CIPION CAPITAL(UK) vs. ATUGUBA & ASSOCIATES [2021]DLCA11108

Date	2021-12-16
Suit No.	CIVIL .APPEAL NO. Hl/178/2021
Citation No.	[2021]DLCA11108

SUURBAAREH J.A. (PRESIDING)

MERLEY WOOD (MRS.) J.A.

DODOO (MRS.) J.A.

MR. SAMUEL QUANSAH ANSAH WITH ENOCK ADU AMEYAW FOR DEFENDANT/APPLICANT/APPELLANT

MR. HAROLD TIBA ATTUGUBA WITH DENNIS DANG BEY AND LEBENE ABLAMATTAH FOR PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT

[2021]DLCA11108
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >CIPION CAPITAL(UK)<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT/APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>ATUGUBA &amp; ASSOCIATES<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFES/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>[COURT
OF APPEAL, 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">CIVIL
.APPEAL NO.
Hl/178/2021 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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:
16™ DECEMBER, 2021<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>MR.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; SAMUEL
QUANSAH ANSAH WITH ENOCK ADU AMEYAW FOR DEFENDANT/APPLICANT/APPELLANT<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;">

MR. HAROLD TIBA ATTUGUBA
WITH DENNIS DANG BEY AND LEBENE ABLAMATTAH FOR PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:
<o:p></o:p>SUURBAAREH J.A. (PRESIDING), MERLEY WOOD (MRS.) J.A., DODOO (MRS.) J.A.<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;
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mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>&nbsp;SUURBAAREH,
J.A.: This is an appeal against the ruling of the High Court, General
Jurisdiction, Accra, dated 16th October, 2020. The learned trial judge, in her
ruling, refused an application to strike out the writ of summons and the
pleadings, in the action.<o:p></o:p>Dissatisfied
with the ruling, the Plaintiff/Appellant, called Appellant hereinafter, has
mounted the instant appeal on the following grounds&nbsp; of appeal:<o:p></o:p>"a.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The ruling is against the weight of the
evidence on record.<o:p></o:p>b.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The learned trial judge erred when she
held that the Plaintiff/ Respondent, being a law firm whose name was neither
entered in the roll of lawyers nor licensed to practice Jaw, could sue for the
recovery of legal fees.<o:p></o:p>c.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The learned trial judge misapplied
section 18(2) of the Companies Act 20I 9, (Act 992) and the ratio in Morkor v.
Kumah [1999-2000] S.C.G.L.R. 1Zl when she clothed the Plaintiff/Respondent with
capacity to sue for the recovery of legal fees contrary to the provisions of
Section 2 of the Legal Professions Act, 1960 (Act 32). The application has
occasioned the Defendant/Appellant a substantial miscarriage of justice.<o:p></o:p>d.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The cost awarded for the refusal of the
application is excessive."<o:p></o:p>The
Plaintiff/Respondent, simple called the Respondent, initially issued out a writ
against the Appellant herein and one other for the recovery of a specific sum,
being cost of legal services rendered, amongst other reliefs. Following an
order striking out the other defendant, the Respondent, per its amended writ of
summons and statement of claim, sought to claim the said amount, and other
reliefs from the Appellant, as fees for legal services rendered upon an
agreement between 'the parties.<o:p></o:p>The
Appellant, who entered appearance to the amended writ and statement of claim on
25/7/19, subsequently filed a motion on notice on 22nd May, 2020, seeking to
strike out the writ of summons and statement of claim.&nbsp; The Appellant, per paragraphs 6 to 9 of its
affidavit in support of the&nbsp; motion
deposed as follows:<o:p></o:p>"6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A
careful look at the writ of summons clearly shows that the writ was issued by
Harold Tivah Atuguba Esq. on behalf of the Plaintiff<o:p></o:p>7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I am
advised and verily believe same to be true that, by the laws of Ghana, it is
only a person whose name is on the Roll of Lawyers, who is competent to
commence and maintain an action for the recovery of his/her legal fees.<o:p></o:p>8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
said Harold Tivah Atuguba was never contracted by the Defendant to act in the
manner which gave rise to this action.<o:p></o:p>9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
Plaintiff is neither entered on the Roll of Lawyers nor is licensed to practice
in accordance with law.,,<o:p></o:p>