Firm obligated to pay Dhs1.8m to another company for disrupting its services

Aya El Deeb, Staff Reporter

The Abu Dhabi Appellate Court rejected an appeal against a preliminary ruling obligating a company pay another company Dhs1,800,000, after it damaged a number of cables while carrying out excavation work, resulting in cutting off services to a large number of the company's customers after cables were damaged.

The complaining company filed a lawsuit before the Court of First Instance, in which it demanded that the other company be obligated to pay it Dhs1,800,000 in compensation for the damages it incurred, along with the legal interest of 9% from the date of the claim until the completion of the payment.

The complaining company indicated that it provided its services at the UAE level to all categories, and that the appellee company caused damage to it while carrying out excavation work which resulted in damaged a number of cables due to negligence of its employees and failure to take the necessary measures. The appellant also pointed out that the cutting of cables led to cutting off services to a large number of customers and companies, which damaged their reputation.

The Court of First Instance ordered the appellee company to pay the complaining company Dhs1,800,000, the value of the cables, and rejected the request to pay interest and compensation because the appellant did not prove it.

The appellee company appealed and demanded that the case be returned to the court of first instance for a new decision. It also demanded that the case be dismissed and obligate the complainant company to pay the expenses.

The Appellate Court indicated that the appellee company was notified by text message to the fixed number with its license, and that its appeal to the ruling came outside the time limit, and then it ruled that the right to appeal was forfeited and obligated it to pay the expenses.