Jury Awards Sen. Rand Paul More Than $580,000 In Damages In Attack By Neighbor

[Eugene]

Source: NPR

A Kentucky jury has awarded U.S. Sen. Rand Paul more than $580,000 in damages stemming from a November 2017 dispute in which a neighbor tackled the Republican lawmaker who was was doing yardwork at his home in Bowling Green.

Paul suffered six broken ribs. The neighbor, then 59-year-old Rene Boucher, was charged with assaulting a member of Congress, a felony under federal law. He pleaded guilty in March 2018. Boucher received a 30-day prison sentence in June and paid a $10,000 fine.

The attack was not politically motivated, according to Boucher, but was prompted by Paul leaving brush and leaves between their two properties.

The jury awarded Paul $375,000 in punitive damages and $200,000 for pain and suffering, plus $7,834 for medical expenses.

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January 30, 2019 7:42 PM ET
RICHARD GONZALES


Read more: https://www.npr.org/2019/01/30/690169411/jury-awards-sen-rand-paul-more-than-580-000-in-damages-in-attack-by-neighbor

[Doreen]

1. Wait a minute, can't the stupid fuck afford his own insurance?

Yeah, yeah I know this is not the point but it just irritates me that he his getting health coverage on someone elses dime even if they deserve it. Can you tell I can't stand the piece of scum?

[TexasBushwhacker]

7. He has health insurance but has chosen to have surgery in Canada

Nevertheless, his out of pocket costs could be in the thousands even if he had the surgery here.

[treestar]

13. Liability

If his insurance paid, they can recover from the Defendant since the defendant is liable.

Health insurance would not pay pain and suffering or punitive damages.

He's like any other plaintiff in a personal injury action, like him or not. Though I am somewhat miffed that 'assaulting a member of Congress' is somehow worse than assaulting any of us. With no political motive, it should be no different. I can see having the law if political motive is behind the assault, since that is also an assault on the rule of law.

[MosheFeingold]

16. It's called "subrogation"

He has to turn around and pay the insurance company back whatever it spent.

[joshdawg]

2. That's about $580,000 too much.

F**k rand paul!

[LawnKorn]

3. In football they say the referee never sees the first offense but punishes the second.

Rand Paul probably got what was coming to him after intentionally antagonizing Dr. Boucher, but the courts only saw Paul's injuries.

[mountain grammy]

4. Makes me wish i had enough money

To beat the shit out of Rand Paul.

[MosheFeingold]

17. I actually don't hate Rand Paul

He has principles, and, in general, he sticks to them.

I may not agree, but I can respect that.

It's the amoral whats-in-it-for-me types I can't stand.

[mountain grammy]

18. Oh, I don't hate him. I wouldjust would love the chance to punch him in his smug, racist face

[keithbvadu2]

5. Maybe the neighbor will pay it like Trump does.

Maybe the neighbor will pay it like Trump does.

[3Hotdogs]

6. So was that the Bowling Green Massacre?

[VWolf]

11. Finally!

[ScratchCat]

8. I guess it pays

to be a Senator because nobody in America would have gotten $375,000 in "punitive damages" and $200,000 in "pain and suffering" due to a skirmish with a neighbor over yard clippings.

[treestar]

14. That's the unpredictability of a jury

Since it went to trial, Paul must have made a good witness compared to the neighbor!

[EarthFirst]

9. I'm still amazed that Paul was raking leaves & piling brush!

Were there cameras present during this blue-collar activity?

[3Hotdogs]

12. Not unusual. I am 76. I enjoy mowing, raking and such.

Yesterday, I moved snow (not much fell in N.J. but still) and spread ice melt. I can afford to have it done.

[Dopers_Greed]

10. Doesn't Putin already pay him enough?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

15. Pain and suffering?

Frivolous lawsuit! Frivolous lawsuit! Frivolous lawsuit!

[Dave Starsky]

19. Duly noted: It costs roughly $600,000 to beat up Rand Paul.

If I had "Bill Gates" billionaire money, I would go and beat him up multiple times, and I would gladly pay the judgment each time. You could theoretically administer 100 such beatings, and you would only pay out $60 million dollars total. That is almost nothing compared to your net billionaire worth.

[Demonaut]

20. Rene needs a gofund

[Julian Englis]

21. I'm in for $20.00 n/t