @ K3.00 each Trays @ K5.00 each Rainbow blankets @ K20.00 each Floor mats (15 meters) K5.50 each 1 x table TOTAL	K 1,176.00 K 125.00 K 18.00 K 20.00 K 100.00 K 82.50 K 60.00 K 1,581.50	K21,868.50
Peter Kumb 29 years old	7 x 8 x 3 x 1 x 1 x	Guava trees young & matured @ K1.00 Forks @ K0.70 each Single mattress K20.00 each Overall trousers Domestic pig TOTAL	K 7.00 K 5.60 K 60.00 K 28.00 K 200.00 K 300.60	K22,169.10
Tambil Kelipnga 42 years old	10 x 98 x 2 x 9 x	Avocado trees young & matured @ K4.00 Pandanus palms young & matured @ K4.00 Trousers @ K14.00 each Domestic pigs @ K200.00 each TOTAL	K 40.00 K 294.00 K 28.00 K 1,800.00 K 2,162.00	K24,331.11
Kombo Kelipnga 59 years old	20 x 25 x 10 x 1 x 1 x 3 x	Tanget trees young & matured @ K1.00 each Yarr trees young & matured @ K4.00 Forks @ K0.70 each Tray Trousers Lap laps @ K5.00 each TOTAL	K 20.00 K 100.00 K 7.00 K 5.00 K 14.00 K 15.00 K 161.00	K24,492.10

Apal Dange 29 years old	8 x 25 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 1 x	Guava trees young & matured @ K1.00 each Yarr tree young & matured @ K4.00 each Rainbow blankets @ K20.00 each Trousers @ K14.00 each Domestic pigs @ K200.00 each Sauspan TOTAL	K 8.00 K 100.00 K 40.00 K 28.00 K 600.00 K 80.00 K 784.00	K25,276.10
Komni Dange 32 years old	50 x 12 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 1 x 3 x 2 x 1 x 6 x	Yarr trees young & matured @ K4.00 Forks @ K0.70 each Trays @ K5.00 each Knives @ K45.50 each Rainbow blankets @ K20.00 each Trousers @ K14.00 each Overall Domestic cassowaries @ K200.00 each Lap lap @ K5.00 each Coleman lamp Plates @ K2.50 each TOTAL	K 200.00 K 8.40 K 10.00 K 91.00 K 40.00 K 28.00 K 28.00 K 600.00 K 10.00 K 64.00 K 15.00 K 1,094.40	K26,370.50
James Galman Okun 45 years old	100 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 5 x 7 x 1 x 1 x 2 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 20 x	Cash savings from sales & savings Yarr trees young & matured @ K4.00 Kerosene stove Table Permanent house, 3 bedroom, roofing iron internal wall with plywood, 4 windows built off ground, flooring timber valued @ Double mattress @ K70.00 each Domestic pigs @ K200.00 each Radio 2 speakers Coleman lamp Handbags @ K30.00 each Thongs Watch (quartz) Cold shirt Floor mat (20 m) @ K5.00 per meter Coffee trees young & matured @ K10.00 TOTAL	K 1,500.00 K 400.00 K 70.00 K 60.00 K 4,000.00 K 350.00 K 1,400.00 K 202.00 K 64.00 K 60.00 K 3.00 K 52.00 K 30.00 K 100.00 K 200.00 K 8,491.00	K34,861.50
Takip Aine 35 years old	17 x 3 x 10 x 5 x 6 x 1 x 8 x 3 x 2 x 1 x 6 x 3 x 4 x 1 x 1 x 4 x	Spoons @ K0.80 each Trays @ K5.00 each Meri blouse @ K12.00 each Lap lap @ K 5.00 each Bilums @ K20.00...