DAMAGES OF £2043

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25674, 24 October 1944, Page 4

DAMAGES OF £2043

AMERICAN COMMISSION’S AWARD

INJURY TO BOY’S EYE (P.A.) J AUCKLAND, Oct. 23. A young Auckland boy who suffered severe injuries to an eye when he was struck by a baseball bat during an improvised game by American marines in the Domain almost 18 months ago has received a. decision from the American Foreign Claims Commission for the payment of £2043 damages. As the settlement exceeds 5000dol, it will have to be authorised by the United States Congress by means of a private Bill, and this procedure may take several months to complete. The boy is Roderick George Booth, a son of Mr Redvers Booth, of Mount Eden, and he was aged nine when the accident happened on May 12, 1943. He and his brother, aged 11, were watching some American marines play baseball when the bat flew from the striker’s hand and struck him on the forehead, permanently injuring one eye and making it necessary later for some of the bone in his head to be removed.

A claim for £2OOO general damages and £43 medical and hospital expenses was brought before the Foreign Claims Commission in July by Mr J. J. Sullivan. The commission consisted of Lieutenant J. M. Burnett (president) and Lieutenants V. Barbieri and R. W. Russell. Lieutenant J. L. Doyne was counsel for the commission. The case occupied several days, and the commission reserved itfe decision until a few day ago, when it was announced that the full amount claimed had been awarded. The commission intimated in this, as in previous cases, that where a claim exceeded 5000dol the award would have to be' referred to Washington for the necessary appropriation to be made.