A former Fulbright scholar at Kansas University will receive more than $40,000 from a Lawrence hotel found partially responsible for an attack that occurred in August 2001.

Sally Shamieh, who is from Lebanon, had been in Lawrence only a few minutes before she was stabbed twice — in the leg and in the stomach — by an attacker at the Ramada Inn, 2222 W. Sixth St. She sued the hotel in July 2002 because, she said, lax security was partially to blame for the attack.

Shamieh, 26, said she has altered her education plans, been in therapy and suffered post-traumatic stress disorder since the incident.

“At some point in my life, I’ll get over it,” Shamieh said. “Life goes on. But it leaves its mark.”

A Douglas County jury on Wednesday said Shamieh had suffered $79,113 in damages — including lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering — as a result of the attack.

But it also ruled she was 49 percent responsible for the incident, with the hotel responsible for the other 51 percent because of lax security. That’s because when the man approached Shamieh and took her fanny pack, she pursued him instead of staying or running away. The stabbing occurred after she pursued the attacker, who was never found by police.

The incident occurred Aug. 9, 2001. Shamieh, who was coming to KU to study public administration, was staying at the hotel until her residence hall was scheduled to open three days later.

Shamieh said she didn’t regret pursuing the attacker, since her fanny pack contained all her important materials, including her visa, passport and cash.

Her attorney, Brad Finkeldei of Stevens and Brand, said security concerns at the hotel included inadequate lighting, too many unguarded entrances and exits and lack of a security guard.

Sally Shamieh, a Fulbright scholar from Lebanon, was attacked on her first night in Lawrence in August 2001. In court this week, Shamieh won more than 0,000 in damages from the Ramada Inn where she was staying.

“There’s not one thing we could point to,” he said. “It was all these things.”

Reid Holbrook, the attorney representing the Ramada Inn, said he thought the jury’s decision showed the hotel was safe.

“If they had really thought we were grossly negligent, it wouldn’t have been 51-49,” he said. “People are absolutely safe to be there. It’s exceptionally safe.”

He said it was “very unlikely” that the hotel would appeal the decision.

“Everybody wishes this hadn’t happened to Sally Shamieh,” Holbrook said. “She made a mistake, and that was she pursued the guy. We all have to be accountable for our actions.”

Shamieh left KU as scheduled in April 2002. She had been accepted to attend the doctoral program in public administration at the University of Southern California but decided to stay in Beirut instead.

“I didn’t think I could handle living here again on my own,” she said.

She said she has been in therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder and hasn’t been able to have a job since the attack. But she said she had no hard feelings toward the city of Lawrence.

6News video: Fulbright scholar receives $40,000 after attack (02-17-05) Student stays despite stabbing (12-13-01) Stabbing victim recovering (08-11-01)

“The time I was here, I got so much support from people at KU and in Lawrence,” she said. “I have some bad memories, but I push them back in my mind. I have good memories, too.”

She said she’s glad to be through the trial.

“I’m glad it’s over and behind me,” she said. “My therapist said it gives me closure.”