NOMINAL DAMAGES

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 24 August 1935, Page 5

NOMINAL DAMAGES

Action Against Norfolk Island Administrator Over Dismissal ORIGINAL CLAIM FOR £3OOO •United Preee Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright). Received 11.30 a.m. to-day. SYDNEY, To-day. The Norfolk Island message states that Judge Coyle, of Sydney, concluded the hearing of the action by Charles Ray Nobbs against Captain C. R. Pinney, the present Administrator, for alleged wrongful dismissal from office as President of the Executive. Nobbs’ case was that the Administrator wrongly convened a special meeting of the Executive Council, over which he presided, and unlawfully submitted to the meeting a motion to remove Nobbs from the presidency. Nobbs claimed £3OOO damages. The judge found that the Administrator had acted irregularly in calling the meeting, which was the president’s, prerogative, and he awarded the plaintiff nominal damages. The judge commented that the only real damage the plaintiff had suffered was to his pride. He added that it was most regrettable that the peace of the Island was in such a troubled state.