Aunt Suing Nephew for $125K for Exuberant Hug

An aunt is suing her own nephew for over $125,000 dollars for hugging her.

The incident happened in 2011 in Westport, CT, when Sean Tarala, who is now 12, jumped up to greet his aunt who was visiting for his birthday party. The excited welcome left his aunt, 54 year-old Jennifer Connell, with a broken wrist after the two fell to the ground.

The NY Daily News is reporting that Connell is seeking $127,000 in damages.

Connell, a human resources manager from Manhattan, who has no children of her own, said her life has not been the same since the then 50-pound boy accidentally knocked her to the floor four years ago.

Connell testified Friday at the Connecticut Superior Court in Bridgeport, saying “I live in Manhattan in a third-floor walkup so it has been very difficult. And we all know how crowded it is in Manhattan.”

She claims that the injuries from the fall affected other parts of her life. She said she had a very hard time holding up a plate of hors d'oeurves at a party recently.

The minor child is the only defendant in the case

Connell testified that while Sean had always been “very loving, sensitive,” toward her, she still feels the boy is responsible for her injury. The lawsuit claims...

The injuries, losses and harms to the plaintiff were caused by the negligence and carelessness of the minor defendant in that a reasonable eight year 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.