CLAIM SUCCEEDS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20475, 29 November 1934, Page 16

CLAIM SUCCEEDS.

Hairdresser to Pay Damages. (Special to the \ "-Star.") AUCKLAND. November 28. Alleging that by negligent and unskilful treatment she -had received a scalp burn during treatment for a permanent wave, and that she was permanently disfigured, Mrs Sheila Samson, in the Magistrate's Court, before Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., claimed from Sareta Salon, Ltd., ladies’ hairdressers and beauty specialists, £IOO general damages and £7 2s special damages. The defence said that on a conservative estimate, over the last five and a half years there had been 257,400 treatments and in only three cases had burns occurred. In the present case the burn was a pure accident, for which defendant was not responsible. It was pointed out that the burn would have responded to immediate medical treatment and would not have reached its present condition had it received that attention. Magistrate’s Comment. After hearing the evidence, the Magistrate said that a burn might be a very infrequent happening, but it was one that should not take place with the exercise of proper skill, and the defendant company had failed to satisfy him that it was not negligent. He did not think it was the duty of a salon to dress a burn afterwards, but it would be wise to send the client to a doctor, otherwise the damage would he aggravated. No permanent disfigurement of the head had resulted from the burn. There was a spot the size of a threepenny piece where the hair would not grow again, but that was not disfigurement because it was in a position where it would not be noticed. The medical evidence induced him to believe that plaintiff would receive no more trouble from that part of the head. By way of special, damages, which included medical expenses, he would allow £5 18s. She was not entitled to the refund of the cost of the hairdressing treatment, but she would be awarded £lO general damages on account of pain and suffering.