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Era v Paru [1994] PNGLR 593 (17 June 1994)

PNG Law Reports 1994

[1994] PNGLR 593 - Samuel Era v Susan Paru 

[1994] PNGLR 593

N1237

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

[NATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE]

SAMUEL ERA

V

SUSAN PARU

Mount Hagen

Woods J

20 May 1994

17 June 1994

DAMAGES - Personal injuries - Misrepresentation to marry - Loss of virginity - Damages to status in society as an unmarried woman - Action known in law.

Facts

The respondent successfully claimed damages in the District Court for loss of her virginity to the appellant. She succumbed to his wishes upon a promise of marriage, which he breached. The respondent became pregnant following the sexual intercourse with him. The appellant averred that there is no such cause of action.

Held

1.       This is clearly a case of personal injury. It is an injury to the respondent's status and her value as a future bride.

2.       The cause of action is neither breach of promise to marry nor seduction, but one of injury to the respondent's virginity and, thus, to her status as an unmarried woman, arising from the appellant's misrepresentation to marry.

Cases Cited

Aisi v Hoala [1981] PNGLR 199.

Counsel

P Kunai, for the appellant.

F Pitpit, for the respondent.

17 June 1994

WOODS J:  This is an appeal from the findings and orders of the Ialibu District Court on a civil claim for damages to the person and character of the respondent, whereby the appellant was ordered to pay compensation of K1,600 to the respondent.

In November 1992, the respondent, Susan Paru, filed a complaint in the District Court against the appellant, alleging that he had had an affair with her and, as a result, she was pregnant. The complainant sought damages caused to her virginity in the sum of K2,000. At the hearing of the matter in the District Court, the complainant brought evidence that the defendant had pressured her to come with him and had promised that he would marry her and, therefore, she had gone with him and had sexual intercourse with him. Following the sexual intercourse, she was pregnant. She said that she did this because of his promises to make her his wife and that now he was refusing to honour that promise. She had, therefore, suffered damages to her status in society and lost her virginity to him. This demeaned her in the eyes of the community, and she would have more trouble getting married. In the cross-examination of the complainant, the defendant did not deny the suggestion that he had promised he would marry her and he did not deny having sexual intercourse with her. However, he said that she agreed to the sexual affair.

The respondent also brought another witness, whose evidence confirmed the incident where the appellant had insisted that the respondent come with him and also corroborated that the respondent had said at the time that the appellant had made promises to marry her, and that's why she had gone with him at the time and had a sexual affair with him.

In his own evidence, the defendant admitted having an affair with the respondent, and he does not deny that he may have indicated that he had serious intentions towards the respondent.

Following the hearing of all the evidence, the magistrate was satisfied on the complaint and ordered the appellant to pay compensation of K1,600. The magistrate noted that he was satisfied on the evidence that the appellant had done everything possible to get the respondent to have sex with him. The magistrate was satisfied that this had ruined her future life, and that she was left with an unwanted child, and this could give her difficulties in trying to find another good husband.

The appellant has challenged this decision, firstly, on the basis that there is no such cause of action for the injuries done to the respondent, namely, the loss of her virginity.

The appellant is suggesting that there is no such cause of action, not so much that the District Court had no jurisdiction but, rather, that the cause of action is one not known to the law. However, this is clearly a case of a personal injury. It is an injury to the respondent's status and her value as a future bride. The argument for the appellant is that this cause of action is a customary action and, as such, it must be proved as a matter of fact. It is submitted that this must be proved by sworn evidence or affidavit evidence. But why is this a customary action? Surely, this is a type of action for personal injuries for something done to the complainant which has harmed the complainant, like an assault. Reference is made to the case Aisi v Hoala [1981] PNGLR 199, where there was claim for repayment of bride price and loss of consortium. I would not argue with the ruling in that case, as any question of repayment of bride price must involve consideration of customary laws. But the case before me now is simply a personal action for damages to the complainant by way of injury to her virginity and, thus, to her status as an unmarried woman. I think it must be clearly accepted that it would be common knowledge that a future bride is more valuable and has greater respect if she has not had an affair or children by someone else before her marriage, so why should there not be a cause of action, namely, personal injury to her status by the loss of her virginity? Of course, it is clear that under the District Courts Act, the District Court has no jurisdiction in cases of breach of promise to marry; but this is not taken as a breach of promise to marry. The respondent was not seeking damages for missing out on the marriage. She was seeking damages for personal injuries to herself.

Of course, it goes without saying that the reference in the District Courts Act to the action for seduction has no relevance here, as seduction used in the District Courts Act is a specialist legal term and does not mean what may be accepted in common parlance. So, this is not the legal action of seduction, as excluded in the District Courts Act.

There is no evidence before the District Court that this was simply a matter of two people having an affair with open consent. The evidence was all quite clear, that there was misrepresentation made to the respondent to influence her to have this sexual relationship. Of course, courts should be very careful in such cases to ensure that it is just not simply a matter of an affair where parties fall out afterwards. In such situations, a partner would have no such re-course as the complainant has taken here. But here there is clear evidence that could be accepted by a court that the respondent was misled and has, in effect, given up a valuable asset that she has on a false pretence.

I, therefore, see nothing wrong in the decision of the magistrate and in his reasons. I see no reason why such an action should not be supported by this Court. I, therefore, find in the circumstances the findings of the District Court are open on the evidence, and I am satisfied there has been no errors made by the magistrate.

I, therefore, dismiss the appeal with costs.

Lawyer for the appellant: P Kunai.

Lawyer for the respondent: Public Solicitor.