First in the Nation Rideshare App Lawsuit Settled on the Eve of Trial
Palm Beach, Fla. – Managing attorney of the West Palm Beach office of Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys, P.C., Jeanmarie Whalen recently secured a confidential settlement with Lyft, one of the largest transportation networks in North America, the day before the case was set to go to trial before a Palm Beach County jury. Whalen is the first to successfully argue and obtain a court order that a mobile application is subject to liability under products liability law.
The lawsuit was filed in response to a devastating accident on January 4, 2019, when the plaintiff, Teresa Brookes suffered multiple traumatic injuries, including brain trauma. Ms. Brookes was crossing the street in a marked crosswalk on South County Road in Palm Beach, Florida, when she was hit. The lawsuit alleged that Lyft driver, Wilky Ilet, was distracted by the Lyft mobile application on his phone, causing him to hit Ms. Brookes. Whalen served as lead counsel on the case, filing the lawsuit on behalf of Ms. Brookes. The lawsuit alleged that the Lyft mobile app is defective because it causes distracted driving.
In September 2022, Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Jamie R. Goodman denied a motion for summary judgment filed by Lyft, ruling that Lyft “should be responsible for any harm caused by its digital application in the same way the designer of any defective physical product is held accountable.”
“This litigation represents a pivotal intersection between law and technology, which the court recognized in its well-reasoned rulings in this case,” states Jeanmarie Whalen, who served as lead counsel. “After four and a half years of litigation, we were pleased to bring closure to our client.”
“We are extremely proud of Jeanmarie Whalen,” states Alexander Shunnarah, Founder and CEO of Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys. “Jeanmarie’s legal prowess and fight for justice forged new legal theories of recovery for the injured.”
For more information, please contact Krista Conlin at krista@kcprojects.net.
About Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys
Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys is committed to protecting the legal right to be compensated for individuals who have suffered loss, accidents, or injuries the chance to rebuild their lives after misfortune. The practice was founded on the belief that the civil jury system is the best means to provide compensation and deter wrongdoers from injuring others in the future. With over 500 attorneys and staff, the firm has a vast knowledge and experience in handling all types of claims for clients who have been injured. The firm consistently recovers substantial settlements in lawsuits involving personal injury, auto accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, social security disability, pharmaceutical litigation, drug recalls, medical devices, and mass torts throughout the United States. The premier, award-winning, and nationally recognized firm has represented over 70,000 clients and recovered over $1 billion for them to date. The firm prides itself on providing outstanding legal advice and excellent representation for their clients.
