10 hours ago
UAE: Woman insults sister, ordered to pay Dh10,000 in damages
A woman has been ordered to pay her sister Dh10,000 in compensation after verbally insulting her in a way that damaged her dignity and reputation.
The ruling was issued by the Al Ain Court for Civil, Commercial, and Administrative Claims.
The case began when the plaintiff filed a lawsuit against her sister, seeking Dh60,000 in damages. She claimed that her sister had insulted her and used offensive and degrading language toward her. A criminal court had already convicted the defendant in a final ruling for the same incident.
In response, the accused appealed and asked the civil court to dismiss the case. However, the court clarified that since the criminal conviction was final, it could not be revisited. The civil court's role was solely to determine compensation for the harm caused, according to a report published by local media outlet Emarat Al Youm on Monday, June 9.
The court noted that the language used by the defendant was demeaning and likely to have caused psychological distress. It ruled that the defendant's actions constituted legal wrongdoing and that there was a direct connection between the insult and the emotional harm suffered by the plaintiff.
However, the court also considered the fact that the dispute took place between family members. It acknowledged that verbal altercations among relatives may not carry the same social weight or consequences as similar disputes between strangers.
Taking all these factors into account, the court ordered the defendant to pay Dh10,000 in compensation, in addition to covering court fees and legal costs. The court rejected the remaining demands made by the plaintiff.
