Writ for professional fees upheld

Audrey Demicoli, in the Small Claims Tribunal, has upheld a writ filed by David Busuttil against Godwin Muscat Azzopardi.

The writ was however dismissed insofar as it was filed against Patrick Spiteri.

Plaintiff had requested the tribunal to order defendants to pay him Lm661.25, being professional fees for financial services rendered to their clients.

Dr Muscat Azzopardi pleaded that he had never engaged Busuttil and that therefore he did not owe him any money. Dr Spiteri pleaded that he had never received any professional services from Busuttil.

Busuttil told the tribunal he had been engaged by a certain Daniel Abela who was acting on behalf of the legal firm "Muscat Azzopardi Spiteri" to provide a financial forecast in respect of a French client of the firm. He added that Dr Muscat Azzopardi had given him the brief of the work that was to be carried out and had been present at all meetings.

Dr Demicoli pointed out that Busuttil had definitely been engaged by a Maltese entity; what had to be established was whether Busuttil had been engaged by the law firm or by Dr Muscat Azzopardi himself.

From the evidence produced, it appeared that Busuttil had been engaged by Dr Muscat Azzopardi and not by "Muscat Azzopardi Spiteri".

Busuttil's writ was therefore upheld limitedly against Dr Muscat Azzopardi.