ETHI

OPI
ANCI
VILPROCEDURELAW

THEFI
RSTHEARI
NG

BY:
-BI
NIYAM SHEMALI
S
'
'
Ifwe do notmai
ntai
njust
ice,j
ust
ice wi
llnot
mai
ntai
nus.
'
'

Oct
ober,
2021
GENERALCONTENET

✔.
Gener
alov
erv
iew

Non-
Appear
anceofpar
ti
es

Act
ionuponNon-
appear
ance

Act
ionUponnon-
appear
anceofbot
h

par
ti
es

Act
ionwher
edef
endantdoesnotappear

Act
ionwher
epl
aint
if
fdoesnotappear

Ef
fectofNon-
appear
ance

Suf
fi
cientCause

Exami
nat
ionofPar
ti
es

Rul
ingonPr
eli
minar
y

Obj
ect
ions

Fr
ami
ngofI
ssues
 Gener
alOv
erv
iew

✔ Undert
hist
opi
c,wear
egoi
ngt
odi
scusst
hepr
ocedur
alst
eps
t
hatwi
l
lbeappl
i
cabl
edur
ingt
hef
ir
sthear
ing.I
nthef
ir
sthear
ing,
par
ti
est
oli
ti
gat
ion,mai
nly
,par
typl
aint
if
fandpar
tydef
endant
,ar
e
expect
edt
oappear
.Ifbot
hpar
ti
esappearasor
der
edbyt
hecour
t,
t
hecour
tthenwi
l
lexami
net
hem.

✔ Thi
sist
ocl
ear
lyi
dent
if
ythecont
rov
ersi
alpoi
ntoft
hedi
sput
e.I
f
t
hedef
endanthasr
aisedobj
ect
ions,t
hecour
twi
l
lgi
vear
uli
ngon
t
heobj
ect
ionandi
ftheobj
ect
ionwi
l
lnotr
esul
tinst
ri
ki
ngoutor
di
smi
ssal
oft
hesui
t,i
twi
l
lpr
oceedandf
ramet
hei
ssues.Howev
er,
somet
imes,oneorbot
hoft
hepar
ti
esmayf
ailt
oappeari
nthe
cour
tofl
aw atf
ir
sthear
ing.I
nsuchcases,t
hecour
twi
l
lor
der
basedont
hepr
ocedur
e.

I
n gener
all
,atf
ir
sthear
ing,t
he cour
treads t
he st
atementof
def
ense,
exami
nesbot
hpar
ti
est
odet
ermi
net
hei
rrespect
ive

posi
ti
ons,r
uleson anypr
eli
minar
yobj
ect
ions,and f
ramest
he
i
ssuesf
ort
ri
al.

✔I
ncer
tai
nci
rcumst
ances,t
hecour
tmayadj
udi
cat
ethecaseat
t
he f
ir
st hear
ing wi
thout r
equi
ri
ng a f
ull
-scal
etr
ial
.Ift
he
pr
oceedi
ngi
str
ansf
err
edt
othet
ri
alst
age,t
hecour
tset
sadat
e
f
ort
het
ri
alandatt
het
ri
ali
thear
sev
idenceanddeci
dest
hei
ssues.
Her
eunder
,wear
egoi
ngt
odi
scusst
hepr
ocedur
alst
epst
obe
appl
i
eddur
ingf
ir
sthear
ing.

Non-
Appear
anceofpar
ti
es

Aswehav
eseenabov
e,i
fadef
endantappear
sint
hef
ir
sthear
ing
wi
thhi
sst
atementofdef
ense,wi
l
lthecour
thol
dswhati
scal
l
ed
t
hef
ir
sthear
ing.Howev
er,aquest
ionl
i
ket
hef
oll
owi
ngonemay
ar
ise:

whatwi
l
lhappenwher
eapar
tydoesnotappearbef
oret
he
cour
tatt
her
equi
redt
ime?
‖Thepr
obl
em ofnon-
appear
ancemay
ar
ise t
hroughoutt
he pr
oceedi
ng and t
he pr
ovi
si
ons may be
appl
i
cabl
etoal
lst
agesoft
hepr
oceedi
ngs.i
.e.t
hef
ir
sthear
ing,
t
het
ri
alandr
evi
ew.Butt
hepr
obl
em ofnon-
appear
anceusual
l
y
happensatt
hef
ir
sthear
ing.

✔ Anappear
ancei
nvol
vescomi
ngbef
oret
hecour
tsot
hatt
he
cour
tcanadj
udi
cat
ethecaseort
akeanyot
heract
ioni
tdeems
necessar
y.Apar
tyt
oasui
tisnotmandat
ori
l
yrequi
redt
oappear
per
sonal
l
yatt
hehear
ing.

✔ Apar
tymayappeart
hroughanagentorpl
eader
.Howev
er,t
he
cour
tmayr
equi
ret
hatt
hepar
tyshoul
dappeari
nper
son,andi
fa
par
tywhohasbeenor
der
edt
oappearf
ail
swi
thoutgoodcause,i
t
i
sconsi
der
edasi
fther
ewasnoappear
ance.

✔ Wher
ether
ear
esev
eral
plai
nti
ff
sordef
endant
s,any
oneoft
hem
maybeaut
hor
izedt
oappearonbehal
foft
hem al
l
.(Ar
t.
66(
1).
Suchaut
hor
it
ymustbei
nwr
it
ingandsi
gnedbyt
hepar
tygi
vi
ngi
t,
andf
il
edi
nthecour
t(Ar
t.66(
2))
.Wher
eper
sonsar
esuedas
par
tner
sint
henameoft
hef
ir
m,eachmustappeari
ndi
vi
dual
l
yin
hi
sownname.Butsubsequentpr
oceedi
ngswi
l
lcont
inuei
nthe
f
ir
m name.So,i
fapar
tner
shi
pissuedi
nthef
ir
m name,al
lthe
par
tner
smustappeari
ndi
vi
dual
l
yatt
hef
ir
sthear
ing(
Art
.67)
.

