Published: October 7, 2026
Tubmanburg, Bomi County — The Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court in Tubmanburg, Bomi County, has awarded US$405,000 in damages to Isaac N. Quiquoi, a 35-year-old Liberian man whose life and ability to provide for his family were profoundly affected by injuries sustained in a 2023 road accident involving a tractor belonging to Mano Palm Oil Plantation.
Mr. Quiquoi, represented by Dominion Law Group, Incorporated with four lawyers active during the course of the trial, including in Counselors Samwar S. Fallah, Lawrence Suah and Attorneys Alpha Daffae Senk
peni and Henry Sayon Yaidoo brought an action against Mano Palm Oil Plantation through its Manager and CEO, Asaad R. Fadel, and other officials and agents of the company, seeking damages for wrong, personal injury, emotional distress, and permanent disability.
The case arose from an accident on March 9, 2023, when Mr. Quiquoi was riding his motorbike at approximately 10:00 p.m. along the D8 Camp Road. According to the evidence presented at trial, he collided with an abandoned company tractor that had broken down and was left on the public road, in the lane in which he was traveling, without adequate warning or reflective signals. The collision resulted in serious injuries to both of his legs, causing him permanent disability.
The Court heard testimony from six witnesses presented by Mr. Quiquoi, including police officers and three medical doctors. The medical evidence established that he suffered complicated fractures and underwent multiple surgeries at different medical facilities. Medical testimony further established that his tibia (otherwise known as crazy bone in Liberian parlance) remained unhealed, leaving him unable to walk without crutches.
The evidence also showed the devastating effect of the injuries on his livelihood and family. Mr. Quiquoi told the Court that he is a father of five children and that, before the accident, he depended on his ability to work and ride his motorbike to support his family. Since the accident, he has relied on crutches and has been unable to earn a livelihood. His family has consequently faced serious hardship, including difficulty providing food and keeping the children in school.
The Court found that a Liberian National Police investigation determined that the company’s tractor operator was responsible for the accident. The investigation established that the tractor had been left without the required reflective warning and was parked in the opposite lane. The driver was charged under provisions of Liberia’s Vehicle and Traffic Law concerning signals for disabled vehicles and reckless driving.
After reviewing the evidence, the Court found that Mr. Quiquoi had proven his case by a preponderance of the evidence, concluding that the negligence of the Mano Oil Palm Plantation’s driver caused his injuries. The Court further held the company liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior, which provides for an employer’s liability for negligent acts committed by an employee in the course of employment.
In its damages award dated October 5, 2026, the Court ordered Mano Palm Oil Plantation to pay US$350,000 in general damages, US$25,000 in specific damages for medical expenses, and US$30,000 in consequential damages, totaling US$405,000.
The judgment, however, has been cross appealed by both parties. While the Defendant has appealed the judgment, the lawyers representing Mr. Quiquoi have also appealed, contending that the US$350,000 awarded for general damages is insufficient considering the extent of his injuries, permanent disability, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and the impact on his ability to provide for his family.
The cross-appeals mean that the matter remains subject to further judicial review by the Supreme Court of Liberia. Nevertheless, the judgment marks a significant step in Mr. Quiquoi’s pursuit of justice and accountability.
For a young and vulnerable Liberian whose life was fundamentally altered by the accident, the case underscores the principle that access to justice should not depend on wealth or social standing. While the legal battle continues, the Court’s findings provide judicial recognition of the profound harm suffered by Mr. Quiquoi and his family due to the negligence of Mano Oil Plam Plantation.
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