JEBEILE vs. NORWICH UNION FIRE INSURANCE SOCIETY LTD. [1961]DLHC5400

Date	1961-05-22
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1961]DLHC5400

OLLENNU J.

E. AKUFO-ADDO (WITH HIM SWANIKER) FOR PLAINTIFF - RESPONDENT.

E. N. P. SOWAH FOR DEFENDANTS-APPLICANTS.

[1961]DLHC5400
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#548DD4">JEBEILE <o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#548DD4">vs. <o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#548DD4">NORWICH UNION FIRE INSURANCE SOCIETY LTD.<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#548DD4">&nbsp;[HIGH COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

E.
AKUFO-ADDO (WITH HIM SWANIKER) FOR PLAINTIFF - RESPONDENT.<o:p></o:p>

E.
N. P. SOWAH FOR DEFENDANTS-APPLICANTS.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM: <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

OLLENNU J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF
OLLENNU J.<o:p></o:p>The plaintiff’s claim is based upon two policies of insurance in
which the plaintiff is the insured and the defendant-company the insurers. The
defendant-company entered an appearance but have not yet filed a statement of
defence.<o:p></o:p>Clause 18 of the first policy is as follows:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">“If any difference arises as to the amount of any loss or damage
such difference shall independently of all other questions be referred to the
decision of an arbitrator, to be appointed in writing by the parties in
difference, or, if they cannot agree upon a single arbitrator, to the decision
of two disinterested persons as arbitrators, of whom one shall be appointed in
writing by each of the parties within two calendar months after having been
required so to do in writing by the other party. In case either party shall
refuse or fail to appoint an arbitrator within two calendar months after
receipt of notice in writing requiring an appointment, the other party shall be
at liberty to appoint a sole arbitrator; and in case of disagreement between
the arbitrators, the difference shall be referred to the decision of an umpire
who shall have been appointed by them in writing before entering on the
reference and who shall sit with the arbitrators and preside at their meetings.
The death of any party shall not revoke or affect the authority or powers of
the arbitrator, arbitrators or umpire respectively; and in the event of the
death of an arbitrator or umpire, another shall in each case be appointed in
his stead by the party or arbitrators (as the case may be) by whom the
arbitrator or umpire so dying was appointed. The costs of the reference and of
the award shall be in the discretion of the arbitrator, arbitrators or umpire
making the award. And it is hereby expressly stipulated and declared that it
shall be a condition precedent to any right of action or suit upon this Policy
that the award by such arbitrator, arbitrators or umpire of the amount of the
loss or damage if disputed shall be first obtained.”<o:p></o:p>Clause 14 of the second policy is in the same terms as clause 18
supra.<o:p></o:p>By reason of those arbitration clauses in the said policies, the
defendant company have moved the court to stay proceedings of the suit on the
grounds that the dispute had not been referred to an arbitrator or to
arbitrators. The application was made under section 5 of the Arbitration
Ordinance,1(1) which provides as follows:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">“5. If any party to a submission, or any person claiming through
or under him, commences any legal proceedings in any Court against any other
party to the submission, or any person claiming through or under him, in
respect of any matter agreed to be referred, any party to such legal
proceedings may at any time after service of the writ of summons and before the
date fixed for hearing apply to that Court to stay the proceedings; and that
Court or a Judge thereof, if satisfied that there is no sufficient reason why
the matter should not be referred in accordance with the submission, and that
applicant was, at the time when the proceedings were commenced, and still
remains, ready and willing to do all things necessary to the proper conduct of
the arbitration, may make an order staying the proceedings.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In opposition to the defendants’ application the plaintiff filed
an affidavit contending that this is not a proper case in which the court can
stay proceedings. In support of his contention the plaintiff exhibited to his
affidavit some correspondence which passed between him and the defendants prior
to the institution of the suit. The first of the said correspondence, exhibit
NMJ1, written by the defendant company, is marked “Without Prejudice”. It also
appears from the body of the fourth letter, exhibit NMJ4, that it too was
written without prejudice; therefore the other two letters exh</main>