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The six-member
jury deliberated for less than half an hour in Superior Court in
Bridgeport on whether to find the Westport boy responsible for
breaking his aunt's wrist when he jumped into her arms during
his birthday party four years ago, a court clerk said after the
verdict. She had sought $127,000 in damages.
Jennifer Connell, 54, had testified that while her nephew, Sean
Tarala was a "loving and sensitive," 8-year-old, when he leaped
into her arms yelling "Auntie Jen," on March 18, 2011, the boy
"acted unreasonably" causing her to fall to the ground and break
her wrist.
Connell, a human resources manager from New York City, testified
that while she loves her nephew, "he should be held
accountable."
She said when the child jumped on her they fell to the ground as
she tried to catch him.Connell testified that her injury has
made it difficult to walk up the stairs in her Manhattan
apartment building, and that her social life has been negatively
impacted."The injuries, losses and harm 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 could cause the harms and
losses suffered by the plaintiff,” she said in her lawsuit.
The boy's mother died last year, and his father, Michael Tarala,
could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
(Editing by Scott Malone and Eric Walsh)
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