Enoch Kavindele and wife, Dorothy, have disputed KBF and Partners’ claims that it is owed over K67, 000 legal fees.
The Kavindeles also applied that the matter be referred to taxation for determination of the outstanding amount.
The Lusaka High Court stayed the proceedings and ordered that the matter be referred to taxation as prayed by Kavindele and wife.
“Upon hearing both parties and there being no objection by the plaintiff, it is hereby ordered that the application is granted and the proceedings herein are stayed,” read the order in part.
KBF and Partners sued Kavindele and his wife, claiming K67,290.00 relating to a matter before the High Court in which the couple was represented.
According to an affidavit in support of summons to stay proceedings and refer the matter to taxation, Kavindele stated that when he engaged KBF and Partners, he paid the sum of K30,000 from the dates of commencement of the matter.
He submitted that he later received a writ and statement of claim where a sum of K67,290.00 was being claimed by KBF and Partners.
Kavindele stated that on the scale of the lawyer who handled the matter, he believed that the amount of K30,000 was more than adequate for work done up to the stage where the matter currently was.
“That I dispute that we owe the plaintiff the amount so claimed and it is in that regard that I seek the indulgence of the court to refer the matter for taxation for the determination of the amount outstanding if any,” read the statement in part.
But KBF argued that since Kavindele and wife retained the firm in 2013, the managing partner, Kelvin Bwalya was the one dealing with the matter, at that time being more than 30 years at the bar and thus the scale used for work done during those months was in accordance with the law.
The law firm submitted that the junior lawyer who occasionally dealt with the defendants’ file did so under the strict supervision of KBF Partners.
“That in this regard, the scale used after the managing partner ceased dealing with the defendants is also in accordance with the provision of the law,” stated KBF.