✔ Wher
eabodycor
por
atei
ssued,t
hecour
tmayr
equi
ret
he
per
sonalappear
ance oft
he secr
etar
y,any di
rect
ororot
her
pr
inci
palof
fi
cerwhocananswerquest
ionsr
elat
ingt
othesui
t(Ar
t.
68(
1))
.Thesamei
str
uewi
thgov
ernmentempl
oyeeswhomaybe
abl
etoanswerquest
ionsi
nasui
tinv
olv
ingt
ogov
ernment(
Art
68(
2))
.In ot
herwor
ds,whi
l
e a per
sonalappear
ance i
s not
or
dinar
il
yrequi
red,
thecour
thast
hepowert
ocompelt
heper
sonal
at
tendanceofpar
ti
esoragent
swher
eitconcl
udest
hatsuch

at
tendancei
snecessar
yfort
hedet
ermi
nat
ionoft
hequest
ionsi
n
t
hesui
t.Wher
eapar
tyappear
sthr
oughapl
eader
,thepl
eader
mustbeabl
etoanswersuchquest
ionsorbeaccompani
edbya
per
sonwhocan.

Act
ionuponNon-
appear
ance

The Ci
vi
lPr
ocedur
e Code i
s st
ri
ct on t
he r
equi
rement of
appear
ance.Ofcour
se,
ithasi
tsownr
ati
onal
.Ifoneoft
hepar
ti
es
or
der
edbyt
hecour
tfai
l
stoappearandi
fthecour
tdoesnott
ake
i
mmedi
ateact
ion,t
hent
hecasewoul
dbedel
ayedandt
hecour
t
woul
dadj
our
nthecaset
oal
aterdat
e.

✔ Thi
swi
l
lcr
eat
eal
otofpr
obl
emst
othepar
ti
es,
andt
othecour
t.
Thi
sisnotper
mit
tedundert
hecode.Hence,i
fapar
tyi
sor
der
ed
byt
hecour
ttoappearonacer
tai
ndat
e,hehast
oappear
.

Nonappear
ancer
esul
tsi
naf
fi
rmat
iveact
ionont
hepar
toft
he
cour
tdependi
ngonwhoappear
sorwhof
ailt
oappeart
hecour
t
wi
l
lei
therst
ruckout
,di
smi
ss,adj
our
norpr
oceedt
oheart
hecase
i
ntheabsenceoft
henonappear
ingpar
ty.
 Act
ionUponnon-
appear
anceofbot
hpar
ti
es

✔ Wher
ebot
hpar
ti
es,
i.
e.,
par
typl
aint
if
fandpar
tydef
endantf
ail
to
appeari
ncour
tofl
aw,whent
hesui
tiscal
l
edonf
orhear
ing,t
he
cour
tshal
lmakeanor
dert
hatt
hesui
tbest
ruckout
,ori
ncaseof
appeal
,thatt
heappeal
bedi
smi
ssed.(
Art
.69(
2))

Her
est
hecour
thasnodi
scr
eti
ont
oadj
our
nthecase.Howev
er,
t
hisi
snott
hecasei
ntheI
ndi
ancodeofCi
vi
lPr
ocedur
e.Accor
ding
t
oor
derI
X,r
ule3oft
heI
ndi
ancodeofCi
vi
lPr
ocedur
e,t
hecour
t
has a di
scr
eti
onar
y power t
o adj
our
nthe case i
nst
ead of
di
smi
ssi
ngi
t.

Quest
ion1:whi
choneoft
hesedi
ff
erentappr
oachesdoy
ou
t
hinki
smor
eappr
opr
iat
e?Why

Act
ionwher
edef
endantdoesnotappear

✔I
fapl
aint
if
fappear
sandt
hedef
endantdoesnotappear
,when
t
hesui
tiscal
l
edonf
orhear
ing,t
hecour
tdoesnotsi
mpl
ytake
act
ion wi
th out hav
ing enough i
nfor
mat
ion about t
he
non-
appear
ance.Thi
sisbecausesuchnon-
appear
ancemaybe
duet
othef
actt
hatt
hedef
endantdi
dnotr
ecei
venot
iceoft
he
pr
oceedi
ngs.Hence,wher
ethedef
endantdoesnotappear
,the
f
ir
stquest
iont
hecour
tmustaski
swhet
herhe/shewasdul
y
ser
vedornot
.Then,i
tisupt
othepl
aint
if
ftoconv
incet
hecour
t
t
hathe/shehasdul
yser
vedt
hedef
endant
.

✔ I
fthe cour
tis sat
isf
ied wi
tht
he mode ofser
vice t
othe
def
endant
,itaut
omat
ical
l
yor
der
sEx-
par
tepr
oceedi
ng.(
Art
.70(
a))
.
Howev
er,wehav
etounder
standt
hedi
sti
nct
ionbet
weenEx-
par
te
pr
oceedi
ngmadeaccor
dingt
oAr
ti
cle70oft
heCi
.Pr
.CandDef
aul
t
pr
oceedi
ngmadebasedonAr
ti
cle233oft
heCi
.Pr
.C.Ont
hispoi
nt,
t
he Feder
alCour
t of Cassat
ion Di
vi
si
on has made a v
ery
i
nter
est
ingi
nter
pret
ati
onunderf
il
e15835.

Thev
eryi
nter
pret
ati
onoft
hecour
tis,
whent
hecour
tshoul
dor
der
Ex-
par
tepr
oceedi
ngandDef
aul
tpr
oceedi
ng,whati
stheef
fectof
t
hoseor
der
s.Ar
ti
cles70(
a)and233oft
hecodesay
s:

Ar
t.70Def
endantf
ail
i
ngt
oappear

Wher
ethepl
aint
if
fappear
sandt
hedef
endantdoesnotappear
whent
hesui
tiscal
l
edonf
orhear
ing:

(
a)i
fiti
spr
ovedt
hatt
hesummonwasdul
yser
ved,t
hesui
tshal
l
behear
dex-
par
te;

Ar
t.233.–Ser
viceofst
atementofcl
aim

✔ Wher
ether
ear
enor
easonsf
orr
eject
ingast
atementofcl
aim
underAr
t.231,t
hecour
tshal
lcauset
hest
atementofcl
aim and
annex
est
obeser
vedont
hedef
endantt
oget
herwi
thasummons
r
equi
ri
nghi
mtoappearwi
thhi
sst
atementofdef
enceonadayt
o
bef
ixedi
nthesummonsandi
nfor
minghi
mthatt
hecasewi
l
l
pr
oceedwi
thnot
wit
hst
andi
ngt
hathedoesnotappearort
hathe
appear
swi
thouthi
sst
atementofdef
ence.

