Woman sues Google over walking directions

magick · 2 Jun 2010 at 14:55

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100601/...us_google_sued

Woman sues Google over Utah walking directions

By PAUL FOY, Associated Press writer Paul Foy, Associated Press Writer – Tue Jun 1, 6:31 pm ET

SALT LAKE CITY – A pedestrian injured by a motorist while following an online route has filed a lawsuit claiming Google Inc. supplied unsafe directions.

Lauren Rosenberg filed a lawsuit on Thursday seeking more than $100,000 in U.S. District Court in Utah. It also named a motorist she says hit her.

Rosenberg used her phone in January to download directions from one end of Park City to the other.

Google Maps led her to a four-lane boulevard without sidewalks that was "not reasonably safe for pedestrians," according to the lawsuit filed by the Northridge, Calif., resident.

The case has become a sensation on tech blogs, websites and cable television channels, with critics assailing the woman for ignoring her own safety to blindly follow online directions. Her lawyer, Allen Young, said the truth was different.

Rosenberg believed she could reach a sidewalk on the other side of Deer Valley Drive and tried to cross the boulevard, but didn't even make it to the median, he said.

She was struck by a speeding car on a pitch-black night and received multiple bone fractures that required six weeks of rehabilitation, Young added.

"We think there's enough fault to go around, but Google had some responsibility to direct people correctly or warn them," Young said. "They created a trap with walking instructions that people rely on. She relied on it and thought she should cross the street."

Rosenberg is seeking compensation for medical bills, plus more for lost wages and punitive damages. The lawsuit provided no other information about the woman, who has been misidentified online as a Los Angeles publicist by the same name.

Young said the woman is a native of Northridge in her mid-20s and is unemployed. No phone listing could be found for her.

Google spokeswoman Elaine Filadelfo said the company had not received a copy of the lawsuit and couldn't discuss it, but she disputed Young's assertion that Google Maps provides no warning that walking routes may be missing sidewalks or pedestrian paths.

Every software version for desktop computers and mobile devices has had that disclaimer since Google Maps was launched in 2008, she said.

Park City police said some segments of Deer Valley Drive have sidewalks but not the stretch that Rosenberg reached. The boulevard has a walking path on the side Rosenberg failed to reach, police Capt. Rick Ryan said.

Young said the walking path was "totally snowpacked" and of no use to pedestrians in January.

Only in america. What disturbs is that she might even win the case.

L0rdMike · 2 Jun 2010 at 14:57

If Google map said to fall off a mountain would she? :rolleyes:

antijoke · 2 Jun 2010 at 14:58

I doubt she will win the case! Any court should throw this out!

"We think there's enough fault to go around, but Google had some responsibility to direct people correctly or warn them," Young said. "They created a trap with walking instructions that people rely on. She relied on it and thought she should cross the street."

Unemployed

'nuff said.

Bennie-Mac · 2 Jun 2010 at 15:01

So shes unemployed and had claimed for loss of wages?

PhillyDee · 2 Jun 2010 at 15:03

Muppet. Tbh, she deserved to get hit!

Stewy · 2 Jun 2010 at 15:03

This massively reminds me of the guy in the american Office driving into the river following the sat nav. What a tool...

div0 · 2 Jun 2010 at 15:04

Google Maps Disclaimer said:
These directions are for planning purposes only. You may find that construction projects, traffic, weather, or other events may cause conditions to differ from the map results, and you should plan your route accordingly. You must obey all signs or notices regarding your route.

Smit · 2 Jun 2010 at 15:05

yep read this today, only in America

I hope she gets laughed out of court

Anksy · 2 Jun 2010 at 15:06

****** Idiot.

Fourstar · 2 Jun 2010 at 15:07

magick said:
Only in america.

Not quite, we have the English lass who drove onto a level crossing and was hit by a train, people driving into fords (river crossings) and one dozy company director driving into a flooded river. All at the behest of sat nav.

People switch off and defer to the gadget. By the time they realise their mistake and engage rational thinking it's too late.

The_TailGunner · 2 Jun 2010 at 15:07

simply put, if it has a disclaimer (it does), then there is no real case. its not google's fault she didnt read it.

the path 'being snowpacked and no use in january' is irrelevant

regulus · 2 Jun 2010 at 15:09

The lawyer sounds like an opportunistic scumbag as well. Trying to rinse a big firm for money. Hope Google countersue them for laughs and bankrupt the two. Thick *****

G-MAN2004 · 2 Jun 2010 at 15:13

Absolute idiot.

platypus · 2 Jun 2010 at 15:14

Rosenberg is seeking compensation for medical bills, plus more for lost wages and punitive damages.

Young said the woman is a native of Northridge in her mid-20s and is unemployed.

What?

Stupid bint.

Captain_Slick · 2 Jun 2010 at 15:17

To be fair, Google says that there is a road near me that's a field.

Cosimo · 2 Jun 2010 at 15:21

L0rdMike said:
If Google map said to fall off a mountain would she?

She would probably walk off it.

lcg · 2 Jun 2010 at 15:23

Stupid woman :rolleyes:

Nick1881 · 2 Jun 2010 at 15:45

Shame she wasn't removed from the gene pool tbh, at least then she might be up for a Darwin award.

Stretch · 2 Jun 2010 at 16:17

I blame the lawyers

Sirrel Squirrel · 2 Jun 2010 at 16:23

So if I follow the Google directions that tell me to swim across the Atlantic Ocean to get to the US I could sue if I nearly drown?