Aunt Sues 8-Year-Old Nephew $127,000 For Breaking Wrist

A New York woman has become the laughing stock of the world when she tried to sue her nephew for breaking her wrist in 2011 when he excitedly welcomed her to his birthday party.

She claimed the boy, who was 8 years old at the time, should have known better than to hug her and knock her to the ground in his excitement.

“All of a sudden he was there in the air, I had to catch him and we tumbled onto the ground. I remember him shouting, ‘Auntie Jen I love you,’ and there he was flying at me,” Jennifer testified about her encounter with the 50-pound boy.

The New York Daily News reported that the woman, 54-year-old Jennifer Connell is seeking $127,000 in damages from her nephew, Sean. Her counsel argued that Sean, “should have known better than to jump into her arms as a means of welcoming her to his birthday party in 2011.” Connell says that she suffered a broken wrist when the two fell to the ground, and tha ther life has not been the same since the incident.

However, she didn’t complain about the injury at the time, apparently because she didn’t want to upset him at his birthday, but the wrist has since had a major impact on her busy life. Connell claimed that the injury made it difficult to live in crowded Manhattan in her third floor walkup, and that her social life also suffered. As evidence she claimed that recently at a party it was “difficult to hold my hors d’oeuvre plate.”

Her nephew appeared very confused in court with his father to face the charges of what will likely be equivalent to his future college tuition. Considering the incident came about when he threw himself into his aunt’s arms to tell her how much he loved her, it’s no surprise he was confused.

Now 12, he has also gone through the tragedy of losing his

mother Lisa just last year.

Thankfully, the judge has put Connell back in her place, ruling that the case had no grounds to be taken seriously and that the money will not need to be paid. This result came after a six-member jury deliberated for 20 minutes, before eventually siding with the boy. Despite the court case, Connell maintained that she loved her nephew, but felt that he should be held accountable for the hug that caused her injury.

Certainly, this is one of the most bizarre cases in recent years. But it is one of a number of strange litigation examples coming from the United States, making many in the world wonder if our passion for suing others has gone a few steps too far.