A woman is pursuing a lawsuit seeking $150 million in damages from a government agency, whose failure to do their job caused her undue harm in a chimp attack that left her without hands and a face, as reported by the Stamford Advocate and other media outlets.
C.N., attending a hearing at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, Conn, on August 10, was assisted into the courtroom with the aid of her brother. Her attorney, Bridgeport-based Charles Willinger, spoke on her behalf. Willinger is tasked with getting approval from the court to sue the state for damages she incurred following a 2009 chimpanzee attack.
C.N. recently had face implant surgery and has been living in a nursing facility outside of Boston for her recovery. Willinger said that the procedure was "virgin territory" so "no one knows how long her face will even last."
Willinger told the court that his client "(lives) in total darkness, without eyes, without hands, without her face, permanently scarred emotionally, psychologically and physically. She'll never be able to see (her daughter) and, maybe even worse, she'll never be able to hold her hand. She has endured and continues to endure loneliness, despair and suffering beyond anyone's comprehension in this room."
Willinger placed the blame on his client's suffering squarely on the shoulders of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, DEEP, formerly known as the state Department of Environmental Protection, DEP.
State Claims Commissioner J. Paul Vance Jr. convened the hearing as litigants must go through him first before being allowed to continue in the court system.
Counsel from the Attorney General's Office made opposing arguments.
The commissioner has given both sides until the end of August to present any more documentation, at which time he will then render his decision.
After the hearing, C.N., in a rare public appearance, told reporters, "I feel the DEP failed to do their job, and as my lawyers have stated, I hope and pray that the commissioner will give me my day in court. And I also pray and I hope this never happens to anyone else again. It's not nice."
On February 16, 2009 a 200-pound pet chimpanzee attacked C.N. The chimp's owner, S.H., since deceased, often took him out in public. Following the attack, police shot and killed the chimp.
According to C.N.'s attorneys the DEP had been aware of the chimp's movement beginning in 2003 when he had escaped into the downtown area of Stamford. However, DEP officials never seized the chimp though they were authorized to do so.
Willinger said that e-mails, given to Vance, showed that the chimp's 2003 escape had been discussed amongst environmental administrators and DEP police – all within months of C.N.'s attack.
The chimp was also lacking a permit.
Willinger stated that his client's legal fees and medical costs are growing.
Hopefully your own case of personal injury is not this severe. However, whether it is or not, contact a personal injury lawyer to file your lawsuit. Oftentimes damages are awarded beyond legal and medical bills to include pain and suffering, loss of future wages and other damages.