CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES

Evening Star, Issue 19274, 12 June 1926, Page 21

CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES

AWARDS AGAINST JUDGE'S DIRECTION [Per United Pkess Association.] HAMILTON, Juno 11. At the Supreme Court a claim for £1,648 damages for injuries received whilst employed at the Te Kawa quarries, near Te Awamutu, was heard before Mr Justice Herdman and a jury. The plaintiff was James Floyd, laborer, of Te Kuiti, and tho defendants were Thomas G. Martin, farmer, and William Dunedin Ross M'Curdie, an engineer, formerly carrying cm business in partnership at Te Kawa under the style of tho To Kawa Quarry Co. In summing up, His Honor described the claim as a ridiculous one. He thought some of tho jury might even regard it as preposterous. Plaintiff, to Sis Honor’s mind, suffered from _ a bruise, and, after sleeping on the claim for six months, now came forward and brought an action for this large amount of money. After a 'retirement of three and ahalf hours the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff awarding him £3OO. William Alexander > Annan _ was awarded £B6O damages in a claim for £1,030 for the loss of three fingers of his right hand, which were taken off by a goose saw while cutting slabs in the Ongarue Sawmill Company’s mill. Air Justice Herdman summed up in favor of the company.