MAN AWARDED £150 FOR LIBEL IN NEWSPAPER

Press, Volume C, Issue 29504, 4 May 1961, Page 16

MAN AWARDED £150 FOR LIBEL IN NEWSPAPER

(Neu> Zealand Press Association)

INVERCARGILL, May 3. Judgment for Douglas Leonard Scott was entered in the Invercargill Supreme Court today for £l5O and costs, when Scott claimed £l5OO damages from the Southland Times Company, Ltd., for alleged libel in the "Southland Times.” The jury of 12 hearing the case returned a decision for the plaintiff after deliberating an hour and 45 minutes. It was asked to consider three issues. The claim was heard before Mr Justice Haslam and a jury of 12. Mr C. C. Fraser appeared

for Scott, and Dr. I. L. M. Richardson for the Southland Times Company. The jury was asked to consider whether words describing Scott, "in real life, a bouncer at a local dance.” imputed that he was a person of bullying disposition, employed for the sole purpose of manhandling disorderly persons from a local dance hall. When it answered “yes” to this issue it was asked whether the words were defamatory of Scott. Finally, it had to assess the damages. A report which appeared in the “Southland Times” on February 22, 1960. was the subject of the claim. The report was on a burlesque show, called "Wirtless Circus.” arranged by the Invercargill R.S.A. as part of the Southland Summer Festival. Scott was mentioned in his role as “Musslo, the strongman,” and was described as “in real life, a bouncer at a local dance.”