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High Court of the Federal Capital
Territory, Abuja (Civil Procedure) Rules
Arrangement
of Rules
Order I
Form and
Commencement of Action
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1. |
Mode
of beginning proceedings. |
2.
(1)
(2)
(3) |
Proceedings
which may be begun by writ.
Proceedings
which may be begun by originating summons.
Proceedings
which may be begun by motion or petition. |
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Order 2
Effect
of Non - Compliance
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1. |
Effect
of non-compliance. |
2. |
Application
to set aside for irregularity. |
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Order 3
Particulars
of Claim
|
1. |
Further
particulars. |
2. |
Effect
of particulars.
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3.
(1)
(2) |
Papers
annexed: in what cases
Inspection
of papers annexed. |
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4. |
Amendment
of particulars. |
5. |
Amendment
of trial. |
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Order 4
Causes
of Action
|
1. |
All
causes of action may be joined. |
2. |
Counter-claim
against plaintiff. |
3. |
Court
may order separate trials, etc. |
Order 5
Writ of
Summons
|
1. |
Writ
of summons to be issued by the Registrar |
2. |
Contents
of writ of summons. |
3. |
Alteration
of writ. |
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4. |
Several
causes of actions in one suit. |
5. |
Consolidation
of causes or matters. 6. Leave to issue out of jurisdiction. |
7. |
Printing. |
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8.
(1)
(2) |
Forms
of writ.
Provision
for framing additional forms. |
9. |
Sealing
of writs.
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10. |
Endorsement
of claim.
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11.(1)
(2) |
Endorsement
as to capacity.
Summons
for service out of jurisdiction. |
12. |
Endorsement
as to legal practitioner and address. |
13. |
Concurrent
writ.
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14. |
Writ
for service out of jurisdiction. |
15. |
"Issue",
when effected. |
16. |
Validity
and renewal of writ. |
Order 6
Originating
Summons
|
1. |
Application. |
2. |
Forms
for originating summons. |
3. |
Contents
of summons. |
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4. |
Endorsement
as to capacity. |
5. |
Endorsement
as to legal practitioner and address. |
6. |
Concurrent
originating summons |
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7. |
Summons
for service out of jurisdiction. |
8. |
"Issue",
when effected. |
9. |
Validity
and renewal of originating summons. |
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10. |
Ex
parte originating summonses |
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Order 7
Petition:
General Provisions
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1. |
Application. |
2. |
Contents
of petition. |
3. |
Presentation
of petition. |
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4.
(1)
(2) |
Date
of hearing and serving of petition.
Fixing
time for hearing petition. |
5. |
Certain
applications not to be made by petition. |
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Order 8
Interlocutory
Applications
1.
Motions Generally
|
1. |
Time
to apply. |
2.
(1)
(2) |
Application
by motion.
Motion
list. |
3. |
Affidavit
to support motion. |
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4. |
Affidavit
to be served with motion. |
5. |
Hearing
of motions. |
6. |
Adjournment. |
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7. |
Motion
to be on notice, except in emergency. |
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2.
Ex parte Motion
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8. |
Affidavit
in support of ex parte motion. |
9. |
Arguments
on motion. |
10. |
Orders
on ex parte motions. |
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11. |
Court
may vary or discharge order. |
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3.
Orders to show Cause
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12. |
Return-day
to be specified. |
13. |
Counter-evidence. |
14. |
Further
service in certain cases. |
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15. |
Appearance
or proof of service. |
16. |
General
powers as to orders. |
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4.
Notice of Motion
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17. |
Notice
of motion. |
18. |
Service
of notice. |
19. |
Service
on solicitor. |
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20. |
Copy
of affidavit to be served with notice. |
21. |
Order
for service. |
22. |
Service
with writ of summons. |
5.
Evidence in Interlocutory Proceedings.
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23. |
Oral
evidence. |
24. |
Evidence
in addition to or in lieu of affidavits. |
25. |
Notice
to parties and interested persons. |
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26. |
Evidence:
how taken. |
27. |
Affidavit
not filed with motion paper. |
28. |
Registrar
to have powers of a Judge. |
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29. |
Only
registrar legally qualified to hear applications. |
30. |
Where
no legal qualified Registrar, Judge to hear applications. |
31. |
Persons
dissatisfied with ruling of Registrar may apply to the Court or a Judge in
Chambers. |
Order 9
Affidavits
|
1. |
Evidence
on motion. |
2. |
Title
of affidavits. |
3. |
Use
of defective affidavits. |
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4. |
Special
time for filling affidavits. |
5. |
Affidavit
in support of ex parte application. |
6. |
Notice
of intention to use affidavit in Chambers. |
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7. |
Use
in Chambers of affidavits used in Court. |
8. |
Alterations
in accounts to be initialed. |
9. |
Exhibits. |
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10. |
Certificate
on exhibit.
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11. |
Application
of Evidence Act.