✔ Accor
ding t
o t
he Feder
al Cour
t of Cassat
ion Di
vi
si
on
i
nter
pret
ati
on,f
ir
stwehav
etocl
ear
lydi
ff
erent
iat
ethedat
efor
submi
tt
ingst
atementofdef
enceandt
hedat
eofhear
ing.I
fthe
hy
penhappenedont
hedat
ewhi
chi
sfi
xedf
orsubmi
ssi
onof
st
atementofdef
ence,
andi
fiti
spr
ovedt
hatt
hedef
endanti
sdul
y
ser
ved wi
th t
he summon,t
he cour
t shoul
d or
der Def
aul
t
pr
oceedi
ngbasedonAr
ti
cle233oft
heCi
.
Pr.
C.

✔ Wher
eas,i
fthehy
phenoft
hedef
endanti
sont
hedat
ewhi
chi
s
f
ixedf
orhear
ing,
theor
deroft
hecour
twi
l
lbeExpar
tepr
oceedi
ng.

Wewi
l
lseet
heef
fectofbot
hpr
oceedi
ngsl
ater
.

✔ Ont
heot
hersi
de,i
fiti
spr
ovedt
hatt
hedef
endantf
ail
edt
o
appeari
ncour
tofl
aw ont
hedat
ewhi
chi
sfi
xedf
orhear
ing
becausehewasnotdul
yser
vedort
hesummonswasnotser
ved
onhi
minanyoft
hemodesofser
vicet
hati
ssuf
fi
ci
entt
onot
if
y
hi
m,t
hecour
twi
l
lor
derSecondsummont
obeser
vedont
he
def
endant
.

✔ The t
hir
d possi
bil
i
ty wi
thr
egar
dto non-appear
ance of
def
endanti
s,i
ncasewher
ethesummonswasser
vedonhi
minso
shor
tti
met
hathemaynotbeabl
etoappear
.Insuchcasest
he
def
endantwi
l
lbeser
vedwi
tht
hesummonsbutt
hesummons
mi
ghthav
enotbeenser
vedi
nsuf
fi
cientt
ime,i
nwhi
chcaset
he
cour
twi
l
ladj
our
nthehear
ing so t
hatt
hedef
endantwi
l
lhav
e
suf
fi
cientt
imet
oconsi
dert
heal
l
egat
ionsoft
hest
atementof
cl
aim andabl
etoappearatt
hedayf
ixedwi
thhi
s/herdef
ense.But
despi
tet
hef
actt
hatt
hedef
endanthasnotbeenser
ved,i
fhe/
she
appear
sint
hatday
,thesui
twi
l
lcont
inue.

Quest
ion2:Whatdoy
out
hinki
sthef
ateoft
hedef
endantwho
appear
satt
headj
our
ned dat
eand f
ail
sto demonst
rat
egood
causef
orhi
spr
evi
ousnon-
appear
ance?
 Act
ionwher
epl
aint
if
fdoesnotappear

✔ Wher
ethedef
endantappear
sandt
hepl
aint
if
fdoesnot
,when
t
hesui
tiscal
l
edf
orhear
ing,
thecour
tshal
lmakeanor
dert
hatt
he
sui
tbedi
smi
ssed,unl
essandot
her
wiset
hedef
endant
,inhi
s/her
st
atementofdef
ense,admi
tsal
lorpar
toft
hecl
aim.I
fther
eis
admi
ssi
on,
event
hought
hepl
aint
if
ffai
l
stoappear
,thecour
tshal
l
passadecr
eebasedont
hatadmi
ssi
on.

✔I
fnoadmi
ssi
onbyt
hedef
endant
,thedi
smi
ssali
smandat
ory
,
and t
he def
endantcannotdemand t
he sui
tto cont
inue.But
,
somet
imest
hedef
endantmayasser
tacl
aim ofcount
ercl
aim or
setof
f.I
nsuchacase,t
hecour
twi
l
lpr
oceedt
oheart
hatpar
tof
t
hecase,si
nceast
osuchcount
ercl
aim orset
-of
f,t
hedef
endant
occupi
est
heposi
ti
onofpl
aint
if
f,andt
her
ulesr
elat
ingt
othe
non-
appear
anceoft
hedef
endantappl
y.

✔ Her
e,wecanal
soseet
hei
nter
pret
ati
onoft
hel
awmadebyt
he
Feder
alcassat
ioncour
tint
erpr
etat
ionunderf
il
e14184,sot
hatwe
can see t
he di
ff
erence bet
ween t
he dat
ethati
sfi
xed f
or
submi
ssi
onofst
atementofdef
ence,i
nwhi
cht
hesui
tshoul
dnot
bedi
smi
ssed and t
hedat
ethati
sfi
xed f
orhear
ing,i
n whi
ch
di
smi
ssi
ngofsui
tisappr
opr
iat
e.

Thepr
obl
em ofnon-
appear
ancemayal
soar
isei
nthecaseof
mul
ti
plepar
ti
es.

Supposet
hatt
wopl
aint
if
fshav
ejoi
ned;ort
wodef
endant
shav
e
beenj
oined,andonedoesnotappear
.Thi
ssi
tuat
ioni
sgov
erned
byAr
t.75oft
heCi
vi
lPr
ocedur
eCode.

WhendoesAr
t.75(
1)appl
y?Remembert
hatt
henon-
appear
ing
pl
aint
if
fshav
ejoi
nedi
nthesui
tandar
epar
ti
esofr
ecor
d.

✔ Thenon-
appear
ancedoesnotaf
fectt
hepoweroft
hecour
tto
ent
eradecr
eei
nvol
vi
ngt
hei
rri
ght
s.St
ri
ki
ngoutordi
smi
ssi
ngt
he
sui
tast
othem woul
dal
sor
equi
resuchact
ionwi
thr
espectt
othe
appear
ingpl
aint
if
fs,si
ncet
hesui
tcannotpr
oceedi
ntheabsence
ofi
ndi
spensabl
epar
ti
es.Thi
swoul
dbeunf
airt
otheappear
ing
pl
aint
if
fs,and si
nce t
he cour
t may ent
er a decr
ee as t
o
non-
appear
ingpl
aint
if
fs,
itshoul
dpr
oceedwi
tht
hesui
t.

✔ Non-
appear
anceofoneoft
hesev
eraldef
endant
shasal
sot
he
sameef
fect
.

