Successful Claim Against County

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 55, 6 March 1937, Page 5

Successful Claim Against County

WOMAN AWARDED DAMAGES. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. Holding that the Eketahuua County Council had been guilty of negligence during the process of road repair work at Hamua between Pahiatua and Eketahuna, a jury of 12 in the Supreme Court, Wellington, to-night awarded Emily Annie Freeman, woman’s toilet specialist, Wellington, £390 5s 4d damages. The total amount claimed was £1125 4s 6d. The case arose out of a motor accident on the main highway on March 22, 1936, as a result of which plaintiff received injuries which, it was stated, will cause permanent partial disability of the right hand, it was claimed that the accident was the result of negligence on the part of the Council in that it failed to make safe for traffic, a section of road under repair. The jury, on its return after a three hours’ adjournment, answered in the affirmative the question of whether the accident had resulted only from things under the management of defendant and that it was such as in the ordinary course of things, did not happen if those who had the management of those things, had exercised proper care. The case, which is of great importance to local bodies throughout the Dominion, occupied the Court for three fall days. {Sixteen witnesses were called and all this afternoon was taken up by addresses of counsel and the Judge’s sum-ming-up. The jury assessed general damages at £363 0s lOd and special damages £27 4s 6d.