“Aggravated Affection” Lawsuit Rejected by Court
I made up that term, “aggravated affection,” to specifically accommodate this delightful little news flash. What does aggravated affection mean? It means a lady from the Big Apple literally filed a lawsuit against her 8-year-old nephew, because he was so excited to see her on his birthday that he jumped into her arms, supposedly resulting in a broken wrist.
This agent of justice is Jennifer Connell, otherwise known as Auntie Jen. And let it be known: nobody — NOBODY — crosses Auntie Jen without swift, unadulterated justice. “Happy birthday, nephew,” she might have said. “Third grade is going to be awesome. Give me $127,000.”
No Win for Auntie Jen
It could’ve been worse — it could’ve worked. Let’s all be thankful that modern society’s obsessive lawsuit-slinging still has some semblance of restraint. The gavel fell on Friday. Four years after the tragic birthday “bash,” jurors at Connecticut’s Bridgeport Superior Court proclaimed the defendant, that malicious 8-year-old, “NOT LIABLE.”
And yes, that number attached to the lawsuit ($127,000) is accurate. Maybe he could’ve afforded it. Maybe he’s a kid genius and gainfully employed as an orthodontist. Or maybe, maybe, his aunt’s moral compass is just a bit eccentric.
Here’s an excerpt from her lawsuit:
“The injuries, losses and harms to the plaintiff were caused by the negligence and carelessness of the minor defendant in that a reasonable eight years old under those circumstances would know or should have known that a forceful greeting such as the one delivered by the defendant to the plaintiff could cause the harms and losses suffered by the plaintiff.”
Again, maybe the kid’s a lot smarter than I was at eight, but there are a lot of words in this statement, many of which I personally could not have defined at that age. Truth be told, I didn’t know anything about personal injury law back then. Embarrassing stuff.
But anyways, the now 12-year-old nephew didn’t get sued. He can finally put that $127,000 to good use and buy, like, an Xbox for every day of the year. Because he totally has it all in a piggy bank. You know he does.
Still, not feeling much sympathy for Auntie Jen over here. Part of the reason might have something to do with how she described her suffering:
“I was at a party recently, and it was difficult to hold my hors d’oeuvre plate.”
Then again, we’ve all been there. Shhh. Trust me, we have.
Personal Injury Law in Tennessee
If the lawsuit had been filed against someone who wasn’t an actual child, maybe Jennifer Connell would’ve had a case. And if this hypothetical scenario took place in Tennessee instead of Connecticut, she could have sued for even more money. State law in Tennessee maintains limitations on personal injury damages. Most cases are capped at $750,000, but if it was a severed arm instead of a broken wrist, the limitation would be extended to $1,000,000 due to severity.
It’s also important to note that personal injury cases in Tennessee are constrained to a certain timeframe by the statute of limitations. In order for a claim to be acknowledged, victims must take legal action within one year of the incident. A good rule of thumb is to waste no time — medical bills are costly, and you don’t want to get stuck paying expenses just because you had a slow start.
Hire Nashville Personal Injury Lawyers
At Turner Law Offices, P.C., our team of attorneys has years of experience working with clients across a wide range of personal injury cases. Whether you’re the victim of an incident resulting in injury at the fault of another party, or if you’re accused of negligence causing another person’s injury, we know the most efficient routes toward a satisfactory resolution. Call today, or go online to set up your Free Initial Consultation, and meet with a skilled lawyer who’s ready and waiting to get you on track toward the compensation you deserve.
