SEIZURE OF MOTOR-CAR

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1078, 16 September 1930, Page 10

SEIZURE OF MOTOR-CAR

DAMAGES CLAIMED IN SUPREME COURT TAUMARUNUI CASE SEQUEL From Our Own Correspondent HAMILTON, Today. An echo of the sensational Tanmarunui car-stealing case was heard in the Supreme Court day, when judgment for £250, tiie value of the car, and £IOO, as damages for alleged wrongful seizure of the vehicle, was sought by Leonard .Tames O'Reillv against the General Motors Acceptance Corporation, Ltd. Plaintiff claimed that defendants had wrongfully seized his car and had sold it to a person unknown. Defendants admitted that plaintiff possessed the car in December, 1929. and deemed that the vehicle was worth £250. They denied that plaintiff was entitled to possession, however, and said they had no knowledge of arrangements between plaintiff and the Traders’ Finance Corporation. They admitted the car was seized and sold, but denied that the seizure was wrongful. The defendants said that Ihe Bishara brothers, from whom the car was bought, .were not authorised distributors of General Motors products, but Samuel Bishara’s father, who guaranteed all payments. J. M. Bishara and his accountant, Trayhurn, had pleaded guilty to stealing the car and had served a term of imprisonment as a result.

The defence submitted that the car was subject to a customary hire ♦purchase agreement and that ilie title could not be taken away from the defendant corporation. (Proceeding.)