New York woman dubbed 'worst aunt ever' sues 12-year-old nephew for breaking her wrist

Jennifer Connell of New York took her 12-year-old nephew to court in Connecticut for breaking her wrist four years ago when he leaped into her arms. Since the case gained national attention online, her lawyers insisted that she did not want the case to go to trial and was forced to name her nephew as the defendant.

screenshot from Today.com video
screenshot from Today.com video

According to the Connecticut Post, Connell claims that her nephew, Sean Tarala of Westport, Connecticut, was acting unreasonably when he tried to embrace her. She fell to the ground and broke her wrist. She wants Sean to be found liable for his actions and is asking for $127,000.

Sean, who was 8 at the time of the incident, was in court on Friday with his father, Michael Tarala. His mother, Lisa Tarala, died in 2014. The incident happened at Sean’s birthday party in March 2011.

While Cornell didn’t complain at the time, she said that the injuries she suffered has made life increasingly difficult in recent years. “I live in Manhattan in a third-floor walk-up so it has been very difficult,” she said in court. “And we all know how crowded it is in Manhattan.”

After the case gained attention on the web, Cornell’s attorneys at the Jainchill & Beckert law firm sent a statement to Today.com, insisting that she did not want to pursue the case. She was forced to do so because the homeowner’s insurance company only offered to pay her one dollar and, under Connecticut law, she couldn't name the company as the defendant. She had to name her own nephew.

“She didn't want to do this any more than anyone else would. But her hand was forced by the insurance company,” the law firm stated. “We are disappointed in the outcome, but we understand the verdict. Our client is being attacked on social media. Our client has been through enough.”

On Tuesday, the jury ruled against Cornell after deliberating for only 25 minutes.

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