INSURANCE CASE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 118, 21 May 1941, Page 8

INSURANCE CASE

THIRD DAY OF HEARING

The Supreme Court case in which the Dominion Life Assurance Office of New Zealand, Ltd., is claiming damages for alleged libel and slander from the Australian Mutual Provident Society entered its third day of hearing today with final addresses by counsel and by Mr. Justice Ostler. The evidence was completed yesterday, there being six witnesses for the plaintiff and two for the defendant. Mr. H. F. O'Leary, K.C., and Mr. A. M. Cousins are appearing for the plaintiff company, and Mr. P. B. Cooke, K.C., and Mr. W. P. Shorland for the defendant society.

The plaintiff's, case contained five causes of action, alleging libel in one and slander in the other four, but after legal argument yesterday afternoon two causes were withdrawn from the jury, leaving one allegation of libel, for which £500 damages is claimed, and two allegations of slander, for each of which £300 is claimed.

The defence is a denial of publication of the statements complained of and a plea that if they were used they were not capable of any defamatory

meaning

His Honour began his summing-up to the jury of twelve just before the luncheon adjournment, - and continued this afternoon. There was an unusually long list of issues for consideration by the jury.