KUALA LUMPUR: A lawyer was awarded RM200,000 in damages in a suit against his former client for maliciously lodging a complaint at the Bar Council's disciplinary board over alleged excessive legal fees.
High Court judge Datuk Nik Hasmat Nik Mohamad yesterday awarded N. Murugayah RM100,000 in general damages and another RM100,000 in exemplary damages.
The judge also ordered the defendants, Datuk Tan Ting Wong and Melati Sekutu Sdn Bhd to pay RM20,000 in costs.
Murugayah had filed the suit against the two in December 2009. Tan is the company's managing director.
In his suit, Murugayah, 62, claimed that he had acted for the company in a civil action at the Shah Alam High Court in 2004.
He said he had imposed legal fees of RM592,000, but the defendants had failed to make the payment.
Murugayah then filed a civil suit at the Shah Alam High Court to claim the legal fees.
He alleged that in July 2007, the defendants had maliciously lodged a report against him at the disciplinary board claiming that the legal fees was excessive as the civil action was settled before a hearing.
Murugayah said the board heard the defendants' complaint in 2008 and concluded its investigation in 2009.
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