Abu Dhabi Court’s Verdict on Unpaid School Fees
In a significant legal decision, the Abu Dhabi Commercial Court of First Instance has mandated a parent to pay Dh197,680 to a private educational institution. This sum represents the outstanding tuition fees for his children’s enrollment, marking a pivotal moment in a case involving financial disputes over educational costs.
Joint Liability and Bounced Cheque
In addition to the primary defendant, the court also ordered a woman, jointly responsible with him, to pay Dh142,800. This amount corresponds to a cheque issued from her account that was ultimately dishonored. Both parties were also instructed to jointly compensate the school with an additional Dh3,000 for the damages incurred due to the financial shortfall.
The School’s Legal Action
The legal proceedings were initiated by the private school, which filed a lawsuit against the parent and the co-defendant. The school demanded the payment of the substantial tuition arrears and sought Dh15,000 as compensation for the cheque that was rendered non-payable. The institution supported its claims with a comprehensive set of documents, including bank statements, invoices, a copy of the bounced cheque, and evidence of a criminal judgment related to the case.
Defense and Court Proceedings
In her defense, the co-defendant submitted a memorandum challenging the lawsuit’s validity, arguing it was filed against an ineligible party. However, the court found substantial evidence from the submitted documents indicating that the primary defendant had indeed contracted with the plaintiff for his children’s education but failed to fulfill his financial obligations.
Legal Findings and Obligations
The court established that the parent had registered his children at the school but did not settle the due fees. The plaintiff successfully demonstrated the basis of the obligation, while the defendant failed to provide a credible defense against the claims. This lack of defense further substantiated the breach of contractual obligations by the parent.
Cheque Issuance and Financial Responsibility
In assessing the co-defendant’s responsibility, the court confirmed that the cheque issued from her account to the school was not honored. The court ruled that the cheque was intentionally written in a manner that obstructed its payment, making both defendants jointly liable for the cheque’s value.
Final Court Ruling
The court dismissed the defendant’s claim of the lawsuit’s inadmissibility, citing the legitimacy of the parties involved. Consequently, the primary defendant was ordered to pay the full amount of Dh197,680 to the plaintiff. Additionally, the co-defendant was held jointly liable for Dh142,800. Both were also required to cover Dh3,000 in compensation and additional court expenses, including Dh200 for legal fees.
