Chimp attack victim seeks €100m

THE family of a Connecticut woman mauled and blinded by a chimpanzee has sought to sue the state for $150 million (€100m), saying officials failed to prevent the attack.

Attorneys for Charla Nash’s family filed a notice with the state Office of Claims Commissioner asking for permission to sue.

The 91kg chimpanzee named Travis went berserk in February when his owner, Sandra Herold, asked Nash to help lure him back into her house in Stamford.

The animal ripped off Nash’s hands, nose, lips and eyelids. She remains in stable condition at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

A Department of Environmental Protection biologist warned stateofficials before the attack that Travis could seriously hurt someone if he felt threatened, noting that he was large and strong.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said his office was reviewing the claim.

He said he was sympathetic over the “horrific tragedy” but that the planned lawsuit “seems unprecedented in size”.

The animal, which was shot and killed by police, had also escaped in 2003 from his owner’s car and led police on a chase for hours.

No one was injured.