SLANDER CASE

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 2, 27 September 1939, Page 6

SLANDER CASE

Damages Of £2 Awarded

Damages for slander were claimed from a Public Works timekeeper named Simes by Thomas Edward Roberts, a contractor on the Pukerun Bay-Paekakariki road, in a casfe heard by Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday. It was alleged that Simes told a man to watch his employer, Roberts, because he was a bad payer.

Plaintiff was represented by Mr. T. P. McCarthy. Simes, -who conducted his own case, made an appeal to Mr. McCarthy, through the magistrate, to witlidraw the case, saying that if it went on he would have to say things which would do plaintiff harm. . Air. McCarthy intimated that that question had previously been discussed and he chose' not to accept the offer. After hearing the evidence, the magistrate said tliere was no question that ths words had been used. It might have been quite an innocuous statement, and, had it remained there, he would have regarded the case as trivial and awarded contemptuous damages,, probably of a farthing. However, defendant had come to the Court with the intention of blackening plaintiff as much as it was possible to blacken anybody. That being so, he would award plaintiff damages. Judgment was entered for £2, and defendant was ordered to pay costs.