BERTHA BOATENG BEITZEL vs. THOMAS ANTWI [2016]DLHC3769

Date	2016-04-11
Suit No.	SUIT NO.RPC/73/13
Citation No.	[2016]DLHC3769

ANGELINA MENSAH-HOMIAH (MRS.) JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT

NANA ABU BONSRA FOR ASANTE KROBEA FOR PLAINTIFF

KWAKU YEBOAH APPIAH FOR DEFENDANT

[2016]DLHC3769
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><a name="OLE_LINK1">BERTHA
BOATENG BEITZEL<o:p></o:p></a>vs.<o:p></o:p>THOMAS ANTWI<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[HIGH COURT (COMMERCIAL DIVISION), KUMASI]<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.RPC/73/13&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;&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: 11TH APRIL, 2016<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>NANA
ABU BONSRA FOR ASANTE KROBEA FOR PLAINTIFF<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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KWAKU YEBOAH APPIAH FOR DEFENDANT<o:p></o:p>

ANGELINA MENSAH-HOMIAH (MRS.) JUSTICE OF
THE HIGH COURT<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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JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>The
Plaintiff herein who issued out a writ of summons and statement of claim per
her Lawful Attorney for the recovery of the sum of GH¢ 10,000.00&nbsp; had her claim struck out for failing to file
her witness statement despite an extension of time granted for her to do so.<o:p></o:p>The
background facts are that the Plaintiff allegedly invested in the
Defendant/Counterclaimant's School in Cash and in kind. The name of the school
in issue was given as Modern Star Preparatory School situate at Adawomase.
Subsequently, the joint venture fell apart and the matters arising have
culminated in the instant case.<o:p></o:p>It
is provided under Order 12 rule 4(1) of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules,
2004 C.I. 47 as follows:<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "
A counterclaim may be proceeded with although judgment is given for the
Plaintiff in the action or the&nbsp; action is
stayed, discontinued or dismissed."<o:p></o:p>The
independent nature of a counterclaim came up in the case of Yormewu v Awute (1987/88) 1 GLR 9. It
was stated in holding (3) thus:<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; " It was settled law that when at
the close of a case the judge came to the conclusion that the plaintiff's case
was weak and that of the defendant's too was weak, the judge could not prefer
the plaintiff's weak case to that of the defendant and it would be wrong to
grant to the plaintiff the reliefs he sought.&nbsp; Where the defendant did not
call any evidence at all the position would not be different unless there was a
counterclaim.&nbsp; In which case, the
evidence which would be require from the defendant, would be the evidence to
establish the counterclaim and not evidence in rebuttal of the plaintiff's
claim." emphasis mine. See also Gbedemah v Awoonor Williams G
&amp; G 438, SC.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;Based on the above authorities, I proceeded to
hear the Defendant's counterclaim for a refund of the sum of GHS 2, 946.00
being the cost of blocks which the Plaintiff took from the Defendant in excess
of the amount owed her, interest thereon and damages.<o:p></o:p>The
Defendant's case is that he does not dispute that he owed the Plaintiff GH¢10,000.00
arising from their joint educational venture. However, the Plaintiff collected
5,680 sandcrete blocks which he had molded to construct another structure and
the value thereof exceeds the amount he owed.<o:p></o:p>In
the&nbsp; Reply and Defence to Counterclaim
filed by the Plaintiff on 10/04/2015, she averred that the blocks which she
carted away were intended to be used by her&nbsp;
to undertake further constructions at the school. She invited the Court
to disregard the Defendant's Counterclaim as being frivolous.<o:p></o:p>The
sole issue before the court is whether or not the Defendant is entitled to his
counterclaims. As is always the case in civil suits, the burden of proving the
counterclaim rests on the Defendant/counterclaimant.<o:p></o:p>In
this case, the Defendant/Counterclaimant testified in person after which three
witnesses also testified on his behalf. They relied on their respective witness
statements filed 25/11/15.<o:p></o:p>In
proof of his Counterclaim, the Defendant said in evidence that after the
parties had agreed that he owed the Plaintiff the sum of GH¢</main>