GOOGLE SUED FOR GIVING 'BAD' DIRECTIONS

PC World reports that Lauren Rosenberg, a Los Angeles California native, is suing Google because Google Maps issued directions that told her to walk down a rural highway. According to PCW's Sarah Jacobsson, Rosenberg was walking down the highway—which had no sidewalk or pedestrian paths—and was struck by a car. "She is suing Google for her medical expenses ($100,000), as well as punitive damages," says Jacobsson. "She is also suing the driver who struck her, Patrick Harwood of Park City, Utah." According to the complaint filed in the United States District Court in Utah’s Central Division, On January 19, 2010, Rosenberg was attempting to get from 96 Daly Street, Park City, Utah, to 1710 Prospector Avenue, Park City, Utah. Using her Blackberry, Google Maps suggested a route that included a half-mile walk down "Deer Valley Drive," which is also known as "Utah State Route 224." "There's not much more to say—she started walking down the middle of a highway, and a car hit her,” says Jacobsson. “Who wouldn't have seen that one coming?" As stated in her complaint: "As a direct and proximate cause of Defendant Google's careless, reckless and negligent providing of unsafe directions, Plaintiff Lauren Rosenberg was led onto a dangerous highway, and was thereby stricken by a motor vehicle, causing her to suffer sever permanent physical, emotional, and mental injuries, including pain and suffering." Google actually does offer up a warning about its walking directions, say Jacobsson. “If you view Google Maps on a computer, it gives you the following message: 'Walking directions are in beta. Use caution--This route may be missing sidewalks or pedestrian paths.'"