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FUNROSEv.THEATTORNEYGENERALOFTRINIDADANDTOBAGOCariLAWSearchResults

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FUNROSEv.THEATTORNEYGENERALOFTRINIDADANDTOBAGO
AddtoList
Citation# TT2010HC274
Country TrinidadandTobago
Court HighCourt
Judge ParayDurity,M.
Subject Constitutionallaw
Date (undated)2010
SuitNo. H.C.A.No.S1206of2005
Subsubject FundamentalrightsandfreedomsWhetherthefailureoftherespondenttoassess
theappellant'smentalconditionandtoreviewhiscaseafterconvictionofmurderbut
insaneasorderedamountedtobreachofs.5(2)ands.4(a)oftheConstitution
Whetherthefailureoftherespondenttoprovidesuchproceduralprovisionsas
necessaryforthepurposeofgivingeffectandprotectionofappellant'srighttoliberty
isabreachofs.5(2)hoftheConstitutionSuchactionsamountedtobreaches
Damagesof$545,000awardedinclusiveofvindicatorydamages.
FullText Appearances:
Mr.Ramdeenfortheapplicant.
Mr.Byamfortherespondent.
ProceduralBackground
ParayDurity,M.:Theapplicantinthismatterwasconvictedofmurderin1986and
wasfound"guiltybutinsane"andsentencedtodetentionatthePresident'spleasure.
Asattheyear2003,theapplicant'scasehadnotbeenreviewedandhehadnot
beensubjectedtoamentalassessment.
Onthe30thJune2003,theapplicantcommencedConstitutionalproceedings,
namely:H.C.A.No.1816of2003EdmundFunrosev.TheAttorneyGeneral
(FunroseNo.1)andjudgmentwasdeliveredbyStollmeyer,J.onthe1stOctober,
2004.Thisjudgmentcontainedcertaindeclarationsandorders,includingthe
applicant'sentitlementto:
"...(5)Haveanassessmentofhismentalconditioncarriedoutforthwithandareview
ofhiscasecarriedoutimmediatelythereafterinordertodeterminewhetherhe
shouldbereleasedfromdetention..."
ThisOrderofStollmeyer,J.(hereinafterreferredtoas"theOrder")wasnotcomplied
withandthepresentactionwasfiledonthe19thJuly,2005.Theapplicantwas
subsequentlyreviewedandreleasedonthe22ndJune,2007.(endofpage1)
Itshouldbenotedthatonthe13thApril2004,theapplicantwasassessedbythe
PsychiatricHospitalTribunalandrecommendedfordischarge.However,this
recommendationwasnotfollowedandheremainedincustody.
Onthe8thDecember2008,TiwaryReddy,J.madeanOrderinthepresentaction.
ThisOrderreadsasfollows:
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1.Thatthefailureoftherespondenttoassesstheapplicant'smentalconditionand
reviewhiscaseduringtheperiods
(i)21stOctober2004untilthe6thSeptember,2005and
(ii)2ndMay2006untilthe22ndJune2007
todeterminewhethertheapplicantshouldbereleasedfromdetentionwasabreach
oftheapplicant'srightundersection4(a)oftheConstitutionnottobedeprivedofhis
libertyexceptbydueprocessoflaw.
2.Thatthefailureoftherespondenttoassesstheapplicant'smentalconditionand
reviewhiscaseduringtheperiods
(i)21stOctober2004untilthe6thSeptember,2005and
(ii)2ndMay2006untilthe22ndJune2007
todeterminewhethertheapplicantshouldbereleasedfromdetentionwasabreach
oftheapplicant'srightundersection5(2)oftheConstitutionnottosufferarbitrary
detention.
3.Thatthefailureoftherespondenttoprovidesuchproceduralprovisionsasare
necessaryforthepurposeofgivingeffectandprotectiontotheapplicant'srightto
libertyduringtheperiods
(i)2ndMay2006untilthe22ndJune2007
(ii)isabreachoftheapplicant'srightundersection5(2)hoftheConstitution.
4.Thattherespondentdopaytothetotheapplicantdamagesforthebreachofthe
applicant'sconstitutionalrightswhichdamagesaretobeassessedbytheMasterin
ChambersonadatetobefixedbytheRegistrar.
(i)21stOctober2004untilthe6thSeptember,2005and
(ii)(endofpage2)
5.Thattherespondentdopaytotheapplicantcostsofthemotioncertifiedfitfor
AdvocateAttorneywhichcostsaretobetaxedindefaultofagreement.
Theperiodforwhichtheapplicantmustbecompensated,assetoutabove,is737
days.Itshouldbenotedthatthegapintheperiodtobeassessedisdueto:
1.thefactthattheapplicantalsobroughtanactionforjudicialreviewH.C.
2107/2005,andwasgrantedaninjunction,onthe6thSeptember2005,which
preventedtheapplicantfrombeingreviewed.Thisactionandtheinjunctionwere
dismissedonthe11thApril,2006and
2.theallowanceofa21dayperiodfortherespondenttocomplywiththeOrderof
Stollmeyer,J.
Assessment
Theapplicantinthismatterhasclaimedforlossofearnings,lossofliberty,
aggravatedandvindicatorydamages.
