CLAIM FOR £34,277

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30275, 30 October 1963, Page 12

CLAIM FOR £34,277

Carpenter Now Paralysed

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND. Oct. 29. A 34-year-old carpenter has had his expectation of life considerably reduced as the result of serious injuries received on a building site, Mr Justice Woodhouse and a jury were told in the Supreme Court at Auckland today by his counsel.

Bernard Robert Levesque, married, with three children, is claiming £30.000 general damages and £4277 special damages against W. Stevenson and Sons, Ltd., engineers and contractors.

Mr D, S. Beattie, who appears for Levesque, with Mr K. Ryan, said the claim was one of the highest put before an Auckland jury. The company is represented by Mr M. E. Casey, with him Mr M. L. Curtis. The company denies the allegations and alleges that if Levesque suffered an accident and injuries they were caused, or contributed to, by his own negligence and failure to take care for his own safety. ) Levesque’s allegation is that excessive ground vibration from a trench-digging machine loosened a brace supporting a frame wall which fell and struck him on the back of the neck, severing his spinal cord.

The accident occurred on July 11, 1961. Mr Beattie said Levesque suffered paralysis of four limbs and is now a quadraplegic. He required constant attention. He could not be gainfully employed and was permanently disabled. An hydraulic hoist had to be used to lift him into bed. The hearing will continue tomorrow.