OFORI vs. DONKOR [1976]DLHC413

Date	1976-02-11
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1976]DLHC413

ABOAGYE J.

G. K. ACQUAH FOR THE APPLICANT.

E. F. SHORT FOR THE RESPONDENT.

[1976]DLHC413
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >OFORI <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>DONKOR<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[HIGH
COURT, CAPE COAST]<o:p></o:p>[1976] 1 GLR 275<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

DATE:
11 FEBRUARY 1976.<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">

G. K. ACQUAH FOR THE APPLICANT.<o:p></o:p>

E. F. SHORT FOR THE RESPONDENT.<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">

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

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF ABOAGYE J.<o:p></o:p>By his
writ issued on 25 February 1975, the plaintiff claimed: “A declaration that the
decision by the Omanhene of Twifu Mampong and his elders on Friday 14 February
1975, that the plaintiff should share the proceeds of his cocoa farm with the
defendant in the ratio of two-thirds to the defendant and one-third to the
plaintiff, is not binding on the plaintiff.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>A copy of
the writ was served on the defendant on 28 February 1975, and on 24 March 1975,
an appearance was entered on his behalf by his solicitor, Mr. G. K. Acquah. On
27 May 1975, a statement of claim was filed on behalf of the plaintiff. A copy
of the statement of claim was served on Mr. G. K. Acquah on 30 May 1975. No
statement of defence was filed on behalf of the defendant and on 27 November
1975, Mr. E. F. Short, the plaintiff’s solicitor, filed a motion on notice for
leave to enter judgment against the defendant for the relief endorsed on the
writ. A copy of the motion paper with its accompanying affidavit was served on
Mr. G. K. Acquah on 2 December 1975. No affidavit in opposition to the
application was filed and when the motion came up for hearing on 15 December
1975, neither the defendant nor Mr. Acquah appeared to oppose it. Mr. Short
moved the court for judgment and the application was granted.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>By his
motion filed on 21 January 1976, the defendant seeks an order setting aside the
judgment given against him on 15 December 1975. The affidavit supporting the
application was sworn to by Mr. G. K. Acquah. Paragraphs (2)-(11) of the said
affidavit read:<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) That
I am the solicitor for the defendant and I have his authority to swear to this
affidavit. <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) That
it has come to my notice that the plaintiff has on 15 December 1975, obtained
an ex parte judgment against the defendant.<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) That
the basis of our submission is this that, the alleged statement of claim of the
plaintiff was filed far out of the time prescribed by the rules of court; and
that unless he has either obtained the consent of the defendant or the leave of
the court, his alleged statement of claim is not properly before the court and
he cannot therefore ask for judgment on it. <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) That
a search conducted at this registry gives the following dates on the case:<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">Writ of
summons filed .. .. .. 25 February 1975 <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">Writ of
summons served .. .. 28 February 1975 <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">Appearance
filed .. .. .. 24 March 1975 <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">Appearance
served .. .. .. 1 April 1975 <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">