Woman Butted By Ram Awarded $1.3 Million

[matcom]

<snip>

A WOMAN injured when she was butted in the bottom by a 70kg ram has been awarded almost $1.3 million in compensation.

Ivene Denise Bryan was going into her office at the Arid Zone Research Institute in Alice Springs in June 1994 when the ram attacked.

The ram tossed Mrs Bryan 2.5m and she landed face-down. The ram then stood over her for 30 minutes while she called for help.

The ram had escaped from an adjoining fenced area managed by the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Commission, which had hired Ms Bryan to feed animals at the institute.

In the Northern Territory Supreme Court today, Ms Bryan was awarded $1,278,000 in compensation.

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11868579%255E421,00.html

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. That's just stupid

[Misunderestimator]

2. Not sure if it's so stupid without having been on the jury...

"Justice Sally Thomas said the commission had failed in its duty of care, saying Ms Bryan suffered substantial and debilitating injuries to her lower back, groin and legs."

If the injuries are debilitating and she is unable to work, then I don't think the settlement is at all unreasonable.

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. Oh, sure, they hide that paragraph under the HUGE ASS ad

Didn't even see it. Well, all right, if she was injured and can't work, then that is an issue to be compensated for.

Wish the article said more. But yeah, since she was there to work, then I guess the employer should be held repsonsibile, even though it is a wild animal and no one actually has any control over them.

I'd just hate to see it get into a pattern of being able to sue someone (like the government) for the actions of wild animals (say, at a national park).