Abu Dhabi Court Orders Father To Pay Dh197,680 In Unpaid School Fees

 

The Abu Dhabi Commercial Court of First Instance has ordered a parent to pay Dh197,680 to a private school for unpaid tuition fees incurred after enrolling his children.

 

The court also held a woman jointly liable for Dh142,800, the value of a cheque issued from her bank account that could not be cashed. The two were further ordered to jointly pay Dh3,000 in compensation, in addition to court costs and Dh200 in legal fees.

 

According to court records, the parent enrolled his children at the private school but failed to settle the tuition fees. He later provided the school with a cheque covering part of the outstanding amount.

 

Although the cheque was drawn on the woman’s bank account, it could not be honoured because it had been prepared in a manner that prevented payment.

 

The published ruling referred to an earlier criminal case related to the cheque but did not disclose the penalty imposed or explain the woman’s relationship with the parent.

 

The school filed a civil case seeking Dh197,680 from the parent for the unpaid fees. It also asked the court to hold the woman jointly responsible for Dh142,800 and sought Dh15,000 in compensation.

 

To support its claim, the school submitted invoices and account statements showing the outstanding fees, a copy of the cheque, evidence that it had been returned unpaid and a copy of the related criminal judgment.

 

The woman argued that the case against her should be dismissed because she had no involvement in the underlying dispute. The court rejected her argument, finding that the cheque had been issued from her bank account in favour of the school.

 

The court also noted that she had not produced evidence showing that the amount had been paid or that she was no longer liable for it.

 

The parent appeared before the court but failed to successfully challenge the school’s evidence. He also did not provide proof that the outstanding tuition fees had been settled.

 

The court therefore ordered him to pay Dh197,680 to the school. It held the woman jointly liable with him for Dh142,800, corresponding to the value of the returned cheque.

 

The pair were also ordered to jointly pay Dh3,000 in compensation, together with court expenses and Dh200 in legal fees. The court rejected the school’s remaining claims.