DAMAGES AWARDED
NO DEFENCE OFFERED
The defendant company in a civil action in the Supreme Court today neither appeared nor was represented, and the case was completed with only the plaintiff attending. Charles Evelyn Scott, a labourer, of Lower Hutt, claimed £1000 general damages and £28 17s 8d special damages from Coutts Bros, and Hare, Ltd., alleging that he had suffered serious injury to his back when the driver of a lorry belonging to the defendant company moved it suddenly forward as the plaintiff was standing on the tray loading shingle, with the result that he was thrown to the ground. At the beginning of the case Mr. Justice Reed commented that it was a most unusual thing, especially as insurance interests were concerned, for the defendant not to appear or be represented, and in his summing-up to the ■ jury of twelve he mentioned the difficulty of a case in which all the evidence was on one side. After a retirement of minutes the jury awarded the plaintiff the amount of the special damages claimed, and £105 general damages. Judgment was entered accordingly, his Honour commenting that the assessment was very reasonable. Mr. A. B. Sievwright appeared for the plaintiff.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19380516.2.135
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 113, 16 May 1938, Page 11
Word Count
200DAMAGES AWARDED Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 113, 16 May 1938, Page 11
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