ACHEAMPONG vs. OVERSEAS BREWERIES LTD. [1970]DLHC2067

Date	1970-07-15
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1970]DLHC2067

ANNAN J.

C. F. HAYFRON-BENJAMIN FOR THE PLAINTIFF.

E. K. MANU FOR THE DEFENDANTS.

[1970]DLHC2067
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >ACHEAMPONG <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>OVERSEAS BREWERIES LTD. <o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT,
KUMASI]<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[1971] 1 GLR 7<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">

DATE:
15 JULY 1970.<o:p></o:p>

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

C. F.
HAYFRON-BENJAMIN FOR THE PLAINTIFF.<o:p></o:p>

E. K. MANU
FOR THE DEFENDANTS.<o:p></o:p>

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

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

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGEMENT OF ANNAN J.<o:p></o:p>The plaintiff,
a barrister-at-law, claims from the defendants general damages by reason of the
negligence of and breach of duty of the defendants in failing to take adequate
precautions in the manufacture of their product, Club beer, so as to prevent
any injurious or deleterious substances being contained in the beer. The
defendants are brewers of the brand of beer known as Club beer. The plaintiff
states in his claim that on or about 24 April 1965 he purchased from a retailer
in Kumasi a carton of Club beer manufactured by the defendants. On or about 26
April 1965 the plaintiff consumed some of the beer and later found that it
contained some kerosene. The plaintiff sustained injuries. The plaintiff states
that the injuries were occasioned by reason of the negligence and breach of
duty of the defendants. Particulars of the negligence were:<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">“(a)
Manufacturing and selling the said beer when defendants knew or ought to have
known that the same contained extraneous or deleterious substances, the
consumption of which would cause damage or injury to the consumer. <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">(b)
Failing to take any or adequate or necessary precautions in the manufacture of
the said Club beer so as to prevent any injurious or deleterious substances
being contained therein. <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">(c)
Permitting the said Club beer to contain injurious or deleterious substances.<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">&nbsp;(d) Failing to take any or adequate measures
whether by way of examination, inspection, test or otherwise to ensure that no
beer manufactured or sold by them contained any injurious or deleterious substances.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>There is
no claim for special damage.<o:p></o:p>The
defendants in their statement of defence deny the allegation of negligence in
the plaintiff ‘s statement of claim or any negligence at all and aver that
their factory and system of washing are fool-proof, and that there is adequate
and efficient supervision of the employees at their factory. They also do not
admit or deny that the plaintiff suffered injuries after he had consumed the
beer and said that even if such injury was suffered this was not due to the
presence of kerosene in the beer.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
issues settled for trial are:<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">(a)
Whether or not the plaintiff consumed a bottle of Club beer contaminated with
kerosene.<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">(b)
Whether or not the plaintiff after consuming the beer suffered injuries as a
result of the presence of kerosene in the beer.<o:p></o:p>