UNAWARE OF DIVORCE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 188, 26 August 1937, Page 12

UNAWARE OF DIVORCE

Woman's Court AHegation CLAIIVL AGAINST S0LICIT0R A solicitor sued for damages by a woman at West Riding Assizes, Leeds, recently was alleged to-have been responsible for her obtainingi a decreo absolute of divorce without her knowledge. The woman, Mrs Vera Victoria •Tames, of Tufnell Park, London, furthor alleged that as a result of her solicitor's negligence slie lived with her divorced husband for nearly four years in the erroneous beiief that he was still her husband, and that sjie was unable to obtain maiutenauce in tlie way of alimony. Mr W. B. D, Shackleton, of Brad- ' ford, tlie solicitor. denied negligence. Mr W. A. MacFarlaue, for hfrs James, said a decree nisi was granted at Leeds Assizes in July, 1930, the papers being served on Mr James vvlien he was in the United States. A few days before her decree nisi was ntade absolute Mrs James met hev husband at Liverpool on his arnval from America, and they bccauie reconciled. She clicl nuthing more about her divorce and lived with Mr James for nearly l'our years, believing that he wa-> still her husband. Counsel said they separated tgain, an-I when J\lrs James applied to the Poor Persons Committee to ascertain if her former decree nisi could he -nade absolute the faets were elicited. J'he hearing was adjoufned.