Did You Hear Concerning The One Where In Actuality The Chimp Went Berserk And Murdered A Worker?

[arrigo]

[circehyll]

Chimp owner: Conn. woman was mauled on the job NEW HAVEN, Conn. ? An attorney representing the owner of a chimpanzee that mauled and blinded a woman is calling the attack a work-related incident and said her family's case should be treated like a workers' compensation claim.The strategy, if successful, would severely limit potential damages in the case and insulate the chimp owner from personal liability.The 200-pound chimpanzee named Travis went berserk in February when his owner, Sandra Herold, asked her friend and employee Charla Nash to help lure him back into her house in Stamford. The animal ripped off Nash's hands, nose, lips and eyelids, and she remains in stable condition at the Cleveland Clinic. Nash's family filed a $50 million lawsuit against Herold, saying she was negligent and reckless for lacking the ability to control "a wild animal with violent propensities."But Herold's attorney, Robert Golger, says in recent court papers that Nash was working as an employee of Herold's tow truck company, Desire Me Motors, at the time of the attack. He argues that Travis was an integral part of the business, saying his picture was on the wrecker, he appeared at the garage daily and he attended numerous promotional events.The house where the attack occurred is a business office of the company, Golger said. Nash fed Travis, cleaned his play area and purchased his supplies as an employee, Golger contends. "It's an unfortunate and tragic accident that happened in the workplace and should be subject to the provisions of the Connecticut workers' compensation statutes," Golger said Wednesday.Matt Newman, attorney for Nash's family, said he disagrees with the argument but declined further comment.Under workers' compensation, Nash would have her medical bills paid for by the employer's insurance and would receive partial wage replacement, but would not get any money for pain and suffering that makes up a large part of jury awards in civil cases. Workers typically receive 65 to 75 percent of their wages."It's a steady smaller income that would be enormously dwarfed by a successful civil suit," John Mastropietro, chairman of the Connecticut Workers Compensation Commission, said Wednesday.Paul Slager, an attorney in Stamford not involved in the case, says Golger is making "a pretty creative argument." To win the argument, Herold will need to prove there was an employer-employee relationship and that Nash's injuries were work-related. Nathan Shafner, a workers' compensation attorney in Connecticut, called the tactic "a very sellable argument" and thinks it could prevail. The strategy leaves Nash's side in a quandary because they only have one year to file a workers' compensation claim, Shafner said. If they fail to file that claim and lose the civil case, they could be left with no remedy, he said.The 14-year-old chimp was shot and killed by police when he tried to attack a police officer responding to the assault on Nash. Test results showed that Travis had the anti-anxiety drug Xanax in his system at the time of the attack, but investigators don't know whether the drug played a role.get more here http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jhxw9fUjruFRAJbzmlxU7kG1sdvwD9BB1D5O0 Sources: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jhxw9fUjruFRAJbzmlxU7kG1sdvwD9BB1D5O0 Jessin 50 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[Frewyn]

I am sure everybody did. What are your thoughts on the chimp being treated as an employee?

[Seosamh]

The family of a Connecticut woman mauled and blinded by a chimpanzee sought Wednesday to sue the state for $150 million, saying officials failed to prevent the attack.Attorneys for Charla Nash's family filed a notice Wednesday with the state Office of Claims Commissioner asking for permission to sue.The 200-pound chimpanzee named Travis went berserk in February when his owner, Sandra Herold, asked Nash to help lure him back into her house in Stamford.The animal ripped off Nash's hands, nose, lips and eyelids; she remains in stable condition at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.A Department of Environmental Protection biologist warned state officials before the attack that Travis could seriously hurt someone if he felt threatened, noting that he was large and strong."We believe the evidence will show that the state, acting through the Department of Environmental Protection, failed to adequately address a serious public safety issue that resulted in tragic consequences for our client," said Matt Newman, attorney for Nash's family.Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said Wednesday that his office is reviewing the claim. He said that he is sympathetic over the "horrific tragedy" but that the planned lawsuit "seems unprecedented in size."Dennis Schain, Environmental Protection spokesman, said his agency had not received any paperwork yet but would cooperate with the claims commissioner and attorney general.The claim comes at a difficult time for Connecticut, where the two-year, $37.6 billion budget is already $624 million in deficit.

[Yardane]

I thought everybody had heard about that! It was a really horrible and tragic story.I heard that every single EMS technician and hospital worker who saw her had to get psychotherapy - the chimp had eaten her whole face, including the front half of her skull!