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12. |
Affidavit
taken in Commonwealth country admissible without proof of seal, etc. |
Order 10
Place of
Instituting and of Trial of Suits
|
1. |
Suits
relating to land and personalty distrained or seized. |
2. |
Suits
for penalties. |
3. |
Suits
upon contract. |
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4. |
Other
suits. |
5. |
Suits
commenced in wrong Division. |
6. |
Transfer
of proceedings. |
Order 11
Parties
A General
|
1. |
Persons
claiming jointly, severally or in the alternative may be plaintiffs. |
2. |
Action
in name of wrong plaintiff. |
3. |
All
persons may be joined as defendants. |
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4. |
Counter-claim:
misjoinder. |
5.
(1)
(2) |
Non-joinder.
Misjoinder
of parties. |
6. |
Joint
and several demand. |
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7. |
Suit
or claims on behalf of others. |
8. |
Where
joint interest, parties may be authorised to sue or defend for others. |
9. |
Partners.
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10. |
Infants
as parties. |
11. |
Lunatics,
etc. |
12.
(1)
(2) |
Appearance
by infant.
Form
14. |
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13. |
Next
friend. |
14. |
Trustees,
executors, etc. may be sued as representing the estate. |
15. |
Where
defendant added. |
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16. |
Application
to add or strike out party. |
17.(1)
(2) |
Third
party notice.
How
leave obtained. |
18. |
Form
and issue of notice. |
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19. |
Effect
of notice. |
20. |
Appearance. |
21. |
Default
by third party. |
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22. |
Procedure
after default. |
23. |
Third
party directions. |
24. |
Leave
to defend. |
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25.(1)
(2) |
At
trial or after.
When
no trial. |
26. |
Person
trading as firm. |
27. |
Probate
intervention. |
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28. |
Recovery
of land. |
29. |
Landlord
appearing. |
30. |
Recovery
of land, person not named defendant: fees. |
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31. |
Plaintiff
to assign place for service. |
32. |
Court
may require security in respect of counter-claim. |
33. |
Court
may be done by legal practitioner or agent. |
B.
Alteration of Parties
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34. |
Where
change of interest, court may make order enabling suit to proceed |
35. |
When
suit does not abate.
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36. |
When
cause of action survives.
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37. |
When
cause of action accrues to survivors. |
38. |
Death
of sole or surviving plaintiff. |
39. |
Dispute
as to legal representative. |
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40. |
Death
of one of several defendants or of a sole or surviving defendant. |
41. |
Bankruptcy
of plaintiff.
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42. |
Legal
practitioner of plaintiff to give notice of abatement. |
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43. |
Abated
cause, etc., to be struck out. |
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Order 12
Service
of Process
A
Service within Jurisdiction
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1. |
By
whom service is to be effected. |
2. |
Service
of process: how effected. |
3. |
When
process need not be served. |
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4. |
Special
bailiff. |
5. |
Substituted
service. |
6. |
Service
on employee of Government. |
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7. |
Service
on partners. |
8. |
Service
on corporation or company. |
9. |
Service
on board ship. |
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10. |
Service
on prisoners and lunatics. |
11. |
Service
on infants.
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12. |
Service
on local agent of principal who is out of jurisdiction. |
B
Service out of Jurisdiction
|
13. |
Service
of writ out of jurisdiction. |
14. |
Interpretation. |
15. |
Application
to be supported by affidavit. |
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16. |
Order
to fix time for appearance. |
17.(1)
(2) |
Notice
of writ
Service
of notice. |
18. |
Service
of originating summons, etc. |
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19. |
Service
abroad by letter of request. |
20. |
Service
out of the jurisdiction under the Civil Aviation Act. |
21. |
Service
of documents abroad. |
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22. |
Saving
for other modes of service. |
23. |
Air
mail. |
24. |
Service
for foreign tribunals. |
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25. |
Substituted
service. |
26. |
Order
thereon. |
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C
General Provisions
|
27. |
Where
violence threatened. |
28. |
Affidavit
of service. |
29. |
Expenses
of service. |
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30. |
Service
on Sunday or public holiday. |
31. |
Recording
of service.
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Order 13
Appearance
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1. |
Mode
of entry of appearance. |
2. |
Defendant's
address for service. |
3. |
Fictitious
address. |
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4. |
Defendants
appearing by same legal practitioner. |
5. |
Time
for appearance. |
6. |
Recovery
of land: limited defence. |
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7. |
Summons
to set aside writ, etc. |
8. |
Application. |
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Order 14
Default
of Appearance
|
1. |
Claim
for liquidated demand. |
2. |
Liquidated
demand: several defendants. |
3. |
Recovery
of land. |
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4. |
Judgments
for costs where satisfaction, etc. made. |
5. |
Default
of appearance in actions not specifically provided for. |
6. |
Setting
aside judgment. |
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7. |
Default
of appearance to originating summons. |
8. |
Default
of appearance by infant or person of unsound mind. |
9. |
Leave
in actions by money-lender. |
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10. |
Application. |
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Order 15
Arrest
of Absconding Defendant
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1. |
Defendant
leaving jurisdiction or removing property |
2. |
Warrant
to arrest. |
3. |
Bail
for appearance or satisfaction. |
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4.
