Senate Denies Connecticut Chimp Attack Victim’s Right to Sue State

A third legislative body has denied a Connecticut woman blinded and disfigured in 2009 by a chimpanzee the ability to sue the state for damages.

Without any comment, the Senate on Wednesday night passed a resolution that upheld the recommendation of the state’s Claims Commissioner, who determined the state did not have a duty to protect Charla Nash from a 200-pound chimp that went on a violent rampage.

Nash argued that state environmental protection officials knew the chimpanzee could be dangerous and should have seized it.

Both the House of Representatives and the legislature’s Judiciary Committee voted earlier to uphold the Claim Commissioner’s ruling.

During the House debate, lawmakers said they were moved by Nash, who appeared before the committee and said she wanted to pay for her medical bills.