Reader-friendly law handbook launched

KOTA KINABALU: The Sports and Recreational Clubs of Sabah and Sarawak Courts have launched a reader-friendly law book offering detailed guidelines on civil trial procedures.

The handbook entitled: “Civil Trial Guidebook”, comprises 42 chapters that also incorporates everyday civil course of action faced by judges, judicial officers, lawyers and litigants.

Chief Justice of Malaysia, Tun Arifin Zakaria launched the book in a special ceremony held at the Kota Kinabalu High Court building here yesterday.

“There are a number of local law books on this subject (civil litigation) but the authors of this guidebook have addressed in a nutshell all the common and familiar issues that judges, magistrates and practicing lawyers have to deal with when conducting civil proceedings,” he said.

Although the book was written in a simple handbook style, he said some crucial topics had been given detailed treatment, making it an immensely useful quick reference guide for law practitioners and the public in general.

The book, he added, also discussed some substantive law topics that were often the subject matter in civil trials, such as personal injury claims and defamation.

“I also note that this book has taken into account the recently launched Rules of Court 2012, as many in the legal fraternity are still grappling with some of the changes introduced by the new rules (as compared to the old rules of High Court 1980); the publication of this book is indeed timely,” he added.

Noting that it was the first time so many judges and judicial officers had collaborated to write a highly useful guidebook, he hoped the effort would be emulated and become the precursor to the publication of other law books, not only in Sabah and Sarawak but also in Peninsular Malaysia.

Co-editor of the book, Datuk Jagjit Singh said it took three editors and a total of 51 contributors made up of judges, judicial commissioners and judicial officers of Sabah and Sarawak to complete Civil Trials Guidebook.

He said the book was ready at the end of last year but had to be held back and updated to include the proposed combined rules of the High Court and Subordinate Courts, which have now culminated in the form of Rules of Court 2012.

He said topics covered included defamation, debt collection, running down claims, admiralty proceedings, adoption, divorce and maintenance disputes and foreclosure proceedings.

The topics on civil procedures included the Modes of Civil Proceedings, Parties, Limitation, Injunctions, Pleadings, Amendments, Discovery, Affidavits, Judgements, Costs, Enforcement of Judgments and Judicial Review.

“With the changing landscape of civil trials and making access to justice simpler and reachable to all and sundry, topics such as the small claims procedure, mediation, offer to settle, pre-trial case management and witness statements have been included,” he added.

The publishing and marketing of the book is handled by Marsden Law Book, a local company with 25 years of experience in the law book trade.

Royalties collected will be donated by the club to deserving orphanages in Sabah and Sarawak as part of its effort to contribute to society.

Collection from the previous book produced by the club, Practical Approach to the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights, has been channeled to an orphanage in Kota Marudu.

Also present to witness the launch were Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, High Court judges and Judicial Commissioners, and members of Sabah and Sarawak Bar.