DEATH OF HUSBAND

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 30, 29 October 1932, Page 12

DEATH OF HUSBAND

Widow’s Claim for Damages FATAL MOTOR COLLISION Dominion Special Service. • Palmerston North, Oct. 28. A claim for £2OOO damages by Caroline Annie Forrest, widow’, of Palmerston North, against Carl Petersen, sawmill proprietor, of Foxton, is being heard in the Supreme Court by Mr. Justice Blair and a jury of twelve. The claim is the outcome of a collision on the Foxton line on July 17 between a baby car driven by plaintiff’s deceased husband and a motor-lorry belonging to defendant, and driven by James George Coley. Plaintiff alleges negligence on the part of Coley to be the cause of the accident, which is completely denied in the statement of defence filed. The defence alleges that plaintiff’s husband was negligent and that the accident was due to this negligence. The ease has been proceeding since Wednesday afternoon. The jury found the driver of defendant’s lorry was negligent in driving slightly over the centre of the road, and that plaintiff’s husband was negligent in driving too near the centre of the road. Also, that up to the time of the impact, both drivers could have avoided the accident by the use of reasonable care. The jury assessed damages for the widow at £5OO. Counsel for defendant moved for judgment with costs. Counsel for plaintiff was granted leave to apply for a new trial.