Nebraska High Court to Rehear Sledding Lawsuit Appeal

Experts: Slope Routed Girls into Trees

By The Associated Press

CREATED Apr. 4, 2012

  • Print

Omaha, NE (AP) - The Nebraska Supreme Court will re-hear arguments in an appeal by the city of Omaha, which is seeking a reversal of judgments awarding nearly $2.5 million to an Omaha family whose two girls were injured in a sledding accident. 

Rachel Connelly was 5 and her sister, Chelsea, was 10 in December 2000 when they sledded down an Omaha park hill. Experts said the hill's slope routed the girls into crabapple trees recently planted by city workers. 

Chelsea suffered a punctured lung and broken rib. Rachel was left paralyzed, and the city was found responsible. 

The high court heard arguments in the case in September. But because one Supreme Court judge left for a federal judicial appointment, the high court says the appeal must be re-argued before a new seven-member panel.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)