✔ Wher
eoneormor
eoft
hesev
eraldef
endant
s,al
thoughdul
y
ser
ved,has f
ail
ed t
o appear
,the sui
twi
l
lpr
oceed agai
nstal
l
def
endant
sort
hesui
tmaypr
oceededasex-
par
teagai
nstt
he
nonappear
ingdef
endant
.

Quest
ion 3:Her
e abov
e we hav
e seen when cour
tor
der
Di
smi
ssal
andSt
ruck-
outacase.

Doy
out
hinkt
her
eisadi
ff
erencei
nbet
weent
het
wo?Expl
ain.

Ef
fectofNon-
appear
ance

Wewi
l
lnow consi
dert
heef
fectofnon-appear
ance.Wher
ether
e
hasbeennonappear
ance,dependi
ngonwhohasf
ail
edt
oappear
,
f
ourt
hingscanhappen:

1.Thesui
tmaybest
ruckout;
(Ar
t.69(
2)or70(
d))

2.Thesui
tmaybedi
smi
ssed;
(Ar
t.73,
69(
2)(
2)70(
d)or73)

3.Thecour
tmaypr
oceedex-
par
te;
(Ar
t.70(
a))
4.Thecour
tmayi
ssueadef
aul
tPr
oceedi
ng;
(Ar
t.233)
.

I
ntheabov
edi
scussi
on,
wehav
eal
readydi
scussedwhent
hecour
t
passt
heabov
edi
ff
erentt
ypesofor
der
s.Fol
l
owi
ngt
hiswewi
l
l
al
sost
ri
ctl
yfocusont
hei
rrespect
iveef
fect
s.Eachoft
hoseor
der
s
hast
hei
rowndi
sti
nctef
fect
.Tobegi
nwi
th,
theef
fectofst
ruckout
,
wher
ethecasei
sst
ruckout
;thepl
aint
if
fmayasofr
ightbr
inga
f
reshact
ionont
hepay
mentoff
ullcour
tfees.Ont
heot
herhand,
if
hesat
isf
iest
hecour
tthatt
her
ewasasuf
fi
ci
entcausef
orhi
s/her
non-
appear
ance,t
heor
igi
nalsui
tmaycont
inueandt
hepl
aint
if
fis
r
eli
evedf
rom pay
mentofcour
tfee.

Quest
ion4:whati
sthedi
sti
nct
ionbet
weencont
inui
ngt
he
exi
sti
ngsui
tandf
il
ingaf
reshsui
t?

✔ Wher
ethepl
aint
if
f’
ssui
thasbeendi
smi
ssed,he/
shewi
l
lbe
pr
ecl
udedf
rom br
ingi
ngaf
reshsui
tinr
espectoft
hesamecause
ofact
ion.Howev
er,i
fthepl
aint
if
fcanshow goodcausef
orhi
s
non-
appear
ancewi
thi
nonemont
hfr
om t
hedi
smi
ssal
,thecour
t
may
,af
tergi
vi
ngnot
iceofappl
i
cat
iont
otheopposi
tepar
ty,or
der
set
ti
ngasi
det
hedi
smi
ssaluponsucht
ermsandcost
sasi
tthi
nks
f
it
.Accor
dingl
y,t
hecour
tshal
lappoi
ntadayf
orpr
oceedi
ngwi
th
t
heexi
sti
ngsui
t.

✔ Ont
heot
herhand,
wehav
esai
dthatwher
ethedef
endant
,whi
l
e
hei
sdul
yser
ved,doesnotappearont
hedat
ewhi
chi
sfi
xedf
or
hear
ing,t
hecour
tmaypr
oceed ex-
par
te(
Art
.70(
a))
.Thev
ery
ef
fectofsuchor
deri
snotdef
aul
tdecr
ee.Rat
her
,thecour
twi
l
l
pr
oceedt
oadj
udi
cat
ethesui
tint
heabsenceoft
henon-
appear
ing
par
ty.I
nef
fect
,thenonappear
ingpar
tywi
l
lnothav
ether
ightt
o
par
ti
cipat
eint
hepr
ocessofl
i
tigat
ion.
Wher
eas,i
fat
hir
dpar
tydef
endantdoesnotappear
,thecour
t
ent
ersadef
aul
tdecr
ee.

✔ Howev
er,t
hedef
endantagai
nstwhom anor
dermadeex-
par
te
ort
hir
dpar
tydef
endantagai
nstwhom adecr
eei
spassedmay
,
wi
thi
nonemont
hfr
om t
hedayhebecameawar
eofsuchact
ion,
appl
ytohav
eitsetasi
de.Ar
ti
cle78Ci
vi
lPr
ocedur
eCodegov
erns
t
hissi
tuat
ion.

✔ Youhav
etonot
eher
ethatt
hepl
aint
if
fseeki
ngt
ohav
eanor
der
ofdi
smi
ssalsetasi
demustappl
ywi
thi
namont
hfr
om t
hedat
eof
t
heor
der.Butadef
endantseeki
ngt
ohav
eanex-
par
tedecr
eeset
asi
dehasonemont
hfr
om t
het
imehewasawar
eoft
hedecr
ee.

Ther
eisapossi
bil
i
tyt
hatt
hedef
endantmaynotbeawar
eoft
he
decr
eeunt
ilt
hepl
aint
if
ftr
iest
oenf
orcei
tagai
nsthi
m,i
.e.
,att
he
execut
ionst
age.

✔I
fthedef
endantdoesnotappl
ywi
thi
nthatt
ime,ori
fthecour
t
f
indst
hatt
hesummonwasdul
yser
vedandt
hatt
her
ewasnot
suf
fi
cientcausef
ornon-
appear
ance,t
hedecr
eei
sval
i
dandi
twi
l
l
beenf
orcedagai
nstt
hedef
endantnot
wit
hst
andi
ngt
hathenev
er
pr
esent
ed hi
sdef
ense.Hehad t
heoppor
tuni
tyt
o appearand
cannothav
ethecaser
espondedt
ogi
vehi
m anot
herchance.

✔ Apr
obl
em mayar
isewher
ether
ear
emul
ti
pledef
endant
s,and
anex-
par
tedecr
eewasgi
venagai
nstal
lorsomeoft
hem andi
s
setasi
deonl
yast
osome.Supposet
her
ear
etwodef
endant
s,
nei
theroft
hem appear
ed.Bot
hdef
endant
sappl
i
edf
ort
heset
ti
ng
asi
deoft
hedecr
eeandt
heex-
par
tedecr
eeagai
nstoneoft
hem
was setasi
de butnotagai
nstt
he ot
her
.Or
,one appear
ed,
j
udgmentwas ent
ered agai
nsthi
m,an ex-
par
te decr
ee was
ent
eredagai
nstt
heot
her
,whi
cht
hel
aterhasappl
i
edt
osetasi
de.

