Article 62 — Scope of an attorney's authority
Texte légal (original thaï)
ทนายความซึ่งคู่ความได้ตั้งแต่งนั้นมีอำนาจว่าความและดำเนินกระบวนพิจารณาใด ๆ แทนคู่ความได้ตามที่เห็นสมควรเพื่อรักษาผลประโยชน์ของคู่ความนั้น แต่ถ้ากระบวนพิจารณาใดเป็นไปในทางจำหน่ายสิทธิของคู่ความ เช่น การยอมรับตามที่คู่ความอีกฝ่ายหนึ่งเรียกร้อง การถอนฟ้อง การประนีประนอมยอมความ การสละสิทธิ หรือใช้สิทธิในการอุทธรณ์หรือฎีกา หรือในการขอให้พิจารณาคดีใหม่ ทนายความไม่มีอำนาจที่จะดำเนินกระบวนพิจารณาเช่นว่านี้ได้ โดยมิได้รับอำนาจจากตัวความโดยชัดแจ้ง อำนาจโดยชัดแจ้งเช่นว่านี้จะระบุให้ไว้ในใบแต่งทนายสำหรับคดีเรื่องนั้น หรือทำเป็นใบมอบอำนาจต่างหากในภายหลังใบเดียวหรือหลายใบก็ได้ และในกรณีหลังนี้ให้ใช้บทบัญญัติมาตรา ๖๑ บังคับกรณีจะเป็นอย่างไรก็ตาม ตัวความหรือผู้แทนจะปฏิเสธหรือแก้ไขข้อเท็จจริงที่ทนายความของตนได้กล่าวด้วยวาจาต่อหน้าตนในศาลในขณะนั้นก็ได้ แม้ถึงว่าตัวความหรือผู้แทนนั้นจะมิได้สงวนสิทธิเช่นนั้นไว้ในใบแต่งทนายก็ดี
traduction anglaise
An attorney appointed by a party has authority to conduct the case and to take any procedural step on the party's behalf as it thinks fit to protect the interests of that party. But where a procedural step operates to dispose of the party's rights, such as admitting the claim made by the other party, withdrawing the action, entering into a compromise, waiving a right, exercising the right of appeal or of further appeal, or applying for a retrial, the attorney has no authority to take such a procedural step without express authority from the party. Such express authority may be stated in the letter of attorney appointment for that case, or may be made afterwards in one or more separate powers of attorney; in the latter case, the provisions of section 61 apply. In any event, the party or its representative may deny or correct a fact stated orally by its attorney in its presence in court at that moment, even though the party or representative did not reserve such a right in the letter of attorney appointment.
Cette traduction anglaise est fournie à titre indicatif uniquement et n'a pas encore été vérifiée de manière définitive ; référez-vous toujours à l'original thaï.
Annotation de l'entreprise
Section 62 defines what an appointed attorney may do. The general authority is broad: the attorney may conduct the case and take procedural steps as it thinks fit for the client's benefit. The critical limit is on acts that dispose of the client's rights. The section lists examples, admitting the claim, withdrawing the action, compromising, waiving a right, appealing or further appealing, and seeking a retrial, and requires express authority for any of them. That authority may appear in the letter of appointment or in a later separate power of attorney, which must itself meet section 61. A final safeguard lets the client deny or correct on the spot a fact the attorney states orally in the client's presence, regardless of what the letter of appointment says. The courts apply the section strictly, so an appeal signed without the required express authority is an unlawful pleading.
Pourquoi cela est important en pratique
This section shapes how you instruct your lawyer. For ordinary steps your lawyer needs no special authorisation, but for anything that gives up your position, settling, withdrawing, appealing, or seeking a retrial, make sure the express authority is in place, either in the letter of appointment or a separate power of attorney, or the step may be void. If you want your lawyer to be able to settle or appeal, say so in writing at the outset to avoid missing a deadline while a fresh authorisation is arranged. Note too that your lawyer's knowledge of a hearing date generally binds you, so keep in close contact. Discuss the scope of authority when you agree fees and engagement terms.
Décisions de la Cour suprême interprétant cette section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 4548/2562 (2019)
Exercising the right of appeal disposes of a party's rights and requires express authority under section 62; an appeal signed by a person without such authority is an unlawful appeal pleading.
The person who signed the plaintiff's appeal had no authority to exercise the right of appeal on the plaintiff's behalf. Quoting section 62, the Supreme Court held the appeal was an unlawful pleading, so the appellate court was right to dismiss it.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 4303/2558 (2015)
Because an attorney has authority under section 62 to conduct proceedings for the party, the attorney's knowledge of a hearing date and of the court's order binds the party even if the party personally did not know.
The defendant's attorney knew of the date to hear the appellate judgment and of the order to pay additional fees but did not inform the defendant. The Supreme Court held that under section 62 the attorney's knowledge bound the defendant, who could not rely on his own ignorance as an excuse, since he had an attorney acting for him.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 3457/2564 (2021)
An attorney appointed by a party has authority under section 62 paragraph one to conduct the case and take procedural steps to protect the party's interests, but steps that dispose of the party's rights require express authority.
Applying section 15 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which borrows the Civil Procedure Code where applicable, the Supreme Court quoted section 62 paragraph one on the scope of an attorney's authority in deciding whether the appellate court was right to dismiss the first defendant's appeal.
Décisions sélectionnées avec numéros de dossier vérifiés dans la base de données de la Cour suprême. Les versions anglaises sont des traductions éditoriales réalisées par le cabinet à des fins d'étude.
Foire aux questions
Can my lawyer settle or withdraw my case without asking me?
No. Under section 62, steps that dispose of your rights, such as compromising, withdrawing the action, waiving a right, appealing, or seeking a retrial, need your express authority, stated in the letter of appointment or a separate power of attorney.
What can my lawyer do without special authority?
Under section 62, your lawyer may conduct the case and take the ordinary procedural steps needed to protect your interests without special authority. Only acts that dispose of your rights require express authorisation.