INJURED BACK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23178, 26 October 1938, Page 17

INJURED BACK

ACCIDENT UNDER BRIDGE AWARD OF £153 DAMAGES A City Council labourer who met with an injury to his back while working under Grafton Bridge brought a claim for compensation yesterday before the Arbitration Court presided over by Mr. Justice O'Regan. Mr. Sullivan appeared for the plaintiff, j Charles William Mitchell, and Mr Mackay for the Auckland City Council. Mitchell claimed that while working under Grafton Bridge on September 15, 1f1.%. his feet slipped and he fell on his back, suffering injuries to his nock, back and right shoulder. He claimed that he was still disabled. He | had been paid compensation at th.> i rate ol £3 a week from the date of the ■ accident to last Friday, but he asked . for such further lump sum as the Court might find reasonable. It was admitted that the plaintiff had received over £330. The defenee asserted that Mitchell had been physically capable of resuming his occupation for some months past. The council had not refused to pay anything that was due in accordance with the provisions.of the statute, but denied that any further compensation was payable. Medical evidence regarding the effects of the accident a fid the plaintiff's physical condition was called by both sides. In announcing the decision of tin Court. His Honor said the man was naturally severely neurasthenic, as lie knew he had had a fracture of a cervical vertebra. The Court would allow him three months' full compensation from date, amounting to £2.1 2s. partial eom)>ensation for a further three months, amounting to £1!) 7s 3d. and for the possibility of permanent disability a 20 per cent allowance lor the remaining 20.3 weeks of the period of liability, amounting to £llO 12s. making £153 Is 5d in all. The Court also allowed £8 8s costs and £8 for expenses of four medical wit-1 nesses.