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She's from Connecticut and her family is actually suing now.
Family Sues
Chimp Victim's Family Files Lawsuit
By Rachel Frank
March 18, 2009
The family of the woman attacked by a chimpanzee last month is filing a lawsuit against the chimp's owner Sandra Herold.The lawsuit, filed on Monday, freezes $ 50-million of Herold's assets.
After a brutal chimpanzee attack last month, Charla Nash, 55, lost her hands, lips, eyelids, sustained brain damage and may never be able to see again.Charles Willinger of Willinger Willinger & Bucci will be handling the case.They are looking to hold someone responsible for Nash's injuries. "Charla Nash has suffered and will continue to suffer agony and pain beyond our comprehension."
The lawsuit filed by Nash's brother Michael accuses the chimp's owner Sandra Herold of recklessness and negligence including failure to install locks to keep the chimp inside.The suit also claims that Herold may have given the chimp Xanex that upset him the day of the attack. Willinger is doing research on cases involving other chimp attacks around the world. "One expert has equated having a chimp in your house like having a time-bomb waiting to go off for no apparent reason."
Herold's family owns four properties in the Stamford area.Lieutenant Sean Cooney says the lawsuit will not interfere with the ongoing criminal investigation which is still awaiting the chimp's toxicology and forensic results from the autopsy. "When we get (the results) we'll analyze those and make a decision as to whether criminal charges apply in this case."
Charla remains in critical condition in intensive care at Cleveland Clinic.Without insurance, lawyers say her medical bills are astronomical.
Herold's lawyer is unable to comment pending the hearing on April 13th. The family has established a website to inform the public about Charla's condition and to accept donations. For more information or to accept donations, call 866-228-5970 or you can e-mail the trust at
donations@thenashfund.com.