A WRECKED CAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 104, 4 May 1937, Page 7

A WRECKED CAR

DAMAGES AWARDED

Damages totalling £233 Ss Od were awarded by a jury of four in the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon to Leo Knox Palmer and his wife, Gladys Mary Palmer, liability for whose wrecked car was admitted by the Highways Transport Co., Ltd., and P. J■ A Palleston, motor-driver, of Petone. The claim was for £350, being £75 general: damages for each plaintiff, and £200 8s 6d special damages which included £175 for the loss of the car. . Mr. Justice Smith presided. Mr. O. C. Mazengarb appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. E. D. Blundell for the defendants. The car, it was explained by Mr. Mazengarb, was struck by a petrol tank wagon at Pahautanui on Christmas Day and completely wrecked. The car had been obtained by the plaintiffs in a deal in which Mr. Palmer had traded in another, car. He improved it himself until it was worth £175 to him. In the accident the plaintiffs nervous systems had been disturbed. Mr. Blundell said his clients had recognised their liability, but contended that the claim was both exorbitant and inflated. The car had ■ been worth £100 in 1933, and on Mr. Palmer's valuation had suffered no depreciation.) It would be worth £70 before the improvements were made if £10 a year depreciation were allowed. Taking that figure and his own valuation, Mr. Palmer increased the value by 150 per The iury allowed £118 for the car, £50 for the husband, £40 for Mrs. Palmer, £10 for clothing, and the balance for sundry items.