ALLIANCE MARINE SERVICE vs. THE VESSEL M/V JAMES TOWN AND DWC EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION [2013]DLCA8065

ALLIANCE MARINE SERVICE vs. THE VESSEL M/V JAMES TOWN AND DWC EXPLORATION & PRO... [2013]DLCA8065

Date	2013-06-06
Suit No.	SUIT NO.: H1/93/2011
Citation No.	[2013]DLCA8065

OWUSU M. J.A. (PRESIDING)

OFOE V. J.A.

LOVELACE-JOHNSON J.A.

MR. NUTIFAFA NUTSUKPUI FOR DEFENDANTS/APPELLANTS

MR. OSAFU BUABENG FOR PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT

[2013]DLCA8065
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >ALLIANCE MARINE SERVICE<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>THE VESSEL M/V
JAMES TOWN AND DWC EXPLORATION &amp; PRODUCTION<o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENTS/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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SUIT
NO.: H1/93/2011&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; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; DATE: 6TH JUNE, 2013<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL.<o:p></o:p>MR.
NUTIFAFA NUTSUKPUI FOR DEFENDANTS/APPELLANTS<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

MR.
OSAFU BUABENG FOR PLAINTIFF/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
M. J.A. (PRESIDING), OFOE V. J.A., LOVELACE-JOHNSON 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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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
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padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>MARIAMA OWUSU, J.A:<o:p></o:p>On
6-10-2009, the High Court, Tema refused to set aside the default judgment
entered in favour of the plaintiff/respondent dated 7-4-2009, for leave to
defend the suit and for stay of execution of the said judgment until the
determination of the present application. <o:p></o:p>Dissatisfied
with the ruling of the High Court, the defendants/appellants filed a Notice of
Appeal dated 23-10-2009 to this court on the following grounds:<o:p></o:p>i.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The
learned High Court Judge erred in granting default judgment against the
defendants when the 2nd defendant had not been served.<o:p></o:p>ii.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The
learned Judge gravely erred when he granted default judgment in a sum more than
the plaintiff was entitled to.<o:p></o:p>iii.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The
learned High Court Judge gravely erred when he granted default judgment against
the 1st defendant’s vessel when the plaintiff had served the writ on
its own officers manning the 1st defendant vessel without any notice
to the 2nd defendants’ owners of the vessel.<o:p></o:p>iv.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The
cost of GH¢90,000.00 awarded in the default judgment is harsh and excessive in
the circumstances of the case.<o:p></o:p>v.