VT: Vermont turkey hunter hit by 52 shotgun pellets fired by another hunter

July 13, 2010

Jury awards Vermont man $380,557 for hunting wounds

A jury has awarded $380,557 to a Vermont turkey hunter hit by 52 shotgun pellets fired by another hunter.

The Windsor County Superior Court jury returned the award last week against Ralph Townsend of Hartland for the May 2008 incident in Woodstock.

Townsend was sued by William Rea of Barnard, who suffered a collapsed lung and other injuries.

Rea's attorney, Ross Feldmann, told the Rutland Herald the award was fair. Townsend's attorney, John Boylan, said it's too early to decide about an appeal.

At the time of the shooting, Townsend told game wardens he thought he was shooting at a turkey.

Townsend pleaded no contest to charges arising from the shooting, and he received a suspended sentence.

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