Woman ordered to pay Dhs196,370 for damaging another woman’s home in Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi Court for Family, Civil, and Administrative Cases Court has ruled that a woman must pay Dhs186,370 along with an additional Dhs10,000 in compensation to another woman. This decision stems from the defendant unlawfully entering the plaintiff's residence, where she caused damage to furniture, cameras, and other personal items, leading to both material and emotional distress for the plaintiff and her children, individuals who are People of Determination.

As outlined in the case details, the plaintiff initiated legal action against the defendant, requesting Dhs350,000 as compensation. This amount was intended to cover the cost of the damaged furniture, lost cameras, and missing personal belongings, along with compensating for the significant material and emotional harm experienced by the plaintiff and her young children, all due to a harmful act confirmed against the defendant by a final criminal judgment. The plaintiff also requested that the defendant be made responsible for all court fees, expenses, and legal costs involved.

The plaintiff initiated this lawsuit on the basis that the defendant had destroyed her household furniture, which was considered her personal property, as outlined in the case documents. A prior criminal case against the defendant led to a conviction. The damages caused by the defendant's actions prompted the plaintiff to seek legal recourse with this suit. 

The court pointed out that it had engaged a technical expert to evaluate the damages stemming from the incident linked to the criminal case. The expert's report detailed the extent of the damages and assessed the market value of the complainant’s damaged furniture at Dhs186,370.

Furthermore, the court highlighted how the defendant's actions disrupted the plaintiff's sense of stability and enjoyment of her home along with essential living comforts, resulting in a distinct and direct non-material, or moral, injury. This injury was separate from the material damage for which compensation had already been granted. Considering the incident's circumstances and its significant effect on the complainant, the court found Dhs10,000 to be reasonable compensation for this moral suffering.