WEN HANRONG v HUATIONG CONTRACTOR PTE LTD & Anor
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Case Significance
In this Magistrate's Court costs decision of 24 April 2026, Deputy Registrar Don Ho addressed the personal costs liability of a plaintiff's solicitor following an assessment of damages judgment delivered on 5 January 2026 (Wen Hanrong v Huationg Contractor Pte Ltd and another [2026] SGMC 3). The earlier judgment awarded Wen Hanrong general damages of $9,800 and special damages of $3,353.71 against defendants Huationg Contractor Pte Ltd and Anbalagan Murugan, but the plaintiff's advocate and solicitor, Ms Alyssa Lee (Lee Nyet Fah Alyssa) of Alyssa Lee & Co, was directed to show cause why she should not bear personal costs liability under O 59 r 8 of the Rules of Court (2014 Rev Ed). The plaintiff filed an appeal on 19 January 2026, which was dismissed in its entirety by a District Judge on 11 March 2026.
The decision turns on the intersection of civil procedure costs rules and a solicitor's paramount duty to the court, examining when a lawyer's conduct in litigation crosses into territory warranting personal costs orders under the Rules of Court. The involvement of multiple plaintiff-side firms — Alyssa Lee & Co, Ling & Ling LLC, and Manicka & Company — alongside defence counsel from PKWA Law Practice LLC underscores the complexity of the costs inquiry. Lawyers Charlene Clara Chee Hui Yen and Charles Phua Cheng Sye appeared for the defendants.
Summary
Following a personal injury assessment arising from a 2017 road traffic accident in which the plaintiff Wen Hanrong was struck by a cement truck, the Deputy Registrar awarded $9,800 general damages and $3,353.71 special damages, then considered costs including whether plaintiff's solicitor Ms Alyssa Lee should bear personal costs liability under O 59 r 8 of the Rules of Court. The court found Ms Lee's conduct fell below the standard of a reasonable solicitor, causing unnecessary expense to the defendants and prolonging proceedings. Ms Lee was ordered to personally pay $24,000 (all-in) in indemnity costs to the defendants, with her recoverable solicitor-and-client costs from the plaintiff capped at $5,000.
What personal costs liability issue arose in Wen Hanrong v Huationg Contractor Pte Ltd [2026] SGMC 52?
Deputy Registrar Don Ho examined whether plaintiff's solicitor Alyssa Lee of Alyssa Lee & Co should be personally liable for costs under O 59 r 8 of the Rules of Court (2014 Rev Ed), following a damages award of $9,800 general and $3,353.71 special damages on 5 January 2026.
What damages were awarded in the underlying assessment in Wen Hanrong v Huationg Contractor Pte Ltd?
Deputy Registrar Don Ho awarded Wen Hanrong general damages of $9,800 and special damages of $3,353.71 against Huationg Contractor Pte Ltd and Anbalagan Murugan in the judgment of 5 January 2026, with certain periods excluded for pre-judgment interest purposes.
Cases Cited (18)
Judgment
Read the full judgment on the official Singapore Courts portal.
Read on eLitigationSource: eLitigation ([2026] SGMC 52)