NOMINAL DAMAGES AGAINST NEWSPAPERS SUED FOR LIBEL

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 May 1947, Page 4

NOMINAL DAMAGES AGAINST NEWSPAPERS SUED FOR LIBEL

Nominal damages only, in the sum of £25, were awarded by the jury in the Supreme Court to Irma Rosalind Hyde, married, of Bulls, in a claim against the Manawatu Daily Times and the Manawatu Evening Standard for libel. Separate claims of £5Ol each were brought against the two papers, but for convenience the two claims were heard together. The claims arose out of erroneous reports that her husband had obtained a decree nisi against her on the ground of adultery with a named corespondent, whereas it had been dismissed for want of prosecution. It was stated during the hearing that the parties were reconciled. _ _ • On the previous day a similar action against the Times by the husband was non-suited. It was disclosed that both newspapers had offered to print apologies, but had been advised not to do so by counsel for the husband, as the parties did not want further publicity. On this point Mr Justice Christie told the jury they might wonder why the newspapers did not print an apology on their own initiative. It might have been dangerous, for such an apology not. at the request of the parties might tend to spread scandal to those who had not read the original report and might have constituted another action against them. Each newspaper pays £l2 10s.