Majid v Muthuswamy

• Jurisdiction: Singapore
• Court: Federal Court (Singapore)
• Judge: Tan Ah Tah FJ
• Judgment Date: 13 August 1968
• Neutral Citation: [1968] SGFC 11
• Citation: [1968] SGFC 11
• Published date: 19 September 2003
• Year: 1968
• Docket Number: Civil Appeal No Y44 of 1967
• Date: 13 August 1968
• Subject Matter: Fused profession,Professional conduct,Liability for professional negligence as solicitor but not as advocate,Legal Profession
• Plaintiff Counsel: NN Leicester
• Defendant Counsel: LAJ Smith,G Starforth Hill as amicus curiae

The claim is for damages for negligence on the part of a deceased solicitor by a client in relation to three court proceedings but in respect of two of the three court proceedings, it is clear they disclose no cause of action because the statement of claim not only does not allege that the deceased solicitor was the solicitor of the present plaintiff in those two actions but clearly states that the deceased solicitor was appearing in those two actions as solicitor for a trade union, namely, the Malayan National Seamen`s Union. As regards the third proceedings, namely, the bankruptcy petition, which resulted in the plaintiff being adjudicated a bankrupt, the statement of claim discloses, on the face of it, no allegation of negligence on the part of the solicitor concerned.

An attempt was made to amend the pleadings when we were dealing with this matter on appeal, and the draft...