SARA AMA KUMI SUING AS A BENEFICIARY UNDER THE ESTATE OF THE LATE MADAM SARAH ESHUN OSRAH vs. STATE HOUSE COMPANY LTD. [2013]DLCA8135

SARA AMA KUMI SUING AS A BENEFICIARY UNDER THE ESTATE OF THE LATE MADAM SARAH ES... [2013]DLCA8135

Date	2013-05-02
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL: SUIT NO: H1/209/2012
Citation No.	[2013]DLCA8135

KUSI-APPIAH J.A. (PRESIDING)

HONYENUGA J.A.

KWAKU GYAN J.A.

[2013]DLCA8135
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >SARA AMA KUMI
SUING AS A BENEFICIARY UNDER THE ESTATE OF THE LATE MADAM SARAH ESHUN OSRAH<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>STATE HOUSE COMPANY LTD.<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT)<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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CIVIL
APPEAL: SUIT NO:&nbsp; H1/209/2012&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: 2ND
MAY, 2013<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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KUSI-APPIAH
J.A. (PRESIDING), HONYENUGA J.A., KWAKU GYAN 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>KUSI-APPIAH,
J.A.:<o:p></o:p>The issue in this appeal is a very narrow one of
whether the Circuit Court was right in setting aside the plaintiff’s writ upon
an application by the defendant pursuant to the entry of conditional appearance
without going into the merits of the case or without setting down the cause for
hearing. <o:p></o:p>The facts of this case are that the plaintiff
describes herself as a granddaughter of the late Madam Sarah Eshun Osrah.&nbsp; At all material times since 1960’s Sarah
Eshun Osrah had been the tenant of the defendant’s premises known as Flat No. 3
Block N at Kaneshie, Accra, the subject matter of this case.<o:p></o:p>The plaintiff avers that upon the death of her
grandmother, Sarah Eshun Osrah, she became a beneficiary of her estate and
consequently occupied the premises which her deceased grandmother held as a
tenant of the defendant’s company.&nbsp;
According to the plaintiff, she had performed all the obligations
required of a tenant to the defendant/respondent.<o:p></o:p>It is the case of the plaintiff that, by a letter
dated 23rd June, 2009, the defendant requested her to give up
possession of the premises on grounds of subletting which she denied in a reply
to the defendant.&nbsp; But that
notwithstanding, the defendant or its agents purporting to enforce its rights
under the law, ejected her from the premises.<o:p></o:p>The plaintiff contended that the defendant’s
action constitutes trespass, illegal distress and breach of the covenant.&nbsp; She maintained that she has suffered loss and
damage as she and her family have been put to the expense of finding alternative
accommodation in a guest house at an unbearable cost.<o:p></o:p>The plaintiff therefore brought this action
against the defendant as a beneficiary under the estate of the late Madam Eshun
Osrah, claiming the following reliefs:<o:p></o:p>“a.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Damages for breach of covenant.<o:p></o:p>b.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wrongful ejection.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; c.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Damages for wrongful ejection.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; d.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Damages
for illegal distress.<o:p></o:p>e.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An order
restraining the defendant whether personally or by any agent, employee or other
person whosoever from committing any further breach of the covenant for quite
enjoyment in the tenancy agreement.<o:p></o:p>f.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An order
that the defendant does pay the plaintiff’s costs of the claim.”<o:p></o:p>Upon
being served with the writ, the defendant, State House Company Limited
(hereinafter referred to as the defendant) entered conditional appearance and
then moved the court to set aside the writ, because the defendant claims that,
the plaintiff has no cause of action against it.&nbsp; Besides, the defendant submitted that even if
the plaintiff has any cause of action against the defendant, she lacks the
relevant capacity to sue as a beneficiary of the estate of the late Madam Sarah
Eshun Osrah because the writ does not indicate that the plaintiff is clothed
with capacity either by way of letters of administration or probate.<o:p></o:p>The
learned trial</main>