Ga. alligator attack case put to rest

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SAVANNAH, Ga., June 18 (UPI) -- The Georgia Supreme Court Monday ruled in favor of a gated community sued over an alligator attack that caused a woman's death.

The family of Gwyneth Williams sued The Landings Club, near Savannah, over a 2007 alligator attack that resulted in Williams' death.

On Oct. 5, 2007, Williams, who was house sitting for her daughter at the time, was walking near a lagoon at The Landings and was attacked by an alligator. Her body was found floating in the lagoon the next day.

A coroner found Williams died of massive bleeding caused by an alligator attack.

The 83-year-old woman's family filed a lawsuit against The Landings in 2008, alleging community's management should have done more to protect its residents, members and guests from alligators and should be held liable for Williams' death.

In a 4-3 decision Monday, the Georgia Supreme Court found that Williams was aware alligators inhabited the property, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

"The record shows that Williams knew that the wild alligators were dangerous, saying herself that she would not want to be anywhere near them," the ruling said. "Nonetheless, Williams chose to go for a walk at night near a lagoon in a community in which she knew alligators were present."

Williams "either knowingly assumed the risks of walking in areas inhabited by wild alligators or failed to exercise ordinary care by doing so," the court said.