(1)
(2) |
Deposit
in lieu of bail.
Defendant
may be committed to Custody. |
5. |
In
what division proceedings may be taken. |
6. |
Cost
of subsistence of persons arrested. |
Order 16
Interim
Attachment of Property
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1. |
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2. |
Application
for attachment. |
3. |
Form
of Order. |
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4. |
Where
defendant fails to show cause or give security. |
5. |
Rights
of third parties not to be affected. |
6. |
Removal
of attachment. |
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7. |
In
what courts proceedings may be taken. |
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Order 17
Detention
of Ships and Reparation for Needless Arrests, Etc.
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1. |
In
what cases. |
2. |
Release
of ship detained.
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3. |
Court
may require security or impose other terms on making order. |
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4. |
Cases
in which compensation may be awarded. |
5. |
No
action of damages where compensation awarded. |
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Order 18
Accounts
and Inquiries
|
1. |
Summary
order for account. |
2. |
Court
may direct taking of accounts, etc. |
3. |
Directions
as to manner of taking account. |
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4. |
Account
to be made, verified, etc. |
5. |
Erroneous
account. |
6. |
Allowances. |
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7. |
Delay
in prosecution of accounts, etc. |
8. |
Distribution
of fund before all persons entitled are. ascertained |
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Order 19
Reference
to Arbitrator
|
1. |
Nomination
of arbitrators and appointment. |
2. |
Court
may appoint arbitrator. |
3. |
Form
of order of reference. |
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4. |
Umpire
where necessary. |
5. |
Attendance
of witnesses. |
6. |
Extension
of time for making award. |
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7. |
Power
of Court in case of death, incapacity or refusal to act |
8. |
Finding. |
9. |
Special
case for opinion of the Court. |
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10. |
Court
may modify or correct award. |
11. |
Power
as to costs. |
12. |
Power
of Court to remit award for reconsideration. |
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13. |
Setting
aside award. |
14. |
Filing
award: effect of. |
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Order 20
Reference
to Referees
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1. |
Instruction
to referee. |
2. |
Interim
inquiries or accounts. |
3. |
General
powers of the referee. |
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4. |
Evidence. |
5. |
Referee's
authority in the inquiry. |
6. |
Limitation
in certain particulars. |
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7. |
Reports
made in pursuance of reference |
8. |
Referee
may report questions of facts specially |
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Order 21
Receivers
|
1. |
Application
for receiver and injunction. |
2. |
Giving
of security by receiver. |
3. |
Remuneration
of a receiver. |
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4. |
Receivers
account. |
5. |
Payment
of balance, etc. by receiver. |
6. |
Default
by receiver. |
Order 22
Computation
of Time
|
1. |
Computation
of time.
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2. |
No
enlargement of time by consent of parties. 3. Court may extend time. |
4. |
Notice
of intention to proceed after a years delay. |
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5. |
Time
for applications to set aside award. |
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Order 23
The
Undefended List
|
1. |
Undefended
list: affidavit. |
2. |
Copy
of affidavit to be served |
3.
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Notice
of intention to defend. |
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4. |
Judgment
in undefended suit. |
5. |
Oral evidence. |
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Order 24
Proceedings
in Lieu of Demurrer
|
1. |
Abolition
of demurrer. |
2. |
Points
of law may be raised by pleadings. |
3. |
Dismissal
of action. |
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4. |
Striking
out pleading where no reasonable cause of action disclosed. |
5. |
Declaratory
judgment.
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Order 25
Pleadings
|
1. |
Service
of statement of claim. |
2. |
Service
of defence. |
3. |
Service
of reply and defence to counter-claim |
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4.
(1)
(2) |
Pleading
to state material fact and not evidence.
How
facts are to be stated. |
5. |
Particulars
to be given where necessary.
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6.
(1)
(2)
(3) |
Matters
which must be specifically pleaded.
Further
and better statement or particulars.
Letter
f Particulars before defence |
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8. |
Order
for particulars not a stay. |
9. |
Specific
denial. |
10. |
Denial
by joinder of issue. |
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11. |
Pleadings
to be consistent. |
12.(1)
(2) |
Grounds
of claim founded on separate facts to be separately stated.
The
relief claimed to be stated. |
13. |
Allegations
shall not be made generally but specifically.
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14. |
Denial
of fact must answer point of substance. |
15. |
Admissions. |
16. |
Set-off
or Counter-claim to be pleaded. |
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17. |
Evidence
in denial of allegation or in support of defence not set up in pleading. |
18. |
Further
pleadings.
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19. |
Costs
in certain cases.
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20. |
Striking
out pleadings. |
21. |
Denial
of Contract. |
22. |
Effect
of documents to be stated. |
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23. |
Malice,
knowledge, or other condition of mind. |
24. |
Notice. |
25. |
Implied
contract or relation. |
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26. |
Presumptions
of law. |
27. |
Pleadings:
probate actions. |
28. |
Technical
objection.. |
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29. |
Application. |
30. |
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