Monrovia, Liberia—The Sixth Judicial Circuit Civil Law Court in Monrovia has found Orange Liberia guilty in a damages action, ordering the GSM service provider to pay LRD 3 million in general damages, LRD 685,260, and US$2,350 in specific damages.
The Petit Jurors unanimous verdict followed a careful examination of the evidence presented during the trial.
The case stemmed from a complaint by Alpha Saliou Barry, the owner of the Boussoura Foreign Exchange Bureau.Barry testified that on July 17, 2023, he completed a transaction for a customer withdrawing LRD 70,000.
However, Barry’s phone network failed when another customer came in to withdraw LRD 3,000 later that evening.After contacting his office at LR & Sons, he was advised to wait until the next day.
Barry later visited the Orange Liberia head office in Oldest Congo Town to inquire about his SIM card, which had been blocked, causing repeated network issues.Despite his efforts, his SIM card remained blocked for 47 days, severely affecting his business operations.
Barry explained that the network outage had significant financial consequences, as his business relies on daily transactions, including the wholesale and retail sale of orange scratch cards.
He claimed to have lost an estimated LRD 16,000 per week during the 47 days, further highlighting the disruption caused by the blocked SIM card.
The plaintiff also described the emotional and personal impact of the network failure, including difficulties in supporting his family and celebrating the birth of his child during the SIM card blockage.
Barry said his business was forced to close for nearly two months, leaving employees unpaid.
In response to the court’s ruling, Orange Liberia filed a motion for a new trial, arguing that the judge’s instructions to the jurors had been clear, but the jury failed to properly apply the law and evidence in reaching their verdict.
The company’s legal team contends that external factors may have influenced the jurors’ decision, and they are seeking a retrial on these grounds. The motion is currently pending a final ruling from Judge Scheaplor R. Dunbar.
