LATEX FOAM RUBBER PRODUCTS LIMITED vs. GHASSAN LABA [2020]DLHC10699

Date	2020-03-25
Suit No.	SUIT NO: GJ/419/2019
Citation No.	[2020]DLHC10699

KWEKU T. ACKAAH-BOAFO J

CHRIS OSEI YEBOAH FOR THE PLAINTIFF

PAA KWAME LARBIE ASARE HOLD THE BRIEF OF KIMATHI KUENYEHIA FOR THE DEFENDANT

[2020]DLHC10699
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >LATEX FOAM RUBBER
PRODUCTS LIMITED<o:p></o:p>(Plaintiff/Respondent)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>GHASSAN LABA<o:p></o:p>(Defendant/Applicant)<o:p></o:p><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;
font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:
&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">[HIGH COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">SUIT
NO: GJ/419/2019&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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:
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">25TH MARCH, 2020<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:
<o:p></o:p>CHRIS OSEI YEBOAH FOR THE PLAINTIFF<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

PAA
KWAME LARBIE ASARE HOLD THE BRIEF OF KIMATHI KUENYEHIA FOR THE DEFENDANT<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:
<o:p></o:p>KWEKU T. ACKAAH-BOAFO, J<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top-width: 1.5pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-left: none; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-right: none; padding: 1pt 0cm;">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">RULING
- NOTICE ON MOTION TO SET ASIDE THE WRIT OF SUMMONS<o:p></o:p>

</div>&nbsp;i.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Introduction:<o:p></o:p>[1]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
Plaintiff’s Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim were filed on 6th December,
2018. On January 15, 2019 this Court granted the Plaintiff leave to serve the
Writ of Summons and the Statement of Claim by substituted service on the
Defendant. The Plaintiff was ordered to post the order and the writ of summons
at the Defendant’s last place of abode. The Plaintiff further prayed the Court
to serve the process electronically - by email and same was granted. On April
5, 2019 the Plaintiff filed a Motion Ex Parte for Judgment in Default of
Appearance. Counsel of record for the Plaintiff deposed to the affidavit in
support and deposed that the Plaintiff complied with the Substituted Service
Order. <o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[2]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
record further shows that the Court on May 13, 2019 granted the Plaintiff
Interlocutory Judgment and ordered the Plaintiff to file a witness statement, and
attach all documents it intended to rely on in proving the case. The Court also
granted the Plaintiff leave to serve a copy of the order together with the
witness statement to be filed. On June 26, 2019 a Notice of Conditional
Appearance was entered on behalf of Defendant herein. In other words, an
appearance under protest was filed by the Defendant. &nbsp;On January 15, 2020 the instant Motion on
Notice to set aside the Writ of Summons and the Statement of Claim was filed by
the Defendant.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[3]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
grounds upon which the application is premised are catalogued in the 24
paragraph supporting affidavit accompanying the motion paper.&nbsp; The rationale underpinning the application is
stated in the motion paper to the effect that the Plaintiff/Respondent
improperly invoked the jurisdiction of this Court by issuing a Writ for service
outside Ghana without first seeking the leave of the Court and also that
“instant suit was wrongly instituted in the name of the Respondent Company”. To
the Applicant therefore the writ and statement of claim should be set aside.
The Plaintiff/Respondent is opposed to the application and has filed a 24
paragraph affidavit in opposition.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;ii.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Arguments in Favour of the Motion:<o:p></o:p>[4]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In
moving the application, Learned Counsel referred to the averments in the
affidavit and prayed the Court to set aside the Plaintiff’s writ of summons,
statement of claim and all orders founded on the writ. Counsel submitted that
the application is premised on two grounds. First and foremost Counsel
submitted that Respondent improperly invoked the jurisdiction of the </main>