An American who contracted a sexually transmitted disease after unprotected sex in her partner’s car has been awarded $5.2 million in damages from the vehicle’s insurer.
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According to the woman’s lawsuit, filed last year in the state of Missouri, her partner negligently infected her with the human papillomavirus (HPV) in 2017. She was asking the car insurer to compensate her for the “losses and injuries”especially for “his past and future medical expenses”. The plaintiff, designated by the initials MO, had requested 9.9 million dollars from the insurance company Geico before a mediator granted her 5.2 million according to court documents. A decision upheld Tuesday by the Missouri Court of Appeals.
“The insured should have mentioned his diagnosis to MO before the sexual activity took place, but he did not do so”, pointed out the mediator. HPV, which causes cervical cancer, is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States. There is a vaccine to prevent it.
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News of the court ruling went viral on social media, prompting mockery and outraged comments. “Outlandish claims like this are a big part of why car insurance is so expensive”reacted the multi-billionaire Elon Musk on Twitter.
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