DAMAGES CLAIM

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1935, Page 6

DAMAGES CLAIM

• CONSTABLES’ INJURIES NEW POINT RAISED (Per Press Association, Copyright). AUCKLAND, July 9. A gallant effort made by Constable ]<;. E. Stewart, on a night in September 1.933, to arrest a motor car thief, was recalled to-day, when in the Supreme Curt, the constable brought an action for £2OOO general and £557 special damages against the owner of the stolen car E. CL Bridgers, a manufacturer, of Auckland.

The claim, which is an unusual one, is based on the Motor Vehicles Act 1930. The plaintiff asserts that he will be permenantly . partially ' disabled, as a result of injuries received when the thief swerved the stolen car to whicn the constable was clinging, into a stationary car. The plaintiff contends that the unknown driver was the the authorised agent of the defendant. It was stated that Stewart wa s confined to hospital from September 20, 1933, until December 1933, and was readmitted on numerous occasions in 193 U and i s still rcceivng treatment. His career with the police force was finished as he could not now comply with the physical requirements. The most he would he able to do, if a further operation is successful, would be to potter about for the rest of his life-’