Legislative Committee Rejects Million-Dollar Award for Bentonville Family in Boy's Soccer Goal Death

LITTLE ROCK, AR - The Joint Budget Committee of the Arkansas Legislature has voted not to pay a million-dollar award for a Bentonville family in the 2011 death of 9-year-old Jonathan Nelson.

At the capitol this morning a claims subcommittee recommendation failed to get enough votes. The was 23 to 4 in support of awarding the claim, but it needed 29 to pass.

Tha claim was opposed by the Department of Finance and Administration, which said the award was "a wrong use of taxpayer money."

The claim was referred back to Joint Claims Committee, where it has essentially been heard twice already with the majority voicing DHS negligence played a role in the Nelson's death.

Nelson died after an non-anchored, homemade soccer goal fell on him during recess. The goal did not meet consumer product safety guidelines.