The High Court has dismissed an application by real estate firm R Hooker Pte Ltd to halt the execution of a costs order issued to a former employee on July 25 pending the determination of its appeal.
The substantive case involves claims by the firm against Nivesh Joseph regarding breaches of a fidelity agreement, misuse of confidential information and damages.
On July 25, 2025, Justice Anjala Wati dismissed the firm’s application for interlocutory injunction and ordered it to pay $5500 in costs to Mr Joseph within 21 days.
Represented by Shelvin Singh Lawyers, the firm appealed the decision to the Court of Appeal, while Mr Joseph, represented by Saneem Lawyers, proceeded to enforce costs through a Writ of Fieri Facias, an enforcement writ used to seize property, which was executed in January this year.
The firm then filed a stay of execution pending appeal based on arguable grounds for appeal, and on the ground that the enforcement writ unlawfully included an extra $1000 in solicitor’s costs that had not been taxed or ordered by the court.
The firm had already deposited the full disputed sum of $6634.75 into the court pending the determination of the stay application.
Justice Chaitanya Lakshman ruled the firm has failed to show that refusal of a stay would render the appeal nugatory, noting Mr Joseph has demonstrated an ability to repay the monies should the appeal succeed.
“(Mr Joseph) is the successful litigant and ought not to be deprived of the fruits of the judgment,” the judge ruled on May 28.
“I am satisfied that the balance of convenience favours Mr Joseph.”
The firm was ordered to pay Mr Joseph $1000 within 30 days.
