IPNEWS – Monrovia – Lawyer representing the legal interests of the Central Bank of Liberia’s Executive Governor, Mr. J. Aloysius Tarlue, Jr, have been given their 10-day window period so that they can file with the court their client’s formal answer in a suit that was filed against him in a case arising from his alleged failure to pay his rent.
Executive Governor Tarlue, through his lawyer, was formally served with the writ of summons on Monday, July 4, after he appeared in court to represent him (Tarlue).
“This brings him under the jurisdiction of the court. In keeping with the civil procedure law, he has a window period of 10 days within which he should file a formal answer to the complaint,” an officer from the court told this newspaper.
The CBL Governor wasn’t physically present in court on Monday but was represented by his lawyer.
On June 24, 2022, an octogenarian property owner, Moisema A. Dorley, by and thru his Attorney-in-Fact, Joseph Jimmy Sankaituah, sued Mr. Tarlue, for his alleged failure to pay his rent for the property he is currently residing in. The said property is located in the Rehab Community of Paynesville, also where present senior and past government officials reside.
Plaintiff Dorley, in his complaint to the Debt Court at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia, says that in October 2018, he and Defendant Tarlue entered an agreement for the lease of his four-bedroom house contained in a concrete fence and situated on 1.0 lot of land in Paynesville City.
“Under the agreement, Plaintiff would move in, possess and occupy the demised premises for a one-year period commencing on 1st November 2018 and ending on 31st October 2019. This arrangement is evidenced by a draft lease agreement which was never signed by either party,” Mr. Dorley further says.
To prove his case and to make it weighty before the Montserrado County Debt Court Judge, James E. Jones, the Plaintiff’s legal team headed by Attorney Alston C. Armah, attached to his complaint various “exhibits” including the unsigned lease agreement mentioned above, so they can form a cogent part of the proceedings.
Further in his charge, the octogenarian disclosed that Executive Governor Tarlue had made initial payment of US$5,400 as the first 12-months’ rent payment at the monthly rate of US$450.
He further complains that Mr. Tarlue should have checked out of his property at the end of the lease year on October 31st 2019, according to their unsigned lease agreement but Defendant Tarlue hasn’t allegedly left his property and hasn’t also made any other payment since that initial payment was made.
“Plaintiff says that, at this stage, he began engaging Defendant to make payment for the period of his occupancy since the expiration of the first one year. Plaintiff further alleges that, as a result of constant follow-ups and engagements with the Defendant, the Defendant made a second one-year payment in two installments – first US$4,200 and second US$1,200 – which constituted payment of rent for the second one-year period covering 1st November 2019 through 31st October 2020…,” the Plaintiff’s complaint stated.
“Since the payment for the second year, Defendant has refused, failed and neglected to make any further payment of rent. Furthermore, Plaintiff says as a result of Defendant’s failure to pay the rental, Defendant has accumulated indebtedness to Plaintiff in the amount of US$10,800.00 for the period of two years covering 1st November 2020 up to and including 31st October 2022.”
Mr. Dorley beseeched Judge Jones to adjudge Defendant Tarlue liable to him in the amount of US$11,448.00 “representing (a) US$10,800 as rental owed for the period 1st November 2020 through 31st October 2022; and (b) 6% statutory interest of US$648.00.”
At the moment, Mr. Dorley, who is over 80 years old, resides at 9 Traynor Lane in the City of Willingboro, State of New Jersey, United States of America. He owns properties in Montserrado County. One of his properties, located in the Rehab Community, is what the Central Bank’s Executor Governor now occupies.
Meanwhile, Defendant Tarlue was summoned by the Debt Court Judge James E. Jones to appear before him on Monday, July 4, 2022, by 10 a.m. to answer to the complaint of Plaintiff Dorley.
Judge Jones commanded Debt Court Clerk Cephas M. Bowen to warn Defendant Tarlue that, upon his failure to appear and in time, “judgment will be entered against him by default.”
The Writ of Summons was issued on June 24, 2022.
