CARPENTER'S CLAIM

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 123, 27 May 1942, Page 8

CARPENTER'S CLAIM

STATE HOUSE ACCIDENT The question of whether an accident to a carpenter working on a State house at Meadowbank in November last was due to negligence of the worker or of the employer was involved in an action in which George William Owen Wilson, carpenter (Mr. Henry), claimed £750 general and £298 special damages from his employer, Thomas J. Farmer, builder (Mr. Goldstine). The case was heard before Mr. Justice Callan and a jury in the Supreme Court to-day. Mr. Henry said that, while crossing open floor joists about four feet above ground level the plaintiff slipped and fell between the joists, suffering injuries to his spleen, chest wall, foot and nose, and requiring the removal of his spleen, and medical treatment over a long period. Plaintiff had not since then worked and medical opinion agreed that he would not be fit till near the end of June. He got the usual compensation to date of two-thirds wages. He claimed that his employer was to blame by not having planks laid over the open joists to enable workers to move safely over them in the course of necessary operations. Negligence, said counsel, was denied by defendant, who alleged contributory negligence by the plaintiff. Plaintiff gave evidence of the accident, stating that there was no decking placed on the joists and that he had mentioned this on a former job. He said he was winding up his tape measure as he was crossing the joists just before he slipped, but not at the actual moment. He added that he was watching his step at the time, but that one foot slipped off a joist. (Proceeding.)