EMMANUEL ODAM ASHILEY & ANOR vs. AGRINCO LIMITED & ANOR CIVIL [2005]DLCA7001

Date	2005-01-21
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO: 56/2001
Citation No.	[2005]DLCA7001

OWUSU-ANSAH J.A. (PRESIDING)

TWENEBOA-KODUA J.A.

ABBAN J.A

KWAKU EYIAN FOR 1ST APPELLANT

FELIX NORTEY FOR OSAFO BUABENG FOR 2ND APPELLANT

ADUMUA-BOSSMAN FOR RESPONDENT

[2005]DLCA7001
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >EMMANUEL ODAM ASHILEY &amp; ANOR<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFFS/ RESPONDENT)<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">AGRINCO LIMITED &amp; ANOR CIVIL<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANTS/
APPELLANTS)<o:p></o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
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padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">CIVIL
APPEAL NO: 56/2001&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; DATE: 21ST JANUARY, 2005<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>KWAKU
EYIAN FOR 1ST APPELLANT <o:p></o:p>FELIX
NORTEY FOR OSAFO BUABENG FOR 2ND APPELLANT <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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ADUMUA-BOSSMAN FOR 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;
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OWUSU-ANSAH J.A. (PRESIDING),
TWENEBOA-KODUA J.A., ABBAN J.A.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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</div>OWUSU-ANSAH
J.A.<o:p></o:p>This
appeal is the result of the learned trial High Court Judges refusal to set
aside a default judgment in favour of the plaintiff. <o:p></o:p>The
Respondents herein issued a writ of summons claiming the reliefs as per the
indorsement of the writ of summons on January, 23, 1997 including but not
limited to declaration of title recovery of possession and damages. <o:p></o:p>A
statement of claim was not attached to the said writ of summons. The appellants
entered Appearance but did not file their statutory statement of defence and
the plaintiffs/respondents applied for and obtained a judgment in default of
defence in their favour on December 4 1998. <o:p></o:p>The
said judgment was subsequently set aside and apparently on the advice of the
learned trial judge, the Respondents served all the processes afresh on the
appellants.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;The appellants, failed to respond to same and
the respondents applied for and obtained a judgment in default of appearance
against the Appellants.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;The Appellants applied to have the said
judgment set aside but same was refused on the 4/12/2000 resulting on the
instant appeal.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;In moving the motion to set aside the default
judgment it was submitted by counsel for the applicants that the court ordered
that all the processes be served afresh on the defendants since the earlier
default judgment had been set aside; It was contended that since the plaintiff
did not discontinue the earlier action, the appearance filed was valid; That
the documents served on the defendant were given to one Nii Sheppee Ashley but
were never received by counsel to enable him enter appearance within time. In
any case, there was no proper service and therefore the default judgment should
be set aside as there were pressing triable issues. <o:p></o:p>In
opposing the motion, counsel submitted that based on the affidavit on Nii
Shappee Ashley that no documents were ever given to him from the court by the
registrar to be given to the 2nd defendant/appellant as deposed to in the
supporting affidavit, the application ought to be disallowed. <o:p></o:p>The
learned judge’s Ruling is rather brief. She said "I have carefully
considered submissions of both counsel and my view is that the defendants were
properly served as evidenced by the proof service. Counsel is in my view trying
to delay the action. This case has been unduly delayed, going backwards and
forwards with incompetent motions."<o:p></o:p>It
is, therefore, my opinion that the default judgment on the 24/2/99 should
remain. The defendants motion to set aside is therefore dismissed. Plaintiffs
are to file notice of assessment of damages to be assessed"<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;On the 22nd December, 2000, counsel filed a
Notice of Appeal on behalf of the Appellants against the Ruling of the High
Court. <o:p></o:p>The
grounds of appeal were stated as follows:—<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;1. The learned trial judge failed to
appreciate the fact that at all material times to the granting of the motion
for Judgment in default on appearance, the defendants had filed a Notice of
Appearance;<o:p></o:p>