AUROBINDO PHARMA LIMITED vs. PHARMADIS INT. LTD. & ANOR. [2014]DLCA4798

Date	2014-01-23
Suit No.	SUIT NO: H1/105/2013
Citation No.	[2014]DLCA4798

MARIAMA OWUSU (PRESIDING)

GYAESAYOR J.A.

C. H. SOWAH J.A.

MR. ANDREW APPAU OBENG FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT

MR. ERNEST OWUSU ABOAGYE FOR 2ND DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT

[2014]DLCA4798
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >AUROBINDO PHARMA LIMITED<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>PHARMADIS INT. LTD.
&amp; ANOR.<o:p></o:p>&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; (DEFENDANTS/RESPONDENTS)<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;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

SUIT NO: H1/105/2013&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: JANUARY 23, 2014<o:p></o:p>

MR.
ERNEST OWUSU ABOAGYE FOR 2ND DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT<o:p></o:p>

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%;
border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:
solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>MARIAMA OWUSU, J.A:<o:p></o:p>On
28-10-2011, the High Court, [Commercial Division] Accra, held that the
plaintiff was unable to prove that the termination of the 2nd defendant’s
employment was fair. The Court upheld the 2nd defendant’s counterclaim and
entered judgment for him as follows;<o:p></o:p>“I
order that the 2nd defendant be paid his net salary from July 2009 till March
2010. He testified that he was unemployed at the time he gave evidence. The law
however expected him to mitigate his loss and so in addition I award the
payment of salary for a further 6 months.<o:p></o:p>By
exhibit ‘5’ which is the revised conditions of service issued by the Plaintiff
to him, the 2nd defendant was entitled to an annual bonus of USD 750. I order
that this be calculated in appropriate terms for the period July 2009 and March
2010 and paid to him. By the same exhibit, he was entitled to a reimbursement
of car maintenance and fuel expenses every month in the sum of USD 315; I order
that he be paid that also for the period July 2009 to March 2010. I order that
interest on the total amount realized under these orders be paid at the
prevailing commercial lending rate from July 2009 till date of final payment.<o:p></o:p>I
award cost of GH¢3,000 for the 2nd defendant against the Plaintiff.”<o:p></o:p>Dissatisfied
with the decision of the High Court, the Plaintiff appealed to this Court on
the following grounds.<o:p></o:p>a.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The learned trial judge erred in law
when he ordered that interest on the United States of America Dollar obligation
be paid at the commercial bank lending rate and such error has occasioned a
miscarriage of justice.<o:p></o:p>b.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The learned trial judge erred in law
when he ordered that interest on the total amount realized under the judgment
be paid from July and such error has occasioned a miscarriage of justice.<o:p></o:p>c.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The learned trial judge erred in
holding that the second Defendant’s employment in the first Defendant was not
detrimental to the Plaintiff.<o:p></o:p>d.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The learned trial judge erred in
holding that the termination of the Second Defendant’s employment with the
Plaintiff was unfair.<o:p></o:p>e.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The judgment is against the weight of
the evidence.<o:p></o:p>f.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Additional grounds of appeal may be
filed upon receipt of the record of proceedings.<o:p></o:p>Reliefs
Sought from the Court of Appeal <o:p></o:p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An order of the Honourable Court
ordering the award in USD to attract the Bank of Ghana dollar rate of interest
and interest on the amounts due under the judgment to commence from when those
awards became due and setting aside the judgment and cost awarded by the court
below dated 28th October 2011 which awarded interest to the
Defendant/respondent on the total amount realized under the judgment to be paid
at the commercial lending rate from July 2009.<o:p></o:p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Any other relief (s) that the Court of
Appeal may deem fit.<o:p></o:p>Before
dealing with the arguments canvassed in support and against this appeal, I will
give a brief background of this case.<o:p></o:p>