Dear Friend,
Did you know that there are some times the court can order people to first try to settle their disputes amicably, before going to the court?
Oh yes! That happens all the time and it did happen to madam kofo
This is how it all started….
Madam Kofo is a well-known baker with three bakery shops strategically located in the heart of Lagos, Nigeria for ease of patronage from different customers.
One day, Ms. Jojo, a regular customer stopped by to buy one of Madam Kofo’s signature cupcake during her break time from work.
7 days after, JoJo stormed into the shop to complain of the cupcake she got and ate that landed her in the hospital for days!
In fact, she even went with the hospital bills and test reports showing that she had suffered from food poisoning linked to the cupcake especially when Madam Kofo’s cup cake was the only thing she had for that day.
Madam Kofo’s staff argued with Ms. Jojo that, it was not possible especially when other customers bought that same cup cake and none came back complaining. To make matter worse, they told her that she was supposed to consume that particular cupcake almost immediately and not leave it till after 3 hours has she claimed.
Jojo was bitter, felt insulted and like someone who just wanted to make money from Madam Kofo. The first thought that went through JoJo’s mind was “so, if I had died from this food poisoning, this is how this people will just wave it aside like nothing happened?!”
So, she went ahead to engage a lawyer to write, but she got no response whatsoever from the company, save a defensive apology only when JoJo’s lawyer had to contact the company weeks after delivering the letter. This further triggered her annoyance, alas! Jojo instructed her lawyer to file a lawsuit, which she claimed damages in 10s of millions of Naira (among other things).
On the very first day the matter came up in court, the judge referred both parties to mediation for a possible amicable settlement and ordered that parties should only return to the court if they were not able to settle.
Let’s take a good look at the cost implication involved in this matter (especially for Madam Kofo who is a business person);
🔵 Signature Cup Cake 🍰 – less than N50k
🔵 Hospital bills – less than N500k
🔵 Damages and compensation sued for – runs in 10s of million Naira
🔵 Paying a defence lawyer – in few millions
🔵Time, Energy, Mental Stress & Resources involved (unquantifiable)
BIG QUESTION OF THE DAY….
Do you think Madam Kofo’s company would have done better?
Why do you think so and what do you think they could have done to avert this situation?
PS: And guess what?
I was directly involved in this matter – but I will leave you to guess in what capacity I was involved in……?!
(Whether I was involved in the matter as Ms. Jojo’s Claimant lawyer, or as Madam Kofo’s Defense Lawyer or the Mediator between Ms. Jojo and Madam Kofo.)
So, what will it be for you? Get a professional help on setting up a workable Business Disputes Resolution System or do it your way and end up with law suits here and there?
This is worth thinking about.
Yours legal,
Precious Toju, Esq.
(Debt Recovery & Credit Risk Coach)
Visit www.asklawyerprecious.com to read more insightful blog post
