Hearings on Chimp Attack Case Postponed

[Ripped from prairie-chicken]

Chimp victim's family wants photos sealed
By DEBRA ALFARONE and LEANNE GENDREAU

Two hearings involving the woman who was brutally attacked by a chimpanzee in February were postponed Monday and her family's lawyers are asking that photos of her remain sealed.
Attorneys for a Charla Nash are also asking a judge to keep her medical records from the public.

Nash, 55, lost her hands, nose, lips and eyelids on Feb. 16 when Travis, a 200-pound celebrity chimp belonging to Sandra Herold, of Stamford, attacked.
Matt Newman, an attorney for the conservator of Charla Nash, said Nash's right to privacy overrides the public's right to see the photos. The photos and records will be evidence in Nash's $50 million lawsuit against chimp owner Sandra Herold.

"They're extremely graphic, naturally," Newman said of the photos. "There is an overriding privacy concern with regard to the family members of Ms. Nash and in particularly her daughter."
Herold's attorneys did not object to the request to seal the photos and records, and Stamford Superior Court Judge Edward R. Karazin Jr. scheduled an April 27 hearing to discuss the request.

Karazin did not make an immediate ruling on Newman's request to make permanent a restraining order that places an attachment on Herold's property and assets, keeping her from selling them. Herold's attorneys are opposing the request because they say there was no way to predict the chimp would attack Nash.

Nash’s family filed a $50 million lawsuit in March, claiming Herold was negligent and reckless when she asked Nash to come over and lure her pet chimp back into her home.
Nash's attorneys are seeking an account of Herold's assets. A judge has granted a temporary restraining order that prevents Herold from selling or mortgaging her assets, and has scheduled a hearing for Monday on the attorneys' request for detailed financial information from Herold.
Herold's attorney said the attack was an accident and that Herold should not be held liable.
Stamford police are still considering criminal charges.

[original article]

Related Stories:

• Chimp Attack Victim Needs 2 Years of Surgery
• Brothers of Chimp Attack Victim: She’s Tough
• 'He’s Eating Her! Shoot Him!' Screamed Chimp's Owner

Attacking Chimp A Neighbor of Mine

This is the town next to mine; Stamford, Connecticut, that this took place:
STAMFORD, Conn. – A 175-pound chimpanzee kept as a pet was shot and killed by a police officer Monday after it attacked a woman visiting its owners’ home, leaving her with serious facial injuries, authorities said.
The injured woman, described by police as in her 50s, was taken to a hospital; her condition and identity were not immediately available. The 15-year-old chimpanzee’s owner and two officers also were hurt, though police said the extent of their injuries was not immediately known.
The Advocate of Stamford reported on its Web site Monday night that the primate’s owner called 911 and tried to stop the chimp from attacking the woman by stabbing it with a butcher knife.
As emergency crews arrived to treat the victim, the chimpanzee — named Travis — revived and opened the door of a police cruiser. The officer inside fired several shots, killing the chimp, The Advocate reported. (AP)
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Clinic specialists evaluate woman in chimp attack
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Clinic says it may take up to a week to evaluate the injuries a Connecticut woman suffered when a friend's pet chimpanzee mauled her.
The hospital said in a statement Friday that 55-year-old Charla Nash is in critical but stable condition with injuries described as "severe trauma to her face, scalp and hands."
She's being evaluated by a team of plastic surgeons, nurses and eye and bone specialists.
In the statement, her family thanked the medical team and asked for privacy.
Nash was attacked Monday at her friend's home in Stamford, Conn., and was flown to the Cleveland Clinic on Thursday.
Two months ago, the Clinic performed the first face transplant in the U.S.
Hospital officials haven't said if Nash will be a candidate for a face transplant.
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Related News Item: Rupert Murdoch apologizes for chimp cartoon.

A New Bloggin' Beginning

I've had some blogs in the past- deadjournal, livejournal, etc.. I've been able to keep up with them for a while, but it'd be nice to hold onto one for a very long time and refer back to it years to come- hopefully this is that one!
This will be a good place for me to post my thoughts on current news issues- I've been keeping a physical scrapbook of news articles that interest me lately but it's good to get something going online.
Caylee Anthony has captured the majority of my attention lately- it's enthralling and strangely addictive once you get accquainted with some of the facts of the case.. If anyone out there is reading my blog I'm sure there will be a lot of articles to come regarding Casey (the mother)'s court case and hopefully one day I'll have the pleasure of posting "Casey's GUILTY!!!!"

The octo-mom is very interesting also- can't wait to vent my feelings on that psycho.
And who can forget the chimp from Stamford who recently tried to tear off his owner's friend's face- scary as hell!