Civil Law Act 1956 Part IV — Tortfeasors and award of interest

s 9

(Deleted by Ordinance No. 36 of 1957).

Proceedings against, and contribution between, joint and several tortfeasors

s 10

(1) Where damage is suffered by any person as a result of a tort (whether a crime or not) — (a) judgment recovered against any tortfeasor liable in respect of that damage shall not be a bar to an action against any other person who would, if sued, have been liable as a joint tortfeasor in respect of the same damage; (b) if more than one action is brought in respect of that damage by or on behalf of the person by whom it was suffered, or for the benefit of the estate, or of the wife, husband, parent or child, of that person, against tortfeasors liable in respect of the damage (whether as joint tortfeasors or otherwise) the sums recoverable under the judgments given in those actions by way of damages shall not in the aggregate exceed the amount of the damages awarded by the judgment first given; and in any of those actions, other than that in which judgment is first given, the plaintiff shall not be entitled to costs unless the Court is of opinion that there was reasonable ground for bringing the action; (c) any tortfeasor liable in respect of that damage may recover contribution from any other tortfeasor who is, or would if sued have been, liable in respect of the same damage, whether as a joint tortfeasor or otherwise, so, however, that no person shall be entitled to recover contribution under this section from any person entitled to be indemnified by him in respect of the liability in respect of which the contribution is sought. (2) In any proceedings for contribution under this section the amount of the contribution recoverable from any person shall be such as may be found by the Court to be just and equitable having regard to the extent of that person’s responsibility for the damage, and the Court shall have power to exempt any person from liability to make contribution, or to direct that the contribution to be recovered from any person shall amount to a complete indemnity. (3) For the purpose of this section— (a) the expressions “parent” and “child” have the same meanings as they have for the purposes of section 7; and (b) the reference in paragraph (1)(b) to “the judgment first given” shall, in a case where that judgment is reversed on appeal, be construed as a reference to the judgment first given which is not so reversed and, in a case where a judgment is varied on appeal, be construed as a reference to that judgment as so varied. (4) Nothing in this section shall— (a) affect any criminal proceedings against any person in respect of any wrongful act; or (b) render enforceable any agreement for indemnity which would not have been enforceable if this section had not been enacted.

Power of Courts to award interest on debts and damages

s 11

(1) In any proceedings tried in any Court for the recovery of any debt or damages, the Court may, if it thinks fit, order that there shall be included in the sum for which judgment is given interest as such rate as it thinks fit on the whole or any part of the debt or damages for the whole or any part of the period between the date when the cause of action arose and the date of the judgment: Provided that nothing in this section— (a) shall authorize the giving of interest upon interest; (b) shall apply in relation to any debt upon which interest is payable as of right whether by virtue of any agreement or otherwise; or (c) shall affect the damages recoverable for the dishonor of a bill of exchange. (2) Where interest is awarded under subsection (1) for recovery of damages under section 6 A of the Limitation Act 1953 [Act 254], the interest may be given for the whole or any part of the period between the starting date and the date of the judgment. (3) For the purposes of subsection (2), “starting date” has the meaning assigned to it in the Limitation Act 1953.