ThecaseofRameshLawrenceMaharajv.AttorneyGeneralofTrinidadandTobago
(No.2)(1978)30W.I.R.310at321providesguidanceontheinclusionof
compensationforanylossofearnings:
"...themeasureofmonetarycompensationrecoverable...wherethecontraventionof
theclaimant'sconstitutionalrightsconsistsofdeprivationoflibertyotherwisethanby
dueprocessoflaw.Theclaimisnotaclaiminprivatelawfordamagesforthetortof
falseimprisonment...Itisaclaiminpubliclawforcompensationforthedeprivationof
libertyalone.Suchcompensationwouldincludeanylossofearningsconsequenton
theimprisonmentandrecompensefortheinconvenienceanddistresssufferedby
theappellantduringhisincarceration."
Therefore,theawardofdamagesforlossoflibertywillencompassanyawardfor
lossofearnings.
Inhisaffidavitofthe6thNovember2009,theapplicantstatedthatafterhewas
releasedfromcustodyhewasemployedwithasecuritycompany,wherehestill
currentlyworks.Hestatedthatheispaidfortnightlyandhisearningsrangefrom
between$1,100.00to$1,500.00perfortnight.Itwassubmittedthatanaverageof
$1,300.00perfortnight(endofpage3)shouldbeusedtocovertheapplicant'sloss
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ofearningsforthetimehewasdeprivedofhisliberty.Thisgivesatotalclaimforloss
ofearningsof$68,435.71.
Althoughtherespondenthasnotdisputedthesefigures,onthefactsofthecaseit
cannotbesaidthattheapplicantlostearningsasaconsequenceofhis
imprisonment.Theevidenceshowsthathesecuredemploymentsubsequenttohis
release.Thereisnoevidencethathewasemployedpriortoincarcerationand
sufferedlossofearningsasaconsequenceofhisincarceration.Theapplicantfailed
toestablishsuchlosstojustifytheinclusionofanawardforlossofincome.
Inhisprincipalaffidavitdatedthe30thJune2005,theapplicantstatedthatbecause
hewasreviewedbythePsychiatricHospitalTribunalandrecommendedfor
dischargeandtheOrderofStollmeyer,J.,hehadsomeexpectationthathewouldbe
assessedandreleasedwithinareasonabletime.
Inaddition,theapplicantstatedthat,giventhesecircumstancesandhisexpectation
thattheOrder,asanorderoftheHighCourtwouldbecompliedwith,hedecidednot
toappealStollmeyer,J.'sdecisionnottoorderhisrelease.
Theapplicantalsoindicatedthathefeltdespairbecausehewasnotgivenany
reasonsforthedelayincomplyingwiththeOrderofStollmeyer,J.andhefeltthatthe
ExecutivecontinuedtohavenoregardforhisConstitutionalrights,despitethefact
thathehadbeengrantedredress.
Theapplicantalsostatedthathefeltanguishatthethoughtofdyinginprison,
becausehehadnoideawhetherhewouldbereleasedorwhetheranyordershad
beenmadeforhiscontinueddetention.Andfurther,hefeltthattherewasno
recourseopentohim,havingalreadyinitiatedproceedingsandhavingobtainedthe
OrderoftheCourt.
Inthecircumstances,theCourtfoundthattheState'stwoyeardelayinconducting
thereviewoftheapplicantinspiteoftheOrderofStollmeyer,J.wasanaggravating
factorwhichwastakenintoaccountwhenmakingitsaward.
InthejudgmentofthePrivyCouncilinAttorneyGeneralofTrinidadandTobagov.
Subiah[2008]U.K.P.C.47,deliveredonthe3rdNovember2008,LordBinghamat
paragraph11givessomeguidanceinassessingcompensation:
"...Suchcompensationwillbeassessedonordinaryprinciplesassettledinthelocal
jurisdiction,takingaccountofalltherelevantfactsandcircumstancesofthe
particularcaseandtheparticularvictim.Thusthesumassessedascompensation
willtakeaccountofwhateveraggravatingfeaturestheremaybeinthecase..."(end
ofpage4)
CurrentTrends
Thefollowingcasessubmittedbythepartiesprovidedhelpfulguidanceastothe
currenttrendofawardsforextendedperiodsofdetention:
1.JosephineMillettev.ShermanMcNicholls,C.A.Civ14/2000:
InNovember2000,theCourtofAppealupheldanawardof$145,000.00madefora
132daydetention.WhiletheCourtconsideredthisfiguretobeonthelowside,itdid
notdisturbtheaward.TheCourttookaccountoftheageoftheappellant(72years
oldatthedateofherimprisonment),thefactthatshewasmadetodofairlyheavy
workforawomanofherageandthattherewasnoevidenceoftheconditionsunder
whichshewaskeptinprison.
TheCourtofAppealalsorejectedanymathematicalcomputationfordamagesand
gavetacitapprovalofthesubjectivenatureoftheloss.TheCourtapproved
assessments"intheround",wherealltherelevantfactorsshouldbetakeninto
accountandemphasizedthatthemostimportantfactortobeconsideredisthe
lengthoftheimprisonment.