✔ Undersuchci
rcumst
ances,i
fthedecr
eei
ssucht
hati
tcannot
besetasi
deonl
yagai
nstt
henon-
appear
ingdef
endantent
it
ledt
o
hav
eitsetasi
de,i
tmaybesetasi
deagai
nstt
heot
herdef
endant
s
al
so.The cour
tis doi
ng t
his because t
he def
endant
s ar
e
i
ndi
spensabl
epar
ti
es.

✔ I
n such case a decr
ee agai
nstsome al
one cannotst
and.
Howev
er,
thedecr
eeagai
nstt
heot
herdef
endantordef
endant
s
shoul
dbesetasi
deonl
ywher
ethedecr
eei
snecessar
il
yindi
vi
si
ble.
Wher
esepar
atej
udgment
scanbeent
eredagai
nsteachdef
endant
,
t
her
eisnoneedt
osetasi
det
hedecr
eeagai
nstt
heot
her
s.

✔ Thel
astbutnott
hel
eastef
fectofnon-appear
ancei
srel
ated
wi
thdef
aul
tpr
oceedi
ng.Aswehav
eseenabov
e,i
fthedef
endant
,
whi
l
ehei
sdul
yser
ved,
fai
l
edt
oappeari
ncour
tofl
awont
hedat
e
whi
chi
sfi
xedf
orsubmi
tt
inghi
sst
atementofdef
ence,t
hecour
t
shal
lor
derdef
aul
tpr
oceedi
ngbasedonAr
ti
cl
e233oft
heCi
.Pr
.C.
Theef
fectofsuchor
deri
snotequal
toex-
par
tepr
oceedi
ng.

✔I
nex-
par
tepr
oceedi
ng,
thepar
tywhom anor
deri
smadeagai
nst
hi
m wi
l
lnothav
ethe r
ightt
o be i
nvol
ved i
nthe l
i
tigat
ion
pr
oceedi
ngsf
oll
owi
ngt
heor
der
.Wher
easi
ndef
aul
tpr
oceedi
ng,
t
henon-
appear
ingpar
ty,i
.
e;t
hedef
endant
,shoul
dnotber
efused
t
obeapar
tyt
othel
i
tigat
ion.

✔ Theonl
yef
fectofsuchor
deri
sthathewi
l
lbepr
ecl
udedt
o
exer
ciset
hepr
ocedur
alr
ight
sthatshoul
dbeexer
cisedont
hedat
e
ofhi
snon-
appear
ance.Forexampl
e,hecannotexer
cisehi
sri
ght
t
osubmi
thi
swr
it
tenst
atementofdef
ence.

✔I
not
herwor
ds,i
ndef
aul
tpr
oceedi
ng,t
henonappear
ingpar
ty
canexer
cisehi
sri
ghtt
obeapar
ttot
hel
i
tigat
ionf
rom t
hedat
ehe
appear
sincour
tofl
aw,buthel
osest
obebenef
it
edf
rom t
hose
pr
ocedur
al r
ight
s t
hat shoul
d be exer
cised dur
ing hi
s
non-
appear
ance.

Suf
fi
cientCause

Oncet
hecour
thasor
der
edf
oll
owi
ngt
henon-
appear
anceofa
par
ty,
itdoesnotmeant
hati
tisf
inal
andt
her
eisnogr
oundf
or
r
evi
ewi
ngi
t.Apar
tywhosei
nter
esti
saf
fect
edduet
otheor
derup
onnon-
appear
ancemayappl
ytot
hecour
ttosetasi
det
heor
der
,
pr
ovi
dedt
hathehassuf
fi
cientr
easont
ojust
if
yhi
s/hernon
appear
ance.

I
fthecour
tissat
isf
iedt
hatt
henon-appear
ingpar
tywas
pr
event
edduet
osuf
fi
cientr
eason,
itmayor
dert
osetasi
det
he
or
derandt
hecasewi
l
lcont
inuet
opr
oceed.Howev
er,
the
f
oll
owi
ngquest
ionsmayber
aisedher
e:

Whatar
etheel
ement
sofsuf
fi
cientcause?

Whet
hert
hecr
it
eri
aforj
ust
if
yingsuf
fi
ci
entcausewoul
dbet
he
samei
nal
lcases?

Whenr
eadi
ngt
hepr
ovi
sionst
hathav
erepr
oducedt
oyoui
nthe
pr
evi
oussub-
sect
ions,
wehopey
ouhav
eobser
vedt
het
erm
“
suf
fi
cientcause”ment
ionedi
ndi
ff
erentcont
ext
s.TheCodeuses
“
suf
fi
cientcause”i
nmor
ethanonecont
ext
.Wher
ethesui
thas
beenst
ruckout
,Ar
t71(
2)pr
ovi
dest
hatt
hepl
aint
if
fmaycont
inue
t
hesui
twi
thoutpay
ingt
hecour
tfeesi
fther
ewas”
suf
fi
ci
entcause
f
orhi
snon-
appear
ance.

Wher
ethesui
thasbeendi
smi
ssed,
Art
.74(
2)pr
ovi
dest
hatt
he
pl
aint
if
forappel
l
antmayhav
etheor
derofdi
smi
ssal
setasi
dei
f
heshowst
hatt
her
ewas,
“suf
fi
cientcause”f
orhi
snon-
appear
ance
whenan“
ex-
par
te”decr
eehasbeenpassedagai
nstadef
endantor
adef
aul
tdecr
eeagai
nstat
hir
dpar
tydef
endant
.UnderAr
t78(
2),
t
hedecr
eemaybesetasi
dei
fthedef
endantshowst
hathewas
pr
event
edbysuf
fi
cientcausef
rom appear
ance.Shoul
d“suf
fi
ci
ent
cause”whenusedi
nAr
t.71(
2)meant
hesameaswheni
tisused
i
nAr
t.74(
2)and78(
2)?I
fweconsi
dert
heef
fectofaf
indi
ngof
“
suf
fi
cientcause”
,theanswershoul
dcl
ear
lybeno.

