DIFC Authority v (1) Sophia Al Shaykh (2) Yahya Al Shaykh [2012] DIFC CFI 001 (12 February 2012)

Claim No: CFI 001/2012

THE DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE COURTS

Court

In the name of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler

Ruler
of Dubai

IN THE COURT

Court
OF FIRST INSTANCE

BEFORE H.E. JUSTICE ALI AL MADHANI

Between

DIFC

DIFC
AUTHORITY

Applicant / Defendant

Defendant

-v-

(1) SOPHIA AL SHAYKH 

(2) YAHYA AL SHAYKH

Respondent / First Claimant

Claimant

Hearing: 5 February 2012

Counsel: Sophia Al Shaykh (Claimant in person)

Graham Lovett, Clifford Chance LLP for Defendant

Judgment: 12 February 2012

JUDGMENT

Introduction

1. On 18 January 2012 Application Notice CFI 001/2012/1 was filed by the Applicant (the Defendant in CFI 001/2012) the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority
Centre Authority
(" DIFCA
DIFCA
") against the Respondent (the First Claimant in the case) Sophia Al Shaykh. The Applicant requested the Court
Court
to exercise its powers underRule 4.16of the RDC to strike out
Strike out
the claim of Sophia Al Shaykh.

2. The Applicant's reasons are that the Respondent, Sophia Al Shaykh, is the wife of Yahya Al Shaykhwho entered into an Employment Contract with DIFCA. Sophia Al Shaykhhas brought a claim before DIFCA seeking AED 200,000 relating to unpaid costsof relocation to France, return air ticket and relief compensation for reasons that DIFCA had asked her to wait for a positive solution to Yahya Al Shaykh's termination.

3. The Applicant insists that Sophia Al Shaykh was not a party to the Employment Contract and, on that basis, Sophia Al Shaykh cannot bring an action against DIFCA in relation to the termination of her husband's Employment Contract.

4. Sophia Al Shaykh failed to address any reasonable grounds or explain on what basis she has any rights to the claim brought against DIFCA. As no cause of action has been established by her, this court is required to strike out her claim according toArticle 4.16of the RDC.

5. The Application was served upon the Respondent and, as a result, Sophia Al Shaykh submitted a Defence on 25 January 2012 and Skeleton Arguments on 5 February 2012. The summary of the Respondent's defense to this application is as follows:

(a) Sophia Al Shaykh was named in DIFCA's records as the wife of Yahya Al Shaykh the contracting party with DIFCA and, as such, she was entitled to a business class air ticket, as stated in Article 5 of the Employment Contract of her husband.

(b) The mention of her by description as a wife of Yahya Al Shaykh — the contracting party makes Sophia Al Shaykha party and beneficiary to the contract; as such she can sue based on that capacity.

(c) After termination of Mr Yahya Al Shaykh's employment, Sophia Al Shaykh was requested by the Governor of the DIFC and DIFCA to wait for a fair solution — which did not occur.

(d) Sophia Al Shaykh was named in the initial claim brought before the Small Claims Tribunal

Tribunal
and, therefore, her name was in the Order issued by the SCT Judge
Judge
on 28 November 2011.

(e) The Dubai Ruler's Court, the Governor of the DIFC and DIFCA, by asking her to wait for a fair solution, prevented Sophia Al Shaykh from travelling to France to see her family and, therefore, she had to stay in Dubai incurring extra living costs.

(f) Sophia Al Shaykh advised that she had received several verbal and written remarks from the CEO of DIFCA that she claims were insulting which, ultimately, led her to sue for relief compensation of AED 126,000.00 due to the suffering caused to her by DIFCA as a result of the cruel termination of her husband.

(g) The Respondent then asked for the Application Notice CFI 001/2012/1 to be dismissed.

(h) There were also a number of points of fact that were irrelevant or un-established with reference to point of law and were, therefore, not considered.

6. On 5 February the Applicant submitted a Skeleton Argument and it can be summarised as follows:

(a) The claim is an employment case based on a contract between the DIFCA and Yahya Al Shaykh. Sophia Al Shaykh, the wife of the contracting party, was not a party to that Employment Contract.
(b) If there are any benefits that the Respondent may have out of that contract is by virtue solely of the relationship between her and her husband and there is no direct basis that Sophia Al Shaykh can sue DIFCA.

(c) The Employment Contract refers to Mr Al Shaykh's dependents in two places:

(i) The first in Clause 5 which provides a return business ticket to the employee's dependents states:

"The Employee shall be entitled to receive one return Business Class air ticket to the Employee's home country, for each year of employment.

Such entitlement will also apply to the Employee's dependents (spouse and up to three children under the age of 18 years old) residing with the Employee in the UAE

UAE
. The tickets must be utilized by the Employee within one (1) year after it has accrued.

The equivalent cash value of tickets may also be taken by the Employee."

(ii) The second is at Clause 10 which states:

"During the Employee's term of service, the employee shall be provided medical insurance as applicable for the Employment and for the Employee's approved dependents.

The Employee, and the Employee's approved dependents shall be entitled for coverage under DIFCA's private group medical insurance plan in effect and as may be amended from time to time."

(d) The Applicant argues that this kind of reference to the employee's dependents did not make Sophia Al Shaykha party to the contract or give her the right to sue or enforce directly.

(e) Article 104 of the DIFC Contract Law 2004 states the right of third party to enforce a term of a contract.

"(1) Subject to the provisions of this law, a person who is not a party to a contract (a "third party") may in his own right enforce a term of the contract if:

(a) The contract expressly provides that he may; or
(b) Subject to Article 104(2), the term purports to confer a benefit on him.
(2) Article 104(1)(b) does not apply if on a proper construction of the contract it appears that the parties did not intend the term to be enforceable by the third party.
(3)The third party must be expressly identified in the contract by name, as a member of a class or as answering a particular description but need not be in existence when the contract is entered into.
(4) This Article does not confer a right on a third party to enforce a term of a contract otherwise than subject to and in accordance with any other relevant terms of the contract."
(f) On reading the Employment Contract and the Employee's Separation Policy, it appears that the parties did not intend the terms to be enforceable by a third party.
(g) The Applicant asserts that the right of the air ticket and insurance is only enforceable by Yahya Al Shaykh and not Sophia Al Shaykh who is not a party to the contract. Yahya Al Shaykh could receive a cash equivalent value of the air ticket which suggests that this right is not given to the wife and does not make her a party to the contract.

(h) As can be seen below, there is no independent right for any dependents of the employee to directly claim for any employment rights under the Separation Policy.

"The DIFC Authority provides repatriation to all confirmed employees on separation from the organization provided the expatriate employee decides to return to his/her home country.

The repatriation package consists of:

One way ticket to home country, nearest international airport as per passport will be provided upon cancellation of residence visa (local & overseas hires) for employee and approved dependents (Spouse and 3 children who are having a valid UAE residence visa and residing at UAE.)

Relocation assistance (20-foot container by sea freight) will be provided to expatriates upon completion of visa cancellation formalities."

(i) Sophia Al Shaykh has failed to identify the basis on which she is named as a Claimant in the proceeding.

(j) The Court is empowered byArticle 4.16of the RDC to strike out this case in respect of Sophia Al Shaykh as a Claimant.

"The Court may strike out a Registrar

Registrar
if not agreed.

H.E. Justice Ali Al Madhani

Date of Issue: 12 February 2012