Judge Reduces Injured Woman's Reward by Millions

The 22-year-old lost her leg when a school bus hit her. A Bucks County judge cut her reward by $13.5 million.

A suburban Philadelphia judge has cut a $14 million jury award to just $500,000 for a woman who lost her leg when she was hit by a school bus outside her high school.

Bucks County Judge Robert Mellon wrote in an opinion Thursday he was constrained by rules that limit the liability of school districts in drastically reducing the amount of money Pennsbury School District owes 22-year-old Ashley Zauflik.

Zauflik was run over by a bus outside Pennsbury High School in 2007.

Mellon's opinion called the reduced award "an unfair and unjust result" and said the constitutionality of the liability cap should be reviewed.

Zauflik's lawyer says he'll appeal the decision. The state Supreme Court upheld the state law imposing the $500,000 liability limit in a 1986 case.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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