‘Anyone who causes harm to another must compensate for the damage’, the court stated, citing the UAE Civil Transactions Law
A woman has been ordered to pay Dh30,000 in compensation after insulting another woman on social media, according to a ruling by the Abu Dhabi Family, Civil, and Administrative Claims Court, as reported by Emarat Al Youm. The court also directed the defendant to bear all legal costs and associated expenses.
The case began when the plaintiff filed a civil lawsuit, claiming that the defendant insulted her by posting offensive comments on her photos, as well as sending private messages via a social networking app. The incident triggered a separate criminal case, which resulted in a conviction.
The victim stated that the defendant’s actions caused her emotional and psychological harm, prompting her to seek Dh150,000 in damages for both moral and material losses. She also requested that the defendant pay court costs and attorney fees.
In its ruling, the court emphasised that evaluating the facts, assessing the evidence, and determining whether a wrongful act occurred are all within its authority, as long as the conclusions are reasonable and based on the case documents. The court confirmed that the criminal case files proved the defendant had used “insulting language through an electronic means of communication,” according to Emarat Al Youm.
In its ruling, the court clarified that moral harm includes damage to a person’s dignity, emotions, reputation, or sense of honuor. Citing the UAE Civil Transactions Law, the court stated: “Anyone who causes harm to another must compensate for the damage.”
As a result, the court awarded the plaintiff Dh30,000 for moral damages, recognising the emotional suffering caused by the defendant’s actions. However, it dismissed the claim for material damages, noting that the plaintiff had not provided sufficient evidence of financial loss.
Source: Khaleej Times
