ABSENT GUEST

Evening Star, Issue 20372, 2 January 1930, Page 1

ABSENT GUEST

MUST PAY HOST A judge of Coxxrbevoie on the Seine, opposite Neuilly, France, has just settled a remarkable suit for damages, forming a legal precedent by which a host may sue a delinquent dinner guest and recover the price of the uneaten dinner. M. X., the defendant, and M. A., the Elaintiff, are both natives of Sierra eone, British West Africa, and both with their families, were visiting Courbevoie, where M. Y. iuvited M. X and his family to dinner, and the invitation was accepted. On the appointed night, however, the X family failed to put in an appearance, nor were any “regrets” sent. Thereupon, AI. Y. asked M. X. to pay for the dinner, which had remained uneaten. This M. X. declined to do, and so M. Y. brought suit. After listening to both sides—the lawyer for the defence claiming nonsuit, as tho case was a mere social matter and not subject to the rules of business—the judge stated that, ■while failure to fulfil a dinner engagement did not in itself constitute grounds for a claim for damages, a person who broke his engagement without taking the precautions demanded by social , usage caused damages which it was his duty to repam. j He therefore ordered M. X.. te pay.