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Escaped Circus Tiger Lawsuit Settlement


By

Jen Chung

Published Jan 7, 2009

Modified Jan 7, 2009


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By

Jen Chung

Published Jan 7, 2009

Modified Jan 7, 2009


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Finally, we all have closure for a 2004 incident where a tiger from the Cole Bros. Circus escaped, ran along the Jackie Robinson Highway, and then passed out in some bushes. See, drivers who caught glimpse of Apollo, a 450-pound tiger, were naturally startled and ended up in a five-car pile-up (started when one driver didn't want to hit the huge creature). And, naturally, those drivers sued. 1010WINS reports that the tiger's trainer will pay a near $1 million settlement to two drivers "both claimed to have suffered devastating back injuries in the chain-reaction car crash." Apollo's escape at the time gave State Senator Carl Kruger more reason to ban the circus, especially considering Cole Bros. had also included flying cats.

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Cole Bros. Circus

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Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


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