'Aunt' Loses in $127,000 Lawsuit Against 8-Year-Old Boy
In what could be one of the most-talked-about cases in New York and all throughout America for the past few days, Jennifer Connell has lost her case against an 8-year-old boy who calls her "Aunt."
According to CNN affiliate WFSB, Connell lost to the lawsuit she filed against Sean Tarala, who was 8 years old when he allegedly greeted Connell in a "forceful" way that caused the so-called "Aunt" to incur injuries on her left arm and even required her to undergo surgery.
The lawsuit claimed that Connell's injuries when the boy knocked her to the ground gave her nothing but "pain and anguish," thus pushing her to file a lawsuit against the young boy. The "forceful" greeting happened during the Tarala's birthday in Westport on March 18, 2011.
The complaint stated that "The minor defendant negligently and carelessly caused the plaintiff to fall by knocking her to the ground, resulting in the severe personal injuries, damages, and losses."
It also claimed that Connell was unable to "enjoy life's activities" following the incident, a reason that the jurors simply didn't buy. The jury ruled in favor of Tarala on Tuesday, as Connell walked out of the Bridgeport Superior Court in silence.
In a phone conversation with CNN, Connell said her lawsuit was "meant to be a simple homeowners insurance case" and she was advised by Connecticut counsel that her decision was the proper move in such cases.
She also said she never wanted to hurt her nephew and that her nephew never wanted to hurt her. She clarified that her family remains strong in bonds and the son of her cousin was delighted when she took him out to shop for a Halloween costume a few weeks ago.
While Connell insisted that she was just trying to get her medical bills paid off, the case has taken the attention of social media users not just in her area but all around the United States, with many slamming her move against her young nephew.
