MR. VON ZEDLITZ.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XL, Issue 9147, 1 November 1919, Page 7

MR. YON ZEDLITZ.

CLAIM FOR DAMAGES.

- (Per l >ross Association.) WELLINGTON, October 31. An application for a writ and statement of claim in the case of George yon Zedlitz, plaintiff, and the "New Zealand Times" Company, defendant, to be set aside was heard by Mr Justice Hoskiug at the Supreme Court, and in giving judgment to-day he said:-—"This is" a summons asking that the writ and statement of claim be struck on m that is, set aside. The ground of application is that the statemerit of claim. Ddes not specify the amount claimed. The action is for libel, and plaintiff alleges that he has suffered great damage from libel and claims to, .recover damages without mentioning any figure. I think the stateinerit^ of claim is irregular =in npt specifying . the, amount. It appears to me that ~the'following rule applies: 'If the statement of claim seeks recovery of a sum of money the amount shall be stated as precisely as the nature of the case admits.' Tlie phrase 'sum of money' is appropriate, whether the sum sought to be recovered is a debt or damages." His Honor ordered that' the statement of claim filed, should be set aside mwujr'&tu- wffoAwai OAuq n^ni-unl pu« seven days an amended statettient of claim ,specifying the amount of damages, sought to be rocovered.