Exami
nat
ionofPar
ti
es

I
fthei
ssueofappear
ancei
sdeci
dedandt
hecasecanbe
pr
oceeded,
thenextt
askoft
hecour
tint
hef
ir
sthear
ingwi
l
lbe
exami
nat
ionofpar
ti
es.Wher
ethepar
ti
esappeari
nper
son,
the
cour
tver
if
iest
hei
rident
it
y.I
tthenr
eadst
hepl
eadi
ngsandasks
t
hepar
ti
esont
hepl
eadi
ngs.Thequest
ioni
swhet
hereachpar
tyor
hi
spl
eaderadmi
tsordeni
est
heal
l
egat
ionsoff
acti
nthepl
eadi
ng
oft
heot
herpar
tyt
hathav
enotot
her
wisebeendeni
ed.

Your
emembert
hatwehav
esai
dwhenwedi
scusspl
eadi
ngst
hat
ev
eryal
l
egat
ionoff
acti
nthest
atementofcl
aimt
hati
snotdeni
ed
i
nthest
atementofdef
ensei
sdeemedt
obeadmi
tt
ed.Howev
er,
t
hecour
thast
hepowert
oexami
net
hepar
ti
esatt
hef
ir
sthear
ing
andr
ecor
dwhat
everi
snotsai
dint
hest
atementofcl
aim ort
he
st
atementofdef
ense.
✔I
fthecour
tseest
hatt
hedef
endanthasnotdeni
edorexpr
essl
y
admi
tt
edapar
ti
cul
aral
l
egat
ion,
oft
hest
atementofcl
aim,
itgi
ves
hi
m asecondchance,
tospeak.Thecour
twi
l
lspeci
fi
cal
l
yaskhi
m
whet
herhei
ntendedt
oadmi
tthatal
l
egat
ioni
sdeemeddeni
ed.

✔ Thecour
trecor
dsal
ladmi
ssi
onsanddeni
al,
andt
heyf
orm par
t
oft
her
ecor
d.Wher
eapar
tymakesanadmi
ssi
onatt
hef
ir
st
hear
ing,
thatadmi
ssi
oni
sconcl
usi
ve,
andnoi
ssuewi
l
lbef
ramed
ast
othatmat
ter
.Inot
herwor
ds,
thedef
endantmaydenyoradmi
t
t
heal
l
egat
ionsi
nhi
sst
atementofdef
enseoratt
heexami
nat
ion.
SeeAr
ti
cle241and242oft
heCv
.Pr
.C

Theexami
nat
ionoft
hepl
aint
if
fatt
hist
imei
spar
ti
cul
arl
y
i
mpor
tantsi
ncet
hepl
aint
if
ffi
l
ear
esponsi
vepl
eadi
ngt
othe
st
atementofdef
enset
hather
ecei
vedi
nwr
it
ing.

Secondl
y,t
hedef
endantmi
ghthav
erai
sedaf
fi
rmat
ivedef
enses,
e.
g.,
For
cemaj
eur
e.Thecasemaybedeci
dedi
nwhol
eori
npar
t
ont
hebasi
soft
headmi
ssi
onsmadebyt
hepar
ti
es.

✔ Byexami
ningt
hepl
aint
if
f,t
hecour
tdet
ermi
neswhet
herhe
admi
tsordeni
est
hef
act
sconst
it
uti
ngsuchdef
enses.Suppose
t
hatt
hedef
endanthasadmi
tt
edt
hecont
ractbutsai
dthathehad
pai
dwhatpl
aint
if
fiscl
aimi
ng.Thepl
aint
if
fcoul
ddenyt
hatt
he
def
endanthadpai
d,i
nwhi
chcaset
her
ewoul
dbeani
ssueont
his
poi
nt.

✔ Or
,pl
aint
if
fcoul
dsayt
hatwhatdef
endanthadpai
dissome
ot
herpay
mentnott
hedebtcl
aimedi
nthesui
t.Then,
thecour
t
woul
dfr
ameani
ssueonwhet
hert
hepay
menthasal
ready
di
schar
gedt
hecl
aim ornot
.
✔ Themai
npur
poseoft
heexami
nat
ionatt
hef
ir
sthear
ingi
sto
hel
pthecour
tcl
ari
fyanddev
elopt
hei
ssuesf
ort
ri
al.

✔ Thecour
texami
neseachpar
ty,
orwher
ethepar
tydoesnot
appear
,theper
sonaccompany
ingt
hepl
eaderf
ort
hepur
poseof
answer
ingsuchquest
ions.Si
ncet
heexami
nat
ionmustbe
conduct
edbyt
hecour
tandonl
yfort
hispur
posei
twoul
dnotbe
pr
operf
ort
hecour
ttoputapar
tyont
hest
and,
exami
nehi
m on
t
heent
ir
ecaseandal
l
owt
heot
herpar
tyt
ocr
oss-
exami
nehi
m.

✔ Theexami
nat
ioni
ssi
mpl
ytodet
ermi
newhatadmi
ssi
onsand
deni
alsar
emadebyt
hedef
endantwhi
chassi
stst
hecour
tin
f
rami
ngt
hei
ssues.I
tmustbeconduct
edwi
thr
efer
encet
othe
al
l
egat
ionsi
nthepl
eadi
ngsandonl
ysuppl
ement
sthepl
eadi
ngsi
n
dev
elopi
ngt
hei
ssuef
ort
ri
al.

✔I
fapar
tyadmi
tsi
nthepl
eadi
ngsoront
heor
alexami
nat
ion,
the
ot
herpar
tymayappl
ytot
hecour
tforsuchj
udgmentoror
deras
hemaybeent
it
ledt
oasar
esul
toft
headmi
ssi
onsmadebyt
he
par
ti
es.SeeAr
ti
cle242oft
heCv
.Pr
.C

✔ Thedef
endantmayadmi
tthathei
sli
abl
e,butdenyt
hatt
he
pl
aint
if
fsuf
fer
edt
hedamageshecl
aimed.Thecour
twoul
dissuea
j
udgmentt
otheef
fectt
hatt
hedef
endanti
sli
abl
etot
hepl
aint
if
fin
anamountt
obedet
ermi
nedatt
het
ri
al,
whi
chwoul
dthenbe
l
i
mit
edt
odeci
dingt
hequest
ionofwhatdamagest
hepl
aint
if
f
suf
fer
ed.