2.AnnesonStanisclausv.A.G.ofTrinidadandTobago,H.C.A1785/2000:InMay,
2002,C.HamelSmith,J.awarded$225,000for691daysofdetention.Thejudge
foundtherewerenoaggravatingcircumstancestoincreasetheaward.
3.SorianoandMitchellv.TheAttorneyGeneralofTrinidadandTobagoandAnother
C.A.CIV.101/2002:
ThisdecisionwasdeliveredinJune2004.Thiswasacaseofmaliciousprosecution
inwhichtheMasterawarded$10,000.00indamages.TheCourtofAppealfound
thattheMasterfailedtotakeintoaccountthetwoperiodsofdetentionexperienced
bytheapplicantswhichtotalled385days.Assuch,theawardwasincreasedto
$180,000.00toincludetheAppellants'lossofliberty.
4.PerryMatthewv.TheA.G.ofTrinidadandTobagoH.C.3342/2004:InJune2007,
Jamadar,J.awardedtheclaimant$350,000for409daysofunlawfuldetention.
TheCourt,alsofoundtheawardmadeinLynchv.TheAttorneyGeneralCV2008
01595tobeofassistance.Inthatcase,thesumof$450,000.00wasawardedfor672
days'unlawfuldetention.Inmakingthisaward,thejudgetookaccountofthe
claimant'sevidenceofembarrassmentandindignityatbeingimprisonedincramped
andinsanitaryconditions.
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VindicatoryDamages(endofpage5)
Withregardtotheapplicant'sclaimforvindicatorydamages,itshouldbenotedthat
theCourtaimstovindicatetherightsoftheapplicantbymakingsuchanaward.In
SubiahLordBinghamhadthistosay:
"AsemphasisedinMersonv.Cartwright&AG[2005]U.K.P.C.38,however,the
purposeofsuchadditionalawardisnottopunishbuttovindicatetherightofthe
victimtocarryonhisorherlifefreefromunjustifiedexecutiveinterference,
mistreatmentoroppression."
ThisissupportedbyAGofTrinidadandTobagov.Ramanoop(PrivyCouncilAppeal
No.13of2004,atpara.17:deliveredonthe23rdMarch,2005.)whereLordNicholls
saidthat:
"Anadditionalaward,notnecessarilyofsubstantialsize,maybeneededtoreflect
thesenseofpublicoutrage,emphasisetheimportanceoftheconstitutionalrightand
thegravityofthebreach,anddeterfurtherbreaches."
InMersonv.CartwrightandTheAttorneyGeneralofTheBahamas(PrivyCouncil
AppealNo.61of2003atpara.18:deliveredonthe13thOctober2005.),LordScott
ofFoscottereiteratedthis,providingsomeguidanceregardingtheexerciseofthe
Court'sdiscretion:
"...thenatureofthedamagesawardedmaybecompensatorybutshouldalwaysbe
vindicatoryand,accordingly,thedamagesmay,inanappropriatecase,exceeda
purelycompensatoryamount...Thepurposeistovindicatetherightofthe
complainant...Thesumappropriatetobeawardedtoachievethispurposewill
dependuponthenatureoftheparticularinfringementandthecircumstancesrelating
tothatinfringement.Itwillbeasumatthediscretionofthetrialjudge.Insomecases
asuitabledeclarationmaysufficetovindicatetherightinothercasesanawardof
damages,includingsubstantialdamages,mayseemtobenecessary."
IndeliveringjudgmentinSubiah(Atpara.11),LordBinghamprovidedsome
additionalguidanceregardingtheexerciseofdiscretion:
"Havingidentifiedanappropriatesum(ifany)tobeawardedascompensation,the
courtmustthenaskitselfwhetheranawardofthatsumaffordsthevictimadequate
redressorwhetheranadditionalawardshouldbemadetovindicatethevictim's
constitutionalright.Theanswerislikelytobeinfluencedbythequantumofthe
compensatoryaward,asalsobythegravityoftheconstitutional(endofpage6)
violationinquestiontotheextentthatthisisnotalreadyreflectedinthe
compensatoryaward..."(Emphasismine)
DesVignes,J.,inLynch,declinedtomakeanadditionalawardofvindicatory
damages,statingthatthedeclarationmadeonbehalfoftheapplicanttogetherwith
hisintendedawardofcompensatorydamageswere"sufficientvindicationofthe
claimant'sconstitutionalrights".
ThisCourthowever,wasinclinedtomakeanadditionalawardofvindicatory
damageshavingregardtoallthecircumstancesofthecaseandthisadditional
awardwasincludedintheawardof$545,000.00ascompensationforbreachofthe
applicant'sconstitutionalrights,anddistressandinconveniencesufferedduringthe
periodofunconstitutionaldetentionfor737days.
TheCourtfurtherorderedinterestontheawardat12%perannumfromthedateof
serviceoftheMotiontothedateofjudgmentwithcostsoftheassessmenttobe
taxedandpaidbytherespondenttotheapplicantcertifiedfitforadvocateattorney.
BrendaParayDurity
MasteroftheHighCourt(endofpage7)
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