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2004 MarsdenLR 1700

COURT OF APPEAL PUTRAJAYA
SIN HEAP LEE-MARUBENI SDN BHD – Appellant
Versus
YIP SHOU SHAN – Respondent
[Civil Appeal No: W-02-73-2002]



Petitioner Advocates:Robert Lazar,Alan Su Kok Cheng,Lim Fang Say ,Respondent Advocate: In person

Judgement Key Points

Key Points: - The trial judge awarded RM3.6 million as compensatory damages based on the cost of repair/reinstatement, increased by 20% for time lapse, plus ,000 exemplary damages and RM16,248 special damages (!) (!) (!) . - The court held that diminution in land value was not the proper measure because the land was intended for development and the cost-of-repair method was fairer under the circumstances (!) (!) . - The doctrine of relation back allowed the plaintiff to sue for trespass committed before he became registered proprietor, as his right of entry accrued on 29 June 1991 and the trespass continued thereafter (!) (!) . - The plaintiff’s first incident of trespass occurred before he became registered proprietor, but the continuing trespass after acquisition supported the claim (!) (!) . - Further evidence regarding post-decision changes to the land was admissible on appeal as a matter of right, and the court may consider such evidence when assessing damages (!) (!) (!) . - Exemplary damages were awarded due to the defendant’s deliberate and profit-driven conduct with cynical disregard for the plaintiff’s rights (!) (!) (!) .

What is the measure of damages for trespass and nuisance when the land is affected by excavation and slope destabilization?

How does the doctrine of relation back apply to a trespass case where the plaintiff becomes registered proprietor after the tort occurs?

When may additional evidence be admitted on appeal in civil cases concerning land damage?


JUDGMENT

Mokhtar Sidin JCA (majority):

[1] We have given our decision earlier whereby by majority, we have dismissed the application to adduce fresh evidence and we have also dismissed the appeal with costs. My learned brother, Abdul Aziz Mohamad JCA, had his reservation. I am now giving the grounds for the majority decision in dismissing the application and the appeal proper.

[2] The respondent in the present appeal is the registered owner of the land known as Lot 1360 Mukim of Cheras, District of Hulu Langat (hereinafter referred to as "the said land") whereas the appellant is the registered owner of the land known as Lot 150 Mukim of Cheras, District of Hulu Langat. The two pieces of land were separated on its southern boundary by a strip of State land approximately 40 feet wide which is known as"the road reserve". It was not disputed that the appellant at the material time were carrying on development works on their land for the purpose of developing it into a golf course and a huge residential and commercial complex known as "Bandar Sungei Long". In carrying on those works the appellant encroached onto the respondent's land whereby the appellant committed trespass on the respondent's land. In addition, in carrying out the development works, the appellant had committed physical damage to the respondent's land. The respondent had proved the physical damage caused to his land in the court below when a survey was conducted on 11 January 1993 whereby a plan was prepared by one of the witnesses (SP2) which shows that as a result of the development works carried out by the appellant on their land a steep slope of about 100 feet high and 650 feet long and about 49 feet deep was created on the respondent's land. The slope was sited entirely on the respondent's land falling on the access reserve. It is clear from the record that the appellant did not dispute this fact. It is also in evidence that sometime in February 1996 the appellant, without the consent of the respondent, constructed a crib - wall on the access road reserve, part of which is on the respondent's land.

[3] The respondent instituted the present action in the High court seeking general damages and exemplary damages based on trespass and nuisance. He also sought the following prayers:

(a) a declaration that the appellant are not entitled to cut or alter the public road access or otherwise appropriate the road reserve so as to deprive the respondent of access to his land;

(b) a declaration that the respondent is entitled to use and enjoy the road reserve as access to the respondent's land or the right of support to the said road reserve;

(c) injunction to restrain the appellant whether by themselves, their servants or agents howsoever from encroaching into the respondent's land;

(d) a mandatory injunction directing the appellant to forthwith at their own costs reinstate and rehabilitate the ground levels of the respondent's land and the road reserve adjoining the said land:

(i) by constructing a reinforced earthwall at the boundary between the appellant's land and the road reserve to the height up to the utmost original ground level; and

(ii) thereafter by backfilling with sand and earth up to the level of the reinforced earthwall;

(e) a mandatory injunction directing the appellant to forthwith at its own costs construct an access to the south - east boundary of the road reserve to the respondent's land at a level of 60 meters and for this purpose to construct a reinforced earthwall at both sides of the 66 feet road on the appellant's land to allow for the access;

(f) a mandatory injunction directing that in the execution and completion of the above said works the appellant do comply at their own costs with the earthwork plan and reinforced earthwall details as shown in drawing No: PB 9200 - SP - 1 and PB 9200 CS1 and specifications prepared by the consulting engineers, Messrs Perunding Bakti Sdn Bhd and annexed thereto as Annexure 1; and

(g) an order that the completion of the ab

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