Jury’s Award More Than Sum Claimed

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29892, 4 August 1962, Page 10

Jury’s Award More Than Sum Claimed

(New Zealand Press Association) HAMILTON, August 3. A jury awarded more than the amount claimed when Robert Latimer Liddle, a fitter, of Rotowaro, sought to recover £2OOO general and £7BB special damages arising out of an accident. The jury’s award in the Supreme Court, Hamilton, today in favour of plaintiff was for £2250 general damages and £<BB special damages.

The defendant was Ivon King Housley, a taxi driver, [of Huntly. I The Chief Justice. Sir Harold Barrowclough, presided. and the case was heard by a jury of 11, one of the jurymen being discharged because he was a brother of a witness.

Mr R A Houston appeared for Liddle and Mr L. S. Sealy represented Housley. The case arose out of an accident which occurred on the Huntly-Rotowaro main highway shortly after dusk on December 26. 1960 Liddle was riding a motor-cycle when he was involved in a collision with a taxi driven by Housley. The motor-cycle burst into flames. and Liddle was

severely burned in the left leg and suffered other injuries. Defendant Negligent The jury held that Housley had been negligent in the manner in which he had attended to the driving of h < taxi and in the manner m which he had permitted h vehicle to be on the highway. The jury found that he had not failed to rendei the plaintiff all practicable assistance, and that there had been no contributory neg: gence on the part of plaintiff On Mr Houston’s applies tion. judgment was entered for Liddle for the amount awarded by the jury. The sealing of the judgment wadeferred until the question had been settled as to whether the jury had exceeded its jurisdiction by awarding more damages than had been claimed.