VERDICT FOR PLAINTIFF.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 217, 13 August 1937, Page 8

VERDICT FOR PLAINTIFF.

DAMAGES IN MOTOR ACCIDENT,

Per Press Association

INVERCARGILL, Aug. 12. A verdict for plaintiff for £1436 7s 9d damages was returned by the jury in the Supreme Court to day in a civil action by Maurice Clark Mander, flaxcutter, against James Alfred Coveney, of Grove Bush, farmer, claiming £2940 8s 9d damages for alleged negligent driving of a motor-car which came into collision with a motor-cycle ridden by plaintiff on Ivennington Grove Bush Road on February 22, 1936.

Judgment was entered in accordance with tho verdict, but counsel for the defendant, Mr H. J. Macalisty. announced that he would move for a new trial. He said that the only reasonable inference from the evidence was that plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence and was not entitled to judgment. He further moved that the ease be withdrawn from the jury. Mr Justice Kennedy said that he had had ample opportunity to study the evidence and he was bound to says he had lormed the opinion that there was a case to go to a jury and according to the verdict judgment should he entered for plaintiff. Mr Maealister said that on the jury’s answers to the questions put to it there appeared to be ample grounds to move for a new trial and that would be done in due course. His Honour said that there was sufficient evidence for plaintiff to go before the jury. It was rot a case in which it was the duty of the Judge to withdraw the case from the jury and non-suit plaintiff or give judgment for defendant. Mr Maealister’s motions would he entered for plaintiff for £1436 7s 9d damages with costs, witnesses’ expenses and disbursements.