The Civil Law Court has awarded Cllr. Urias S. Goll more than US$40,000 in damages against Brussels Airlines over his denial of boarding at Roberts International Airport in August 2025.
Goll’s lawyer, Atty. Jeremiah Samuel Dugbo I., however, took exception to the ruling, arguing that the amount awarded was inadequate and did not reflect the extent of the harm suffered by his client.
Judge Golda A. Bonah Elliott ordered Brussels Airlines to refund the full cost of Goll’s original ticket and reimburse him for the additional amount he paid for a replacement ticket from Ethiopian Airlines.
The airline was also ordered to pay Goll’s transportation costs between Toronto and Windsor, Canada, US$40,000 in general damages and the costs of the proceedings.
Goll had sued Brussels Airlines for US$10,000 in special damages and US$300,000 in general damages. He claimed that the incident caused him financial loss, embarrassment, mental anguish and emotional distress.
According to the court’s ruling, Goll purchased a round-trip Brussels Airlines ticket in June 2025 for travel from Monrovia to Brussels and onward to Toronto and Windsor, Canada. He was scheduled to travel on August 17, 2025, but was stopped from boarding at Roberts International Airport.
Goll testified that airline staff told him Air Canada had advised Brussels Airlines not to board passengers traveling to Canada because of a strike by Air Canada employees. He said he asked to be rerouted but was not given that option.
The court heard that Goll later purchased an Ethiopian Airlines ticket on August 19, 2025, and rented a vehicle to travel from Toronto to Windsor.
Goll also told the court that he became ill after returning home from the airport and sought medical attention the following day.
His doctor, Dr. Ibrahim F. Ajami, testified that Goll complained of a severe headache and light-headedness and was found to have elevated blood pressure, anxiety and a fast heartbeat.
Dr. Ajami said Goll was given medication and advised to return home and rest.
Brussels Airlines ticket supervisor Tukus Ama Harris testified that passengers affected by the disruption were offered refunds. However, the court found her evidence regarding an alleged refund offer to Goll unconvincing because she was not in Liberia when the incident occurred.
Judge Elliott noted that Harris learned about the alleged refund offer after returning to Liberia and could not say who made the offer to Goll.
The court therefore accepted Goll’s testimony that he was not offered a refund or an alternative route at the airport.
On the issue of liability, Brussels Airlines argued that Air Canada should be responsible because Air Canada was involved in the onward journey from Brussels to Toronto and Windsor.
The judge rejected that argument, noting that Goll never reached Brussels because he was denied boarding by Brussels Airlines in Monrovia.
“The obligation to take the Plaintiff to Brussels rested with Brussels Airlines,” Judge Elliott stated.
The court also ruled that Goll was entitled to reimbursement or rerouting under European Union Regulation 261/2004, which was referenced in the terms and conditions of his ticket.
Although Liberia has not ratified the 1999 Montreal Convention, the court said the 1929 Warsaw Convention remains the applicable international aviation convention ratified by Liberia.
The court, however, held that EU Regulation 261/2004 could be considered because its passenger protection provisions formed part of the contract between Goll and Brussels Airlines.
Judge Elliott found that Brussels Airlines failed to notify Goll before his scheduled departure that he would not be allowed to board. The court also found that the airline failed to provide him with a refund or an alternative route to his final destination.
The judge said the airline’s actions caused Goll “distress, mental anguish, embarrassment” and amounted to intentional conduct by its employees.
In reaching the decision, the court relied on a 2008 Supreme Court ruling involving Kesselly and SN Brussels Airlines, which recognized damages for mental anguish, emotional distress, humiliation and other harm where aggravating circumstances are present.
The court therefore held Brussels Airlines liable and ordered it to pay the damages and other costs.
Both sides have appealed the ruling.
Goll’s lawyers took exception to the US$40,000 general damages award, arguing that it was too low, while Brussels Airlines also rejected the ruling and filed an appeal.
Judge Elliott granted both appeals to the Supreme Court during its October Term 2026.
