Abu Dhabi court orders Dh20,000 payment for verbal abuse case

The Abu Dhabi Family, Civil and Administrative Claims Court ordered a man to pay Dh20,000 in compensation to a woman after he was found guilty of directed insults and verbal abuse. The ruling follows a criminal conviction for the same incident, where the defendant was previously fined Dh5,000 by the criminal court. Legal proceedings and evidence The case originated when the plaintiff filed a civil lawsuit seeking Dh51,000 in damages for psychological and moral harm. According to court documents, the man used "insulting and inappropriate words" toward the woman in a public setting. To support her claim, the plaintiff provided the final judgement from the criminal court, which had already established the defendant's guilt regarding the verbal assault. The civil court noted that the criminal ruling carried legal weight in determining the occurrence of the harm. Under UAE law, a criminal conviction for defamation or verbal abuse serves as a basis for victims to seek financial compensation through the civil justice system for emotional distress and damage to reputation. Compensation and court fees While the plaintiff requested Dh51,000, the court exercised its discretionary power to…