DAMAGES AWARDED

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 119, 17 February 1928, Page 10

DAMAGES AWARDED

0 ACCIDENT IN JERVOIS QUAY Substantial damages were claimed by Isabella. Munhall Brock Fea and John Devon, of Wellington, iu an action brought against Thomas James Taylor, a garage proprietor, in the Supreme Court yesterday. Miss Fea claimed J;3B for loss of wages and medical expenses, and JMSO general damages; Devon claimed .£750 general damages and hospital expenses, and wages lost, amounting to £lll. These amounts were for Injuries alleged to have been suffered through Taylor’s negligent handling of a motor-car. The Chief Justice (Sir Charles Skerrett) was on the bench, ,and a jury of twelve was empanelled. Mr. T. C. Hislop appeared for Miss Fea and Mr. W. B. Blown for Devon. Mr. E. Parry, who appeared for defendant, consented to the two actions being tried as one. Opening the case, Mr. Hislop said that on September 15 the two people had been leaving a dance at the Old Navals’ Hall (now the Free Ambulance Station), in Jervois Quay, and were crossing the road at about 11.45 p.m., when they had been run down by a motor-car. Evidence was given by Dr. W. Button, previously of the Wellington Hospital staff, who said that ths two had been admitted to the Hospital that night, suffering from concussion. Miss Fea had a fractured skull, and Ivotli were in a dangerous condition. William S. Jobson, a fire brigadesnian, said that lie had been returning to tlie fire station from absence on leave, and saw a motor-car knock down two people. Ho had heard no born, but it seemed to him that the driver had thought that the two would stand still and that he could get between them and tho footpath. In his defence, Taylor denied that he had been guilty of negligent or careless driving. The accident, he said, was due to misfortune, or to the negligence of the plaintiffs. He had been driving in an old car at a low speed. Alter a retirement of almost two hours tho jury returned with a verdiet for the plaintiffs. Devon was awarded .£5O special damages and £lOO general damages. Miss Fea was awarded £35 special damages and £lOO general damages. Costs wore awarded to the plaintiffs.