JURIES’ VERDICTS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 412, 20 April 1937, Page 5

JURIES’ VERDICTS.

CONTROLLING POWER OF COURT. Mr. Justice Ostler’s Views. Press .Association—Copy light. Wellington, April 19. “In my opinion it is necessary in the interests of justices that !tho court should jealously guard its controlling power over the verdicts of juries and that juries, should not have a free hand to whittle away the standard of care allowed by law,” said Mr Justice Ostler in the Alp peal Court to-day when delivering judgment in an appeal from a judgment of Mr Justice Fair. “If that, controlling power is relaxed or weakened there is a real danger that liability for motor accidents will come to depend entirely on the whim or prejudices of juries.,” continued His Honour. “Defendants will be liable without proof of negligence and plaintiffs will be able to recover, although their contributory negligence is manifest to all reason, able men.’’