“Just a Few Seconds,” a public service announcement prepared by Feldman, recounts the story of 17 year-old Kate McGuire, whose distracted driving killed 61 year-old grandfather Howard Stein. It is one of the first distracted driving videos to feature both the driver in question and the family of the victim.

See below for a link to EndDD’s press release.

EndDD press release: http://www.enddd.org/enddd-in-the-news/justafewseconds/

Allan Reed, as independent administrator for Brenda Reed’s estate, sued Susan Ault under the “rescue principle.” This principle states that when a person’s negligence has placed himself or a third party in peril, and another person voluntarily attempts to save the life or secure the safety of the first person and is injured in the attempt, the good samaritan may sue the negligent and imperiled person for injuries arising from the rescue attempt.

At issue in the present case was the appropriateness of jury instructions stating that Reed must prove that Ault’s negligent act placed Ault herself “in a position of imminent peril or danger” for the rescue doctrine to apply. The trial jury concluded that Ault, after spinning off the road, was not necessarily in such a condition, and that therefore the rescue doctrine didn’t come into play. Reed appealed.

The Illinois Appellate Court upheld the appropriateness of the jury instructions and the discretion of the trial court judge in giving them. While the acts of good samaritans are always welcome, those they rescue are legally liable to them only when the peril to the endangered party is clearly imminent.

(Source: Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, Vol. 158, No. 152, August 3, 2012)