HAIRDRESSER SUED

Evening Star, Issue 21631, 29 January 1934, Page 10

HAIRDRESSER SUED

HAIR-WAVING TREATMENT SEVERE BURNS AND PAIN ALLEGED A case in which Vera Doris Clyma (subsequent to the issue of the claim, Mrs Vera Doris Moore) sued Miss Rita Grimmett (now Mrs Rita Jory), hairdresser, and Roland Edgar Grimmett, a builder, for the sum of £l6B 5s was heard bv Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., in the ‘Magistrate’s Court this morning. The claim was made in respect of damages arising from the alleged failure of the defendants to ekercise due and proper cave and skill whilst conducting a permanent hair-waving process on the plniiitiffj and that the latter suffered injury and pain, damage to her appearance, and incurred _ loss and expense, and also lost her situation. Mr T. A. Kinmont appeared for the plaintiff and Mr W. 1). Taylor for the defendants. Counsel for plaintiff said that his client attended the hairdressing saloon of the defendants at South Dunedin to have her hair permanently waved. ■ The treatment was carried out by the defendants so negligently, alleged the plaintiff, that she received very serious burns on her scalp, and these burns were treated lightly by the defendants. Some ten days later it was considered necessary by‘the plaintiff to consult a doctor. The plaintiff suffered excruciating pain, incurred doctor’s expenses, and lost her position. She was able to got married a few months earlier than she intended. - In the course of her evidence Mrs Moore' said that the treatment was carried out by the defendants in two parts, Miss Rita Grimmett, preparing her for the waving by Miss L. Grimmett. She experienced a burning sensation after the instruments were on for a few minutes, and complained immediately to Miss L. Grimmett, who applied cotton wool without giving her any relief. The operation was continued despite the fact that she still complained of the pain, Miss Grimmett stating that- there were only two seconds to go and the treatment would be finished. During the seven minutes of -the treatment she was left alone for more than a minute. Miss Rita Grimmett came in shortly after plaintiff complained about the burning and was there when the switch was turned off. Miss L. Griipmett said that some steam must have leaked out. After the switch was turned off the burning still continued, and the instruments were so hot that Miss llita Grimmett had to wait until they cpoled down, but she assured the plaintiff that everything would he all right. When .the instruments wore taken oft her head was still burning, and there were five Jumps on the left side of her head. Miss L. Grimmett applied , olive oil to her scalp. There was no pain when the right-hand side of the head was being treated. She was advised by Miss L. Grimmett to be careful and not comb her hair, and to apply boracic powder. She was at the saloon , for three hours, and when she wont home she could not sleep. She-, went to work the following morning, hut her head was still causing pain, and she suffered for three weeks, during which time she applied peroxide and boracic powder on the advice of a chemist. When she advised her employer she was not able to work he told her the firm was so busy he could not wait for her. On the Monday she consulted Dr Allen and later Dr Evans, and she received attention for from four to six weeks from the loimer. In the course of cross-examination the plaintiff stated that she had been employed by Marshall’s Proprietary at its factorv for about two months, prior to whicli‘she had been unemployed. . At this stage the Magistrate drew attention to the fact that three months’ wages-were being claimed from November 3, hilt-the plaintiff was married on December 1 and could not claim after that date, as she suffered no loss. Counsel pointed out that proceedings were issued fifteen days after the marriage, and'h© asked the plaintiff wny she had,kept her marriage so secret and had not even advised her solicitor. Plaintiff: I did not think it had anything to do with anyone else. In reply to further questions plaintiff stated that even despite the cotton wool applied under the machine, her head appeared to be burning all oyer. Dr Allen said that he was consulted by" Miss Clima on November 13, and he found that the left side of her face was swollen, due to a wound just above and over the left ear. There was a smaller sore just above the other wound mentioned, and there were three smaller wounds or ulcers on the back part of her skull, making five wounds altogether. He advised a treatment of boracic lint and hot fomentations, but only one really required boracic lint. It was discharging. He treated her on November 13 and December 11, and the wounds had not healed up. He supposed that the larger one in front of the ear would always be there if it was looked for,- and that the one which became septic would cause more pain than the other four. Cross-examined, Dr Allen said there was only one burn of any severity, and that all the wounds had healed completely, and he did not anticipate any adverse circumstances. The main burn would not have swollen to the same extent as it had if boracic lint had been applied earlier. Boracic powder was suitable for the treatment of a burn, but once the blister burst _it caused the formation of a scab, which prevented healing. He considered that if there was a change of mode in hairdressing the scar would be seen if carefully looked for. (Proceeding.)