Rul
ingonPr
eli
minar
yObj
ect
ions

✔ Af
tert
hecour
thasexami
nedt
hepar
ti
es,
itpr
oceedst
odeci
de
anypr
eli
minar
yobj
ect
ionst
hathav
ebeenr
aised.Apr
eli
minar
y
obj
ect
ionmaybedef
inedasanobj
ect
ionnotgoi
ngt
othemer
it
s
oft
hecaset
hati
s,noti
nvol
vi
ngt
hequest
ionofwhet
hert
he
def
endanti
sli
abl
etot
hepl
aint
if
fundert
hesubst
ant
ivel
aw.

Asy
oucanr
ememberf
rom t
hedi
scussi
ononpar
toneoft
heci
vi
l
pr
ocedur
ecour
se,
wehav
econsi
der
edsomeobj
ect
ionst
hatmay
ber
aisedbypar
ti
est
oli
ti
gat
ion.Ar
t244(
2)al
soset
sfor
thcer
tai
n
pr
eli
minar
yobj
ect
ions.So,
whensuchobj
ect
ionsar
erai
sedt
he
cour
tist
opr
oceedi
naccor
dancewi
tht
hepr
ovi
si
onsofAr
t.245.
Undert
hisAr
ti
cle,
thecour
twi
l
lheart
heopposi
tepar
ty,
ordert
he
pr
oduct
ionofsuchev
idenceasmaybenecessar
yandr
endera
deci
sionont
heobj
ect
ion.

Quest
ion5:
Just
if
yWhet
hert
hepr
eli
minar
yobj
ect
ionsl
i
sted
underAr
t.244(
2)ar
eexhaust
iveornot
?

Now,
wear
egoi
ngt
oseet
hecont
ent
sofAr
t.244(
2)on
pr
eli
minar
yobj
ect
ions.Ar
t.244(
2)–Thepr
ovi
si
onofAr
t.245
shal
lappl
ywher
eei
therpar
tyst
atest
hat
:

a.t
hecour
thasnoj
uri
sdi
cti
on

b.t
hesubj
ectmat
teroft
hesui
tResJudi
cat
a

c.t
hesui
tispendi
ngi
nanot
hercour
t

d.t
heot
herpar
tyi
snotqual
i
fiedf
oract
ingi
nthe

pr
oceedi
ngs;

e.pr
iorper
missi
ont
osuehasnotbeenobt
ained,

whent
hisi
srequi
redbyl
aw;

f
.thesui
tisbar
redbyl
i
mit
ati
on;
or
g.t
hecl
aimi
stobeset
tl
edbyar
bit
rat
ionorhaspr
evi
ousl
ybeen
madet
hesubj
ectofacompr
omi
seorschemeofar
rangement

Aswecanunder
standf
rom t
hecont
ext
ual
meani
ngoft
he
pr
ovi
sion,
thel
i
stofpr
eli
minar
yobj
ect
ionspr
ovi
dedunderAr
t.
244(
2)ar
enotexhaust
ive.Noneoft
hesepr
eli
minar
yobj
ect
ionsgo
t
othemer
it
soft
hecase.I
not
herwor
ds,
theydonotr
elat
etot
he
quest
ionwhet
hert
hedef
endanti
sli
abl
etot
hepl
aint
if
fundert
he
subst
ant
ivel
awornot
.

✔ Theyshoul
dbedi
sposedofassoonaspossi
ble,
sincei
twoul
d
beawast
eoft
imef
ort
hecour
ttoexami
net
hepar
ti
esandf
rame
i
ssuesf
ort
ri
alonl
ytodi
scov
ert
hatduet
othenon-
mer
it
s
obj
ect
ion,
atr
ial
wil
lnotbenecessar
y.

✔ Ther
efor
e,Ar
t.244(
3)pr
ovi
dest
hatanypr
eli
minar
yobj
ect
ion
notr
aisedatt
heear
li
estpossi
bleoppor
tuni
ty,
i.
e.,
att
het
imet
he
cour
tcal
lfort
hef
ir
sthear
ing,
isdeemedwai
vedunl
esst
hegr
ound
ofobj
ect
ioni
sduet
oreasonssuchast
opr
eventav
ali
djudgment
f
rom bei
nggi
ven.

✔ Thi
smeans,
somepr
eli
minar
yobj
ect
ions,
li
kel
ackofmat
eri
al
j
uri
sdi
cti
on,
eveni
fnotr
aisedatt
hef
ir
sthear
ingmaybet
akenas
i
ssuest
hroughoutt
hepr
oceedi
ngbecauset
hei
rexi
stence
pr
event
sthecour
tfr
om gi
vi
ngav
ali
djudgment
.

✔ Gener
all
y,t
heaccept
anceofanobj
ect
ionhast
woef
fect
s.I
n
ot
herwor
ds,
ifacour
tsust
ainsanobj
ect
ion,
theef
fectont
hesui
t
maybedi
smi
ssal
oft
hesui
tort
hesui
tmayonl
ybest
ruckout
.

✔ Wher
ethecour
tsust
ainsanobj
ect
ionont
hegr
oundt
hatt
he
subj
ectmat
teroft
hesui
tisr
esj
udi
cat
a(t
hatt
hesui
thasal
ready
beendeci
dedbyacour
tpr
evi
ousl
y)ort
hesui
tisbar
redby
l
i
mit
ati
on,
thesui
twi
l
lbedi
smi
ssed.Ev
ent
hought
heobj
ect
ion
doesnotgot
othemer
it
soft
hecase,
thesui
twi
l
lbedi
sposed
oncet
heseobj
ect
ionsar
esust
ained.Because,
ifacasei
ssai
dto
hav
epr
evi
ousl
ybeenseenanddeci
dedori
fthecl
aim oft
he
pl
aint
if
fissai
dtohav
ebeenbar
redbyl
i
mit
ati
on,
ther
eisno
chancef
ort
hesui
ttobei
nst
it
utedaf
resh.Thati
s,t
her
eisno
oppor
tuni
tyf
ort
hepl
aint
if
ftof
il
eaf
reshsui
t.

