This Week's Most Notable Personal Injury Stories

Happy Friday (the 13th??)! ?? Welcome to this week's edition of Enjuris Briefs. Our team of dedicated attorney editors has hand-selected the most notable—and notably amusing—personal injury stories from the past week.

Top Legal Stories

Washington State Eyes Radical Reform Allowing Nonlawyers to Provide Legal Services

The Washington State Bar Association has proposed a pilot program allowing nonlawyer-owned entities to offer legal services under temporary exemptions from current rules. If approved by the Washington Supreme Court, this initiative would follow similar programs in Utah and Arizona. In Utah, businesses like Hello Divorce, a nonlawyer-owned platform using attorneys to guide users through the divorce process, and ZAF Legal, a company utilizing AI chatbots to assist accident victims, have broadened access to legal services.

New Report: Student Loan Debt Reshapes Careers and Lives of Young Lawyers

A new American Bar Association survey reveals that student loan debt is significantly impacting the career paths and personal lives of young lawyers. The survey, which included over 700 attorneys under 36 in their first decade of practice, found that 76% delayed or abandoned major life plans, such as getting married or buying a home, due to debt. More than two-thirds reported feeling stressed about their finances, with half of those owing over $100,000 feeling depressed or hopeless. Just over a quarter (27%) of respondents have a current student loan balance that is higher now than when they graduated.

The debt burden forced three-quarters of respondents to change their initial career plans, with many opting for higher-paying private sector jobs over public service roles. Despite these financial pressures, 74% of respondents said they would still pursue a law degree, and 65% would choose the same law school again.

$65M Settlement Reached in Ransomware Case Involving Nude Photos of Patients

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) has agreed to pay $65 million to settle a class-action lawsuit after a ransomware attack led to the theft and publication of sensitive patient data, including nude photographs of cancer patients. The lawsuit accused LVHN of negligently failing to protect patient information and violating the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The settlement, described as the largest of its kind for a healthcare data breach, includes compensation ranging from $50 to $80,000 for affected patients, depending on the severity of the breach.

Read the complaint here.

NHTSA Proposes New Rules to Curb Pedestrian Deaths

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed new regulations to reduce pedestrian deaths by requiring vehicles to meet updated safety standards. Automakers would need to pass a test simulating a head-to-hood impact to minimize severe head injuries in accidents at speeds up to 25 mph, where most pedestrian injuries occur. Based on Global Technical Regulation No. 9, the proposal would extend these requirements to large pickups and SUVs unique to the U.S., aligning them with international safety standards already adopted for other vehicles.

Read more here.

State Attorneys General Urge Congress to Mandate Surgeon General Warnings on Social Media

Attorneys general from 42 states and U.S. territories have called on Congress to pass legislation requiring Surgeon General Vivek Murthy's proposed warnings on social media platforms. The bipartisan letter, addressed to congressional leaders, highlights the urgent need to address the mental health crisis among young people, which the attorneys general argue is "fueled in large part by social media."

The letter emphasizes that existing state and local efforts have been insufficient, with social media companies often resisting regulations through lawsuits. The attorneys general urge Congress to require a surgeon general’s warning label on algorithm-driven platforms, akin to those on tobacco and alcohol products, as a significant step toward mitigating the risks social media poses to youth mental health.

Filevine Unveils AI Deposition Tool at Lex Summit

Filevine showcased several new features at the Lex Summit, including "Depo CoPilot," an AI-driven deposition tool designed to assist attorneys in real-time. Depo CoPilot monitors depositions, helps set interview goals, flags unclear or inconsistent answers, and suggests relevant follow-up questions based on the testimony. It aims to enhance focus by eliminating the distraction of manual note-taking, providing a "guardian robot" to track transcripts holistically.

Missouri Jury Awards $462 Million in Truck Collision Case

In Perkins, et al. v. Wabash National Corp., a Missouri jury awarded $462 million, including $450 million in punitive damages, to the families of Taron Tailor and Nicholas Perkins, who died in 2019 after their car collided with a trailer manufactured by Wabash National. The plaintiffs argued that Wabash’s outdated rear impact guard design failed to prevent the fatal underride crash, while Wabash contended that their design met federal safety standards and that the crash was unavoidable at the speed of impact.

Amusing Legal Story

Florida Judge Settles Lawsuit Over Alleged Nude Photo Blackmail

Judge Marni Bryson of Florida's 15th Judicial Circuit has settled her emotional-distress lawsuit against lawyer William Scherer, whom she accused of attempting to blackmail her with nude photos taken during her pregnancy. The confidential settlement was reached just weeks before the trial was set to begin on September 23.

Bryson claimed that Scherer sent an emissary to her chambers to threaten the release of the photos if she pursued a deposition against her ex-husband’s then-girlfriend. Scherer denied any wrongdoing, arguing that there was no evidence of a threat and that Bryson needed to be aware of potentially damaging information. The settlement ends all claims in the case, with both sides declining further comment on the resolution.

Quote of the Week

“I'm not systemically racist. I'm a new racist.” - Judge Kathleen Ryan

Judge Kathleen Ryan of Oakland County Probate Court faces a judicial misconduct investigation after audio recordings captured her making racist and homophobic remarks, including referring to herself as a "new racist." The recordings, confirmed by county officials, reveal Ryan using slurs against Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter, who is gay, and making derogatory comments about Black people in the U.S. Ryan has been removed from her docket pending the investigation, with calls for her resignation to protect public trust in the judiciary.

Probate Court Administrator Edward Hutton, who recorded the audio, reported it alongside a sexual harassment complaint. County officials, including Executive Coulter, have strongly condemned the remarks, stating there is no place for such language in the judicial system.

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