Committee won’t allow chimpanzee victim to sue state

HARTFORD, Conn. – The victim of a 2009 chimpanzee attack said she was “heartbroken” that the Judiciary Committee won’t allow her complaint for financial damages to be heard by a court.

The Judiciary Committee voted 35-3 to uphold the claim commissioner’s decision to deny Charla Nash’s request to sue the state.

“The fact that I will not be able to tell my side of the story to a court of law is devastating,” Nash said in a statement. “This process isn’t fair.”

Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield, said it was an emotional plea that Nash made to the committee, but there was no basis of law to allow her to sue the state. The state is immune from lawsuits. People need permission from the claims commissioner to move forward with a complaint against the state.

Nash was blinded and lost both hands in the attack. She said she needed the money to help pay her medical bills.