This rule has not been amended. |
ORDER 15 : DISCONTINUANCE
1. The plaintiff may, at any time before the receipt of the defendant's defence, or after the receipt of the defendant's pleaded defence before taking any other proceeding in the action (save any interlocutory application), by notice in writing, wholly discontinue his action against all or any of the defendants or withdraw any part or parts off his alleged cause of complaint, and thereupon he shall pay such defendant's costs of the action, or if the action be not wholly discontinued, the costs occasioned by the matter so withdrawn. Such costs shall be taxed, and such discontinuance or withdrawal, as the case may be, shall not be a defence to any subsequent action. Save as in this Rule otherwise provided, it shall not be competent for the plaintiff to withdraw the record or discontinue the action without leave of the Court or a Judge, but the Court or a Judge may, before or at or after the hearing or trial, upon such terms as to costs, and as to any other action, and otherwise as may be just, order the action to be discontinued, or any part of the alleged cause of complaint to be struck out. The Court or a Judge may, in like manner and with the like discretion as to terms, upon the application of a defendant, order the whole or any part of his alleged grounds of defence or counter-claim to be withdrawn or struck out, but it shall not be competent to a defendant to withdraw his defence or any part thereof, without such leave.
2. When a cause has been set down or fixed for trial, it may be withdrawn by either plaintiff or defendant, upon producing to the Registrar a consent in writing signed by the parties.
3. Any defendant may have judgment for the costs of the action if it is wholly discontinued against him, or for the costs occasioned by the matter withdrawn, if the action be not wholly discontinued.
4. If any subsequent action shall he brought before payment of the costs of a discontinued action, for the same, or substantially the same, cause of action, the Court or a Judge may, if they or he think fit, order a stay of such subsequent action, until such costs shall have been paid.