U.S.A. COMPENSATION GRANT

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 October 1944, Page 3

U.S.A. COMPENSATION GRANT

INJURY TO AUCKLAND BOY

AUCKLAND, October 23. A young Auckland boy who suffered severe injuries to an eye when he was struck by a baseball bat during an improvised game by American marines in the domain almost _lB months ago. has received a decision from the "American Foreign _ Claims Commission lor payment ol £2O-13 damages. As Hie settlement exceeds 5000 dollars it will have to be authorised by Hie United States Congress by a private bill, and. this procedure might take several months to complete. The boy is Roderick George Booth, a son of Mr. Redvers Booth, of Mt. Eden, and he was aged nine when the accident happened on May 12, 1943. He and his brother, aged 11, were watching some American marines play baseball when the bat flew from the striker’s hand and hit him on the forehead, permanently injuring one eye, and making it necessary later for some of Hie bone in his head to be removed. A claim for £2OOO general damages and £43 medical and hospital expenses was brought before the Foreign Claims Commission in July by Mr. J. J. Sullivan. The Commission consisted of Lieutenant J. M. Burnett (president), and Lieutenants V. Barbieri and R. W. Russell. Lieutenant J. L. Doyne was counsel for the Commission. The case occupied several days, and the Commission reserved its decision until a few days ago, when it was announced that the full amount claimed had been awarded. The Commission intimated in this, as in previous cases, that where a claim exceeded 5000 dollars the award would have to be referred to Washington for the necessary appropriation to be made.