Abu Dhabi court rejects teacher’s claim for additional AED70,000 compensation following hotel apartment dispute

The Abu Dhabi Family, Civil and Administrative Claims Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a teacher seeking an additional AED 70,000 in compensation. The plaintiff claimed he was insulted and defamed by the owner of a hotel apartment. However, the court confirmed that the temporary compensation of AED 51,000 previously awarded was sufficient for his damaged reputation and standing, as there was no evidence of further harm. The teacher filed a civil lawsuit against the property owner. He demanded AED 70,000 for material, moral, and psychological damages, alongside 12% annual legal interest from the filing date until full settlement. He also requested immediate enforcement of the judgment with a guarantee, and asked that the defendant cover all court fees, expenses, and legal costs. The plaintiff stated that he had booked a hotel apartment through a booking website for a family holiday. Finding that the property did not match the advertised specifications, he filed a formal complaint through the platform. Following this, the defendant insulted and defamed him over WhatsApp, and shared these insults with several parents and students at the school where he works. He explained that the defendant had already been convicted in a criminal court, which ordered her to pay him AED 51,000 as temporary compensation. In response to the civil suit, the defendant submitted a defense memorandum requesting that the case be dismissed. In its rationale, the court explained that under the Code of Criminal Procedure, a final criminal judgment holds binding authority regarding the facts of the offense, its legal classification, and the perpetrator's guilt. The court noted that official records confirmed the defendant's conviction in the criminal case, where she was ordered to pay AED 51,000 in temporary compensation. That verdict was subsequently upheld on appeal, and a further appeal was rejected. Consequently, the defendant’s liability and the plaintiff’s right to compensation had already been settled by a final judgment. The scope of the current lawsuit was strictly limited to determining whether the plaintiff was entitled to any supplementary compensation. The court affirmed that the previously awarded AED 51,000 was sufficient to compensate the plaintiff for the harm to his reputation, standing, and the accompanying psychological pain. It found no proof that the damages had worsened enough to warrant extra compensation. The court dismissed the lawsuit and ordered the plaintiff to pay all legal expenses pursuant to Article 133 of the Civil Procedure Code.