Woman Ordered to Pay Dh25,000 For Defaming Dubai Beauty Clinic Owner

A Dubai court has ordered a woman to pay Dh25,000 in compensation to the owner of a cosmetic clinic after she publicly accused the businesswoman of theft and illegal earnings, remarks that the court found had damaged the victim’s reputation and caused financial losses.

Court records show that the incident took place at a cosmetic clinic in Bur Dubai, where the defendant allegedly made defamatory statements about the clinic owner in front of staff members and clients.

During the confrontation, the woman reportedly accused the clinic owner of being a thief and implied that her income was obtained through illegal means. The accusations were made openly inside the clinic and were witnessed by several people present at the time.

The incident initially led to a criminal case in which prosecutors charged the defendant with defamation and publicly insulting the victim. A criminal court later convicted the woman and imposed a fine of Dh5,000.

The conviction was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal. As no further appeal was filed within the legally prescribed period, the judgment became final.

Following the final criminal ruling, the clinic owner filed a civil lawsuit seeking Dh100,000 in compensation, arguing that the accusations had harmed both her personal reputation and the reputation of her cosmetic clinic.

In her claim, the businesswoman told the court that the statements had resulted in financial losses, including the loss of clients and intermediaries, and had undermined her professional standing. She also said the public accusations caused her significant emotional distress and humiliation.

To support her claim, the plaintiff submitted official documents confirming the final criminal conviction, along with written communications and witness testimonies.

The court noted that final criminal judgments are binding on civil courts regarding the occurrence of the act, its legal characterisation and the identity of the person responsible.

Since the criminal court had already established that the defendant publicly insulted and defamed the clinic owner, the civil court said it could not reconsider those findings.

After examining the evidence, the court concluded that the defendant’s conduct had caused both material and moral damages to the claimant.

The material damages included expenses incurred in filing complaints and pursuing legal action, as well as business losses arising from damage to the clinic’s reputation.

The court also recognised moral damages, including harm to the claimant’s dignity, reputation and emotional well-being caused by the public accusations.

Taking these factors into account, the court awarded Dh25,000 in compensation to cover both material and moral damages.

The judgment also requires the defendant to pay 5 per cent legal interest from the date the ruling becomes final until full payment is made, in addition to court fees and related expenses.

 

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