OLD LADY'S LAWSUIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20954, 18 August 1931, Page 9

OLD LADY'S LAWSUIT.

CLAIM FOR NINE FARTHINGS.

"MAY LAST FOR YEARS."

A 74-year-okl Paris woman, who lives in the Place St. Sulspice, has discovered somewhat late in life that one can get a good deal of fun out of lawsuits. She has just begun an action against her landlord for interest on rent paid in advance.

The lady does not greatly care about tho 2|d, for the case at the outset cost her in preliminary fees to the Court £2 10s, quite apart from lawyers' expenses. But she is apparently well content, for the case, it is prophesied, may last for several years. Should she win it, she will probably be awarded tho costs, plus compound interest on her 2^d.

The whole case aroso out of the fact that when the woman took a lease of her little room at about 10s a quarter she not only paid tho rent in advance but also 3s 4d more as security. Her claim is that on this 3s 4d she is. entitled to receive interest at tho rate of 6 per cent, per annum since, while she has regularly paid her rent this sum has remained in the possession of the managers of the building in which she lives. But hero another legal complication arises. The defending lawyer contends that such money, although paid to the manager, was actually duo to the proprietor, who has since died. Therefore, he argues, tho plaintiff's only recourse is to sue the proprietor's heirs. She has cheerfully agreed to do so. »