ABNORMAL CLAIM

Hokitika Guardian, 7 November 1930, Page 6

ABNORMAL CLAIM

BY MOTOR CYCLIST. t ßy Telegraph—Per Pres* Association .j WELLINGTON, November 6. “In all my experience, 1 have never seen so large a sum for an injury; the amount seems to me to be altogether unreasonable,” Mr Justice Ostler remarked to the jury in the Supreme Court to-day just before it retired to consider a claim for £274 8s 6d special damages and £2,500 general damages made by Ernest Drew, packer, of Wellington, against Godfrey Power Clapeott, insurance inspector, of Masterton. The case a rose out of a collision on the old Porirua Road near Kaiwarra on Chrismas Eve last. The jury returned a unanimous verdict awarding plaintiff £263 18s 6d special damages and £l5O general damages. His Honour reserved a motion for a re-trail. The plaintiff alleged that, while he was riding a motor cycle on Porirua Road defendant, by driving his car negligently and carelessly, collided with him, severely injuring him and damaging the motor cycle. Defendant denied that he bad been negligent in any way, and lie urged that the sole cause of the accident was negligence on the part of plaintiff and excessive speed. His Honour reserved bis decision on a motion for a new trial and on the question of a non suit.