NURSE SLANLTERED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 181, 2 August 1930, Page 12

NURSE SLANLTERED.

£75 DAMAGES AWARDED. APARTBIENT KEEFEK TO PAY. "KNEW STATEMENT WAS UNTRUE." ; (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) ( .', ' WELLINGTON,, Friday. 1 Ella Miller, a registered ' nurse,: who recently brought'a slander action against Mrs. E. Williams, an apartment'house keeper,' was awarded £75 damages. ■, Mrs.. was alleged to have told authorities at, the Nurses', Club.that the plaintiff had a man in her. rooms Svith her. until 4.30 in the morning, The claim was for £150 damages. A. fellow-lodger had: admitted, haying a man in her apartments, until a. late hour. • In his decision Mr. E. Page, S.M., said that it was urged that the, occasion was one of qualified privilege, and;. that for

the plaintiff to succeed; she, must prove express malice « it seemed doubtful t'» him whether in the circumstances any privilege < existed. : If the ''■ occasion " was one of qualified privilege, he thought that it had been destroyed by the defendant. .-■"■'-• -], \''; t, , ; ! It was clear tha£ the defendant knew that h«?r statement to the matron, of the Nurses' Chi o, in so far as it referred to the plaintiff, was untrue. It. was therefore not bona fide, and the words were clearly actionable. "lain of the opinion, therefore," added the magistrate, "that the plaintiff's, case has' been .'established and that sue. is entitled to a verdict. With regard to the amount-of damages, it is shown that plaintiff has been prejudicially affected in her- profession by the defendant's statement." '.', • ,','•;'■