DAMAGES AWARDED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 144, 20 June 1934, Page 8

DAMAGES AWARDED.

CLAIM AGAINST CROWN. INDIAN OFFICER COMPENSATED. (By TelcgrnpJi.—Press Association.) WELLING TON, Tuesday. A petition to His Majesty the Kins praying by way of compensation £200 special damages (hospital and medical expenses) and £1800 general damages was brought in the Supreme Court today under the Crown Suits Apt bv a retired Indian Army officer, LieutenantColonel George Stuart Dous'as, C.I.E. The petition was heard by Mr. .Justice Ostler, who assessed the damages at £1188 17/3. The petitioner's kneecap was injured in an accident at Rotorna toward the end of last year, and the chief complaint in his petition was that as a result he was precluded from receiving a high appointment as a military adviser in a State, of the Indian Empire. Liability for the accident was admitted by the Crown, the cane resolving into an assessment of damages after the Court had heard the medical evidence on behalf of the parties. His Honor, after hearing the ovidijnce, said the chances of Colonel Douglas receiving an appointment as military adviser to a native State were so remote that they ought to be ignored by the Court in assessing damages. The sum of £ 18S special damages had been admitted, and, in addition, petitioner was entitled to a reasonable cum for the pain and suffering he had undergone, continued his Honor. He would allow £200, plus a further £50 for medical expehses likely to be incurred in the future. Colonel Douglas had suffered very severe injury to ""his knee joint, and all the medical witnesses were of opinion that there was a possibility the knee would develop an arthritic condition, which would prevent him following his usual outdoor life. His Honor said he would therefore award £750 general damages, making a total of £liBB 17/3.