✔I
not
hercases,
theor
dert
hatsust
ainst
heobj
ect
ionwoul
d
or
dinar
il
yresul
tinst
ri
ki
ngoutt
hesui
t.Forexampl
e,i
fthe
cour
tsust
ainsanobj
ect
iononj
uri
sdi
cti
on,
plai
nti
ffhast
he
oppor
tuni
tyt
ofi
l
eaf
reshsui
tinacour
tthathasl
ocal
ormat
eri
al
orj
udi
cial
jur
isdi
cti
on.Ont
heot
herhand,
wher
ethecour
tsust
ains
anobj
ect
iononpendency
,thesui
twi
l
lbest
ruckoutandt
he
pl
aint
if
fwoul
dcont
inuet
hepr
iorsui
t.

✔ Thest
ri
ki
ngoutoft
hesui
tshal
lnotofi
tsownf
orcepr
ecl
ude
t
hei
nst
it
uti
onofaf
reshsui
twi
thr
espectt
othesamecauseof
act
ionandt
hecour
tshal
l
,inappr
opr
iat
ecases,
inf
ormt
hepl
aint
if
f
t
hathemaysuei
nthecour
thav
ingj
uri
sdi
cti
onori
nthecour
tin
whi
cht
hepr
evi
ousl
yinst
it
utedsui
tispendi
ng.

✔ Wher
easui
tisdi
smi
ssedont
hegr
oundofwantofj
uri
sdi
cti
on,
t
hepr
escr
ibedpor
ti
onoft
hecour
tfeepai
dont
hef
il
ingoft
he
st
atementofcl
aim shal
lber
efunded.Mor
especi
fi
cal
l
y,t
he
Amhar
icv
ersi
onofAr
ti
cle245(
4)oft
heCi
vi
lPr
ocedur
eCode
st
atedt
hatt
hecour
tmi
ghtr
educe,
basedont
her
egul
ati
on,
cer
tai
n
amountofcour
tfeet
ober
efundedf
ort
hepl
aint
if
f.

✔ Tosum up,
thecour
thas,
fir
st,
todeci
deonpr
eli
minar
y
obj
ect
ions,
bef
orepr
oceedi
ngwi
tht
henex
tst
eppr
oceedi
ng,
i.
e.
f
rami
ngofi
ssue,
ifdef
endanthasr
aisedany
.Thecour
twhen
maki
ngar
uli
ngonpr
eli
minar
yobj
ect
ionshast
ogi
veachancet
o
t
hepl
aint
if
ftor
espondont
heobj
ect
ionr
aisedbydef
endant
.The
cour
thast
ohearev
idencei
fiti
snecessar
ytopr
eli
minar
y
obj
ect
ionsr
ose.

Then,
itwi
l
lgi
ver
uli
ng.I
fther
uli
ngsust
ainst
heobj
ect
ion,
thesui
t
maybest
ruckoutordi
smi
ssed.Wher
eas,
ifi
tisov
err
uled,
the
cour
twi
l
lpr
oceedont
hesui
t.

Fr
ami
ngofI
ssues

✔ Af
terpr
eli
minar
yobj
ect
ions,
ifany
,hav
ebeendeci
ded,
thecour
t
shal
lascer
tai
nuponwhatmat
eri
alpr
oposi
ti
onsoff
actorofl
aw
t
hepar
ti
esar
eav
ari
ance,
andshal
lther
euponpr
oceedt
ofr
ame
andr
ecor
dthei
ssuesonwhi
cht
her
ightdeci
si
onoft
hecase
appear
stodepend.Howev
er,
ift
hedef
endant
,att
hef
ir
sthear
ing
oft
hesui
t,makesnodef
encet
hecour
twi
l
lnotbe*
compel
l
edt
o
f
rameandr
e-cor
dissues.Ani
ssuei
ssomet
hingonwhi
cht
her
ight
deci
sionoft
hecaseappear
stodepend.Thi
smaybef
ramed
basedont
hemat
eri
alpr
oposi
ti
onoff
actorofl
awaf
fi
rmedbyone
par
tyanddeni
edbyt
heot
her
.

✔ Mat
eri
alpr
oposi
ti
onsar
ethosepr
oposi
ti
onsoff
actorofl
aw,
whi
chapl
aint
if
fmustal
l
egei
nor
dert
oshowar
ightt
osueora
def
endantmustal
l
egei
nor
dert
oconst
it
utehi
sdef
ence.Each
mat
eri
alpr
oposi
ti
onaf
fi
rmedbyonepar
tyanddeni
edbyt
heot
her
shal
lfor
mthesubj
ectofadi
sti
ncti
ssue.

✔ Wher
eissuesbot
hoff
actandofl
awar
isei
nthesamesui
t,and
t
hecour
tisofopi
niont
hatt
hecaseoranypar
tther
eofmaybe
di
sposedofont
hei
ssuesofl
awonl
y,i
tshal
ltr
ythosei
ssuesf
ir
st,
andf
ort
hatpur
posemay
,ifi
tthi
nksf
it
,post
ponet
heset
tl
ementof
t
hei
ssuesoff
actunt
ilt
hei
ssuesofl
awhav
ebeendet
ermi
ned.

✔I
nfr
ami
ngt
hei
ssues,
thecour
tconsi
der
stheal
l
egat
ionsi
nthe
pl
eadi
ngs,
thecont
ent
soft
hedocument
spr
oducedbyei
therpar
ty,
andt
heor
alal
l
egat
ionsmadebyt
hepar
ti
esort
hei
rpl
eadi
ngsor
per
sonspr
esentont
hei
rbehal
f.SeeCv
.Pr
.CAr
ti
cl
e248

✔ Thev
eryadv
ant
ageoff
rami
ngi
ssuesi
stol
i
mitt
hescopeof
l
i
tigat
ionoft
hepar
ti
esdur
ingt
het
ri
alpr
oceedi
ngs.Hence,
the
cour
tmustf
ramet
hecor
recti
ssues,
inor
derf
ort
het
ri
alt
o
pr
oceedexpedi
ti
ousl
yandt
hepar
ti
eswi
l
lbepr
epar
edt
opr
oduce
ev
idenceont
hosei
ssues.Ot
her
wise,
ift
hecour
tfai
l
stodot
hat
,
del
ayandi
nconv
eni
encear
eli
kel
ytor
esul
t.

SOURCE

Ci
vi
lpr
ocedur
ecode

Ci
vi
lpr
ocedur
eteachi
ngmat
eri
a'

Al
einSedl
ear

Abr
ham Yohannes

Feder
alcassat
ioncour
tdeci
sion

Ot
herbookandsoci
almedi
a.

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THANKU-
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