ELIZABETH OPARE ADDO vs. GLORIA OPARE-ADDO & ANOR [2022]DLHC11446

Date	2022-03-21
Suit No.	SUIT NO. BMSC/376/2015
Citation No.	[2022]DLHC11446

HIS LORDSHIP FRANCIS OBIRI ‘J’.

DAVID DUODU-ASARE FOR PLAINTIFF/JUDGMENT CREDITOR/RESPONDENT

FELIX NANA OSEI FOR 2ND DEFENDANT/APPLICANT

[2022]DLHC11446
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >ELIZABETH
OPARE ADDO<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>GLORIA
OPARE-ADDO &amp; ANOR<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANTS)<o:p></o:p>[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;line-height:150%;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">SUIT NO. BMSC/376/2015&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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: 21ST FEBRUARY,
2022<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>DAVID DUODU-ASARE FOR PLAINTIFF/JUDGMENT CREDITOR/RESPONDENT<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" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
justify;line-height:150%;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">FELIX NANA OSEI FOR&nbsp; 2ND DEFENDANT/APPLICANT<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p>HIS LORDSHIP FRANCIS OBIRI ‘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;line-height:150%;tab-stops:194.25pt;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<o:p></o:p>

</div>&nbsp;This ruling is in respect
of a motion filed on 11th June, 2020.&nbsp; The motion is praying the Court to stay
execution pending appeal in respect of the Court’s refusal to set aside its
judgment.&nbsp; The motion is supported by
affidavit and exhibits. &nbsp;Counsel for Plaintiff/Judgment
Creditor filed affidavit in opposition on 8th September, 2020.&nbsp; The Applicant in this application is the 2nd
Defendant (Samuel Opare-Addo). &nbsp;Counsel for
all the parties filed their respective written submissions.<o:p></o:p>The Applicant in this
application has two grounds. First, he contends that the Writ was not served on
him and secondly, the Plaintiff has no capacity to sue in this case because,
she had no vesting assent.<o:p></o:p>In respect of the first
issue, the Applicant contends that, he was not in the country when the Writ was
issued and same was not served on him.<o:p></o:p>However, on 5th
November, 2013, the Court ordered the Writ of Summons and the Statement of
Claim to be served on the Applicant by substituted service.&nbsp; There is an affidavit of posting before the
Court, that the Order was carried out and that is an official document which is
deemed to be authentic and properly done under Section 37 of NRCD 323. This
means the Applicant was aware of the proceedings but failed to participate.
Therefore, he waived his right to be heard.<o:p></o:p>On 9th June,
2014, notice of entry of appearance was filed by Counsel on behalf of the Applicant.<o:p></o:p>Again, on 9th
June, 2014, statement of defence was filed on behalf of the Applicant (that is
the 2nd Defendant).<o:p></o:p>It is trite learning, that
a solicitor is deemed a lawyer for a party until he equivocally tells the court
otherwise.&nbsp; See ADU v. ANKUMAH [1972] 1 GLR 22.&nbsp;
In this case there is no indication, that counsel was not acting for the
Applicant when he filed the notice of appearance and the statement of defence.<o:p></o:p>On the issue of the
capacity of the Plaintiff to issue the Writ, it is evident that the Plaintiff’s
father, Paul Opare-Addo who originally owned the house which has resulted in this
case died intestate on 12th March, 1988.<o:p></o:p>This means, the interest
of any beneficiary under his estate had his or her right accruing at the time
of his death. See YANKAH v. THE
REGISTRAR [2009] 5 GMJ 128 CA<o:p></o:p>Consequently, any
beneficiary under the estate of Paul Opare Addo can sue and be sued without a vesting
assent. See BOYA v. MOHAMMED SUBSTITUTED BY MOHAMMED AND MUJEEB [2017-2020] 1 SCGLR
997<o:p></o:p>This means, the Plaintiff had
capacity to commence the action. I therefore do not find any merit in the
application and same is dismissed.&nbsp; I award
cost of GH¢3,000 in favour of the Plaintiffs against the Applicant.<o:p></o:p>(SGD)<o:p></o:p>