FODWOO vs. NORTHERN ASSURANCE CO. LTD [1962]DLHC1437

Date	1962-04-30
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1962]DLHC1437

OLLENNU J.

J. K. TAWIAH FOR G. D. AMPAW FOR THE PLAINTIFF.

E. D. KOM FOR THE DEFENDANT-COMPANY.

[1962]DLHC1437
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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:#00B0F0">FODWOO <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:#00B0F0">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:#00B0F0">NORTHERN ASSURANCE CO. LTD <o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>[1962] 1 GLR 296<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.5pt;
padding:31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">

DATE:<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:#00B0F0"> 30TH APRIL, 1962.<o:p></o:p>

</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">

J.
K. TAWIAH FOR G. D. AMPAW FOR THE PLAINTIFF.<o:p></o:p>

E.
D. KOM FOR THE DEFENDANT-COMPANY.<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, a trader of Swedru, insured the goods in his shop
with the defendant – Company against theft through burglary or house-breaking
for the sum of £G2,800. He took the policy on the 22nd September, 1956, and
paid the annual premium of £G14 regularly. The insured shop was broken into
between the night of Saturday, the 27th and the morning of Monday, the 29th
February, 1960. In consequence of the said theft, the plaintiff submitted a
claim for £G2,800, the full amount for which his goods were insured. The defendants
repudiated liability, in consequence whereof the plaintiff instituted this
action claiming £G2,800 as part of the loss he has suffered in consequence of
the said burglary and theft.<o:p></o:p>The defendant-company denied liability on the following grounds:<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">(1) That there has been no burglary and theft of the plaintiff‘s
goods as alleged;<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">(2) The plaintiff had alleged that the theft was committed by his
watchman, and therefore the company is relieved from liability by reason of
clause (a) of the General Exemptions under the policy;<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">(3) They, the defendants, are exempted from liability by reason of
a false declaration which the plaintiff made on his claim form;<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">(4) The plaintiff has not suffered any loss;<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) The claim should first have been submitted to arbitration; and<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">(6) The action was taken more than twelve months after the theft.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>On the first issue as to whether or not the plaintiff‘s shop was
broken into and goods stolen therefrom, it should be pointed out that the
evidence led in that behalf by the plaintiff was not seriously challenged. On
the contrary, exhibit 2, the police report produced by the defence, tends to
confirm the plaintiff’s case that his shop was broken into and his goods
stolen. I accept the plaintiff’s evidence that his shop was broken into and
goods stolen therefrom.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In exhibit 1, the burglary claim form submitted by him soon after
the theft, the plaintiff, in answer to question 5 thereon which reads:<o:p></o:p>“Do your suspicions rest upon anyone? If so whom?”, replied: “Yes
Mama Moshie, my night-watchman”. It was submitted for the defendant-company
that those answers given by the plaintiff exempted them from liability. Counsel
cited West Wake Price &amp; Co. v. Ching1(1) in support.<o:p></o:p>The General Exemptions clause (a) reads:<o:p</main>