MABBS CO. LTD. vs. RORO SERVICES (GHANA) LTD. AND ANOTHER [1988]DLHC2276

Date	1988-05-05
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1988]DLHC2276

PIESARE Ag. J.

ASARE BEDIAKO FOR KWAKU BAAH FOR THE PLAINTIFF.

E. K. MENSAH FOR THE DEFENDANTS.

[1988]DLHC2276
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >MABBS
CO. LTD.<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>RORO
SERVICES (GHANA) LTD. AND ANOTHER<o:p></o:p>[HIGH
COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>[1991] 1
GLR 435<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>ASARE
BEDIAKO FOR KWAKU BAAH FOR THE PLAINTIFF.<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt 31.0pt;
mso-border-shadow:yes">E. K. MENSAH FOR THE DEFENDANTS. <o:p></o:p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt 31.0pt;
mso-border-shadow:yes">PIESARE Ag. J. <o:p></o:p>

</div>JUDGMENT
OF PIESARE AG. J.<o:p></o:p>The
plaintiff took this action against the defendants claiming:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;
text-indent:-.25in;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(1).
A declaration that the plaintiff is entitled to have the
goods covered by the bills of lading numbers K.C.L.424A. and 424B delivered to
them;<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;
text-indent:-.25in;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(2).
An order directing the defendants to deliver the goods
covered by the bills of lading numbers K.C.L.424A. and 424B; and<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;
text-indent:-.25in;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(3).
Perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their
agents, servants and privies from delivering the said goods to persons other
than the plaintiff.<o:p></o:p>After the
addresses on 29 April 1988, I dismissed the claim with ¢20,000 costs to each
defendant against the plaintiff. The interim injunction order was also
discharged. I now proceed to give my reasons.<o:p></o:p>The
plaintiff, Mabbs Co. Ltd. (hereinafter to be referred to simply as Mabbs) is a
private company registered as such and doing business in Ghana. The defendants
are shipping agents. Some time in October and December 1987, the plaintiff and
Madero Trading Incorporated of Tampa, Florida, USA (hereinafter to be referred
to simply as Madero), entered into an agreement for the sale of 600 Dunlop
tyres to Mabbs at an agreed price of US$117,992. The plaintiff was allowed a
90-day credit facility; but it is clear from the evidence of Madam Madero (the
first defendant witness), the chairperson of Madero, and from the telex,
exhibit 4, dated 30 November 1987, that Madero was asking for a “bank-to-bank
guarantee”; and it appears that Madero was insisting on this type of guarantee
as an important condition of the sale. In support of this, I refer to the
closing part of the telex, exhibit 4, which reads: “If this is not done, this
transaction cannot be completed.”<o:p></o:p>It is
clear from the evidence of Madam Madero (the first defendant witness) that
pending receipt of the “bank-to-bank guarantee,” Madero authorised the shipment
of the tyres to Ghana under a bill of lading dated 15 December 1987, i.e. the
date of shipment, consigned to “Madero/ Mabbs.” The principals of the
defendants as carriers then accordingly shipped the tyres to the Tema port, and
they were received into the custody of the defendants as agents of the shipping
principals.<o:p></o:p>It is
again further clear, that without still receiving the “bank-to-bank guarantee”
from Mabbs, Madero despatched a photocopy of the bill of lading covering the
tyres to Mabbs. On receipt of this photocopy of the bill of lading, Mabbs
contacted the defendants who then had custody of the tyres as shipping agents.
The defendants then handed to Mabbs, the captain’s copies of the bill of
lading. These are, exhibits B and C. Exhibit B, the bill of lading, carries the
following indorsement on its face: “Container duly to be delivered against
presentation of our duly endorsed original Kingwood Container Lines bill of
lading No. 424A. Dated in Atlanta/Georgia December 15 1987.” Exhibit C, the
other bill of lading, also carried similar words. “Containers only to be
released against presentation of our duly endorsed original Kingwood Container
Lines bill of lading K.C.L. 424B. Dated in Atlanta, Georgia, December 15 1987.”<o:p></o:p>