Paralyzed gymnast in US$10m health care deal
Source: Agencies |
July 14, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CHAMPION Chinese gymnast Sang Lan, who was paralyzed in an accident at the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York, has reached a deal with insurance companies and USA Gymnastics to provide her with medical care and rehabilitation in China, along with financial help, her lawyer said.
Ming Hai said he could not divulge details of the deal but said it would provide up to US$10 million in cash and health care over the lifetime of the 30-year-old gymnast.
"Once again, when she's in trouble, the American people step forward and help her. It's great because this is what America's all about," Hai said.
Hai filed a lawsuit earlier this year in a Manhattan court seeking US$1.8 billion on Sang's behalf. He named as defendants AOL Time Warner Inc, USA Gymnastics, TIG Insurance Co, TIG Specialty Insurance Solutions, Riverstone Claims Management LLC and various others.
USA Gymnastics said in a statement: "USA Gymnastics was never served in the lawsuit and is being dismissed from the suit. This matter has been resolved through the insurance carriers, and we hope the settlement will assist Sang Lan in the coming years."
AOL Time Warner was later dropped as a defendant.
Hai said Sang attended a meeting on Monday where the terms of the deal were reached. He said she was staying in an apartment on New York's Long Island for another month before returning to Beijing, where she will live with her boyfriend and continue to earn about US$230 a month at speaking engagements and other public functions.
The lawsuit said Sang had been left paralyzed from the mid-chest down after she fractured two vertebrae and injured her spinal cord when someone walked into the vault area after she pushed off from the vault and removed a mat before she landed. It noted that celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Celine Dion and Christopher Reeve had visited her and offered support.
The settlement will provide money to cover Sang's care in China. Previously, that was paid for only in the United States. The lawsuit proceeds against several Chinese defendants.
"Thirteen years ago she had a tragic fall that almost killed her," Hai said.
"She got her life back again. The American people gave her a second life. She'll always remember that."
Ming Hai said he could not divulge details of the deal but said it would provide up to US$10 million in cash and health care over the lifetime of the 30-year-old gymnast.
"Once again, when she's in trouble, the American people step forward and help her. It's great because this is what America's all about," Hai said.
Hai filed a lawsuit earlier this year in a Manhattan court seeking US$1.8 billion on Sang's behalf. He named as defendants AOL Time Warner Inc, USA Gymnastics, TIG Insurance Co, TIG Specialty Insurance Solutions, Riverstone Claims Management LLC and various others.
USA Gymnastics said in a statement: "USA Gymnastics was never served in the lawsuit and is being dismissed from the suit. This matter has been resolved through the insurance carriers, and we hope the settlement will assist Sang Lan in the coming years."
AOL Time Warner was later dropped as a defendant.
Hai said Sang attended a meeting on Monday where the terms of the deal were reached. He said she was staying in an apartment on New York's Long Island for another month before returning to Beijing, where she will live with her boyfriend and continue to earn about US$230 a month at speaking engagements and other public functions.
The lawsuit said Sang had been left paralyzed from the mid-chest down after she fractured two vertebrae and injured her spinal cord when someone walked into the vault area after she pushed off from the vault and removed a mat before she landed. It noted that celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Celine Dion and Christopher Reeve had visited her and offered support.
The settlement will provide money to cover Sang's care in China. Previously, that was paid for only in the United States. The lawsuit proceeds against several Chinese defendants.
"Thirteen years ago she had a tragic fall that almost killed her," Hai said.
"She got her life back again. The American people gave her a second life. She'll always remember that."
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