£1250 Damages Awarded In Accident Claim

Chronicle (Levin), 18 February 1948, Page 3

£1250 Damages Awarded In Accident Claim

Judgmenfc for the plaintiff against all defendants was eiitered by Mr. Justice Christie in the Bupreme Court at Palmerston North yesterday when the jury found negligence on the part of Thomas Leger, driver, of Levin, and Darcy McDonald, school bus driver, of Shannon, who were involved in an accident on February 11, 19-17, which resulted in injuries to a 15-year-old schooigirl, Peggy Free, of Shannon. Plaintiff was awarded general damages ainounting to £1250 and' special damages totalling £38 7s. Samuel John Free, her father, who claimed £111 2s 4d special damages on his own aceount, was awarded £75 17s. The case arose from an accident which oceurred last year when a Horowhenua County Council lorry, driven by Leger, struck a school bus, driven by McDonald, as the vehicles were passing on the Levin-Shatuion main highway. Plaintiff, whose arin was resting on the window sill of the bus, was struck on the elbow .and suffered injuries necessitating two operations'and leaving a permanent disability of the arm. Mr. G. Crossley appeafed for the plaintiff, Mr. A. M. Ongley for the llorowhonua County Council and Leger, and Mr. A. W. Yortt for the school bus driver and J. E. Bibby, the school bus contractor. On the application of counsel for the defendants, his ILonour granted 14 days for the defendants to lodge an application for a retrial.