MaltaToday.com.mt - Comment / Law Report

Donation does not exonerate social security recipient from explaining how money was used

Malcolm Mifsud

The Social Security Department must be certain that a cash donation was not used by an applicant to be eligible for medical assistance that is means tested

Appeals Court rules in favour of damages awarded by the Civil Court arbitrio boni viri | Andrew Drago

The 2018 amendments have added further uncertainty to Maltese tort law, and that there is a need for legislative action to guide the law towards a more humane and victim-centred...

Appeal from a decision of the Industrial Tribunal must be on a point of law

Malcolm Mifsud

An appeal application purely based on the disagreement with the analysis of the Industrial Tribunal with regards to the facts of the case shall be rejected by...

An appeal application purely based on the disagreement with...

When prosecution rests on one witness’s testimony, it must be proven to be safe and satisfactory

Malcolm Mifsud

For the accused to be found guilty on the basis of the testimony of one witness, the prosecution must prove that such testimony is safe and satisfactory

For the accused to be found guilty on the basis of the...

Court refuses to decide on the merits of an executive garnishee order

Malcolm Mifsud

Where the law states in Article 281 of the Code of Organisation and Civil...

Where the law states in Article 281 of the Code of...

Court of Appeal will not re-examine facts following a voluntary arbitration

Malcolm Mifsud

Following an arbitration award, the Court of Appeal cannot enter into the facts of the case, if the arbitration is a voluntary one

Following an arbitration award, the Court of Appeal cannot...

Eviction from a tenement will be granted by the Rent Regulation Board only if it is an exceptional and last resort

Although it is the lessee’s responsibility to perform acts of maintenance in accordance with the law and the lease contract, this does not mean that if...

Although it is the lessee’s responsibility to perform...

Court awards sum of wages owed to employee although employment contract was not in writing

Malcolm Mifsud

An employment contract is not one which is enlisted in Article 1233 which outlines contracts must be in writing on pain of nullity

An employment contract is not one which is enlisted in...

Article 12 of Housing (DeControl) Ordinance in violation of human rights

Malcolm Mifsud

The Housing (DeControl) Ordinance states that where a dwelling house has been granted on temporary emphyteusis according to a contract preceding 2lst June...

The Housing (DeControl) Ordinance states that where a...

Judicial review procedure cannot substitute the natural process of complaints

Malcolm Mifsud

The Court faced with a judicial review lawsuit is not competent to hear it if the plaintiff has other remedies at his disposal

The Court faced with a judicial review lawsuit is not...

Bills of Exchange will not be enforced if they are a result of usury

Malcolm Mifsud

If the Court establishes that a bill of exchange has an element of usury, then...

If the Court establishes that a bill of exchange has an...

Legatee must make a request to curator in case of a vacant inheritance to gain possession of the property

Malcolm Mifsud

The Court concluded that the plaintiff was to take possession of the half undivided share of the property of the late Ms Buhagiar, following the publication of...

The Court concluded that the plaintiff was to take...

Human rights cases where remedy sought affects rights of private citizens, are to be joined in the suit

Malcolm Mifsud

The Court concluded that Xuereb has an interest in the proceedings because the law gave him the right to institute them

The Court concluded that Xuereb has an interest in the...

Co-owners may force a sale of common property

Malcolm Mifsud

The Court ordered that the plaintiffs were to sell the property in terms of the...

The Court ordered that the plaintiffs were to sell the...

Garnishee order must be issued by court competent to take cognizance of the matter

Malcolm Mifsud

The issuing of a garnishee order by a court, that does not have the authority to issue it due to a lack of competence to take cognizance of the matter, is...

The issuing of a garnishee order by a court, that does not...

POAs: Mandators cannot escape liability if they cannot read Maltese or English

Malcolm Mifsud

The Court concluded that the defendant did not adequately prove that the plaintiff was in mala fede. It held that it was clear that the plaintiff had nothing...

The Court concluded that the defendant did not adequately...

Court has final say on whether bodily harm was grievous or not, regardless of doctors’ medical opinion

Malcolm Mifsud

The Court held that according to the evidence the accused was proven to have punched the defendant once, as a result of which his eye was injured but no...

The Court held that according to the evidence the accused...

An obvious falsification of a document is not a crime

Malcolm Mifsud

The Court applied a legal principle where the use of a document which is...

The Court applied a legal principle where the use of a...

Fingerprints may be deemed sufficient evidence to prove the commission of a crime

With regards to the intentional element of the crime of theft the Court held that the argument of the accused did not hold water since the simple use or...

With regards to the intentional element of the crime of...

Abduction cases against parent based on UN Convention procedurally defective

Malcolm Mifsud

The Convention on the Rights of the Child only pertains to States, and not individuals

The Convention on the Rights of the Child only pertains to...