Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter A ST. ELIZABETH farmer will have to dig deep into his pocket to pay a $7 million Supreme Court award for seriously injuring another farmer, resulting in the loss of use of the right hand.
Derrick Blake, a 40-year-old farmer of Top Hill, St. Elizabeth, against whom the award was made, did not attend court and was not represented at the assessment of damages.
However, attorney-at-law Alonzo Manning, who represented 37-year-old Moses Findlayson in whose favour the award was made, told The Gleaner yesterday that he was going to take out a summons to recover the money from Blake.
Mr. Justice Raymund King made the award after hearing evidence from Findlayson.
AUGUST ARGUMENT
The suit was filed in the Supreme Court in 1997, where Blake entered an appearance acknowledging that he was aware of the suit filed against him but did not file a defence. Default judgement was entered against Blake and the case was set down for assessment.
Findlayson, who is right-handed, testified that he and Blake owned sound systems. He said they had an argument on August 15, 1993 as to whose sound system was better. He told Blake his was better and walked away.
RIGHT HAND DAMAGED
While walking away, Blake took a knife and stabbed him three times. One of the injuries damaged the nerves in his right hand and as a result he has lost the use of that hand and was unable to farm.
Mr. Justice King awarded Findlayson $60,000 for special damages, which include medical expenses and $7 million for general damages, which include loss of future earnings.