[Twitchel]

NEW HAVEN, Conn. ? An attorney representing the owner of a chimpanzee that mauled and blinded a woman is calling the attack a work-related incident and said her family's case should be treated like a workers' compensation claim.The strategy, if successful, would severely limit potential damages in the case and insulate the chimp owner from personal liability.The 200-pound chimpanzee named Travis went berserk in February when his owner, Sandra Herold, asked her friend and employee Charla Nash to help lure him back into her house in Stamford. The animal ripped off Nash's hands, nose, lips and eyelids, and she remains in stable condition at the Cleveland Clinic. Nash's family filed a $50 million lawsuit against Herold, saying she was negligent and reckless for lacking the ability to control "a wild animal with violent propensities."But Herold's attorney, Robert Golger, says in recent court papers that Nash was working as an employee of Herold's tow truck company, Desire Me Motors, at the time of the attack. He argues that Travis was an integral part of the business, saying his picture was on the wrecker, he appeared at the garage daily and he attended numerous promotional events.The house where the attack occurred is a business office of the company, Golger said. Nash fed Travis, cleaned his play area and purchased his supplies as an employee, Golger contends. "It's an unfortunate and tragic accident that happened in the workplace and should be subject to the provisions of the Connecticut workers' compensation statutes," Golger said Wednesday.Matt Newman, attorney for Nash's family, said he disagrees with the argument but declined further comment.Under workers' compensation, Nash would have her medical bills paid for by the employer's insurance and would receive partial wage replacement, but would not get any money for pain and suffering that makes up a large part of jury awards in civil cases. Workers typically receive 65 to 75 percent of their wages."It's a steady smaller income that would be enormously dwarfed by a successful civil suit," John Mastropietro, chairman of the Connecticut Workers Compensation Commission, said Wednesday.Paul Slager, an attorney in Stamford not involved in the case, says Golger is making "a pretty creative argument." To win the argument, Herold will need to prove there was an employer-employee relationship and that Nash's injuries were work-related. Nathan Shafner, a workers' compensation attorney in Connecticut, called the tactic "a very sellable argument" and thinks it could prevail. The strategy leaves Nash's side in a quandary because they only have one year to file a workers' compensation claim, Shafner said. If they fail to file that claim and lose the civil case, they could be left with no remedy, he said.The 14-year-old chimp was shot and killed by police when he tried to attack a police officer responding to the assault on Nash. Test results showed that Travis had the anti-anxiety drug Xanax in his system at the time of the attack, but investigators don't know whether the drug played a role.get more here http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jhxw9fUjruFRAJbzmlxU7kG1sdvwD9BB1D5O0

[Maetthere]

-%3EPeter said: 1 I thought everybody had heard about that! It was a really horrible and tragic story.I heard that every single EMS technician and hospital worker who saw her had to get psychotherapy - the chimp had eaten her whole face, including the front half of her skull! 51 months ago

[Hayes]

Connecticut chimp victim seeks to sue state The family of a Connecticut woman mauled and blinded by a chimpanzee sought Wednesday to sue the state for $150 million, saying officials failed to prevent the attack.Attorneys for Charla Nash's family filed a notice Wednesday with the state Office of Claims Commissioner asking for permission to sue.The 200-pound chimpanzee named Travis went berserk in February when his owner, Sandra Herold, asked Nash to help lure him back into her house in Stamford.The animal ripped off Nash's hands, nose, lips and eyelids; she remains in stable condition at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.A Department of Environmental Protection biologist warned state officials before the attack that Travis could seriously hurt someone if he felt threatened, noting that he was large and strong."We believe the evidence will show that the state, acting through the Department of Environmental Protection, failed to adequately address a serious public safety issue that resulted in tragic consequences for our client," said Matt Newman, attorney for Nash's family.Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said Wednesday that his office is reviewing the claim. He said that he is sympathetic over the "horrific tragedy" but that the planned lawsuit "seems unprecedented in size."Dennis Schain, Environmental Protection spokesman, said his agency had not received any paperwork yet but would cooperate with the claims commissioner and attorney general.The claim comes at a difficult time for Connecticut, where the two-year, $37.6 billion budget is already $624 million in deficit. Sources: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jhxw9fUjruFRAJbzmlxU7kG1sdvwD9BP0IB04 lmhilly1971 50 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[Gara]

yadwena said: 3 OMG, how horrific, I have no words to comment right now. I'm just stunned, her hands are gone.I hadn't heard about it, the last couple of weeks, I haven't watched the news or read the newspaper. I'm out of the loop, on what is going on in the world. 51 months ago

[Brewer]

whocares000 said: 2 I am sure everybody did. What are your thoughts on the chimp being treated as an employee? 51 months ago