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Theodore McCarrick, once a high-ranking American cardinal, charged with sexually assaulting teen

Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick is set to be arraigned Aug. 26 in Massachusetts for indecent assault and battery, stemming from incidents that happened back in the 1970s according to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday.

The 91-year old was defrocked in 2019 following years of accusations against him.

"Historically, this is the first time ever in the United States that a Cardinal has been criminally charged with a sexual crime against a minor," Garabedian said in a news release. "It takes an enormous amount of courage for a sexual abuse victim to report having been sexually abused to investigators and proceed through the criminal process."

Barry Coburn, an attorney for McCarrick, told CNN in a statement, "We are going to address this issue in the courtroom."

The accuser met McCarrick through his uncle, the cardinal's former classmate. According to detective Christopher Connelly of Wellesley Police Department, they're investigating after lawyer Mitchell Garabedian presented these allegations in January.

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Texting While Driving is Dangerous, and It’s Getting Worse

Distracted Car Accident Lawyer

Texting while driving creates distracted drivers.  Distracted drivers are dangerous drivers.  Now-a-days cellphones allow cellphone users to do much more than send text messages and place phone calls.  As the functionality of cellphones increases, so do the number of distractions and distracted drivers.

The Center for Disease Control recognizes three main types of distractions while driving:

  1. Visual Distractions, such as taking your eyes off of the road;

  2. Manual Distractions, such as taking your hands of the wheel; and

  3. Cognitive Distractions, such as taking your mind off of driving. (CDC)

Sending a text message, or otherwise using a cellphone while driving causes all of the main types of distractions recognized by the CDC. 

In 2015, 391,000 people were injured due to distracted driving (NHTSA). And 14% of fatal crashes involve cell phones. (III) This number is up by almost 10% over 2011.  Distracted drivers caused nearly 1 in 5 car crashes in which someone was injured in 2013, according to the CDC.

Texting while driving creates a major safety concern.  When driving 55-miles-per-hour, the average text message takes a driver’s eyes off of the road for a distance greater than a football field, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Illinois law makers expressly recognize the danger associated with distracted driving.  Operating a cell phone while driving is a crime in Illinois.  Illinois law states, in pertinent part:

(a)  As used in this Section:

“Electronic communication device” means an electronic device, including but not limited to a hand-held wireless telephone, hand-held personal digital assistant, or a portable or mobile computer, but does not include a global positioning system or navigation system or a device that is physically or electronically integrated into the motor vehicle.

(b)  A person may not operate a motor vehicle on a roadway while using an electronic communication device.

(b-5)  A person commits aggravated use of an electronic communication device when he or she violates subsection (b) and in committing the violation he or she was involved in a motor vehicle accident that results in great bodily harm, permanent disability, disfigurement, or death to another and the violation was a proximate cause of the injury or death.

(c)  A second or subsequent violation of this Section is an offense against traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles. A person who violates this Section shall be fined a maximum of $75 for a first offense, $100 for a second offense, $125 for a third offense, and $150 for a fourth or subsequent offense.  625 ILCS 5/12-610.2 (West 2016).

Texting while driving is not only a violation of criminal law.  Texting while driving is also a violation of a driver’s civil duty to other drivers on the roadway.  If a driver causes an accident, because that driver is operating a cell phone, and the accident injures another, the driver will be held liable in civil court for money damages to compensate the injured person. 

With widely popular cellphone games like Pokémon Go, the number of distracted drivers is steadily increasing.  A safe driver cannot be expected to account for the negligence of a distracted driver.  Instead the problem of distracted drivers must be addressed.  To stop this problem, individuals operating a cellphone while driving must be held accountable both criminally and in civil court. 

Who Is Liable When a Drunk Driver Injures a Passenger, Another Driver or a Pedestrian?

Driving under the influence of alcohol is dangerous and irresponsible.  An individual driving a vehicle while intoxicated will be held liable in Illinois for injuries caused by the intoxicated driver’s negligent acts.  In some circumstances, additional persons or entities might be liable for the intoxicated person’s actions.  For instance, the establishment responsible for overserving the intoxicated patron might be liable for injuries caused by the negligent actions of the intoxicated person.

Injured Workers Should Notify Their Employers About a Work Related Injury as Soon as Practicable

In order to be protected under the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act, an injured worker must give notice of his injury to his employer as soon as practicable, but not later than 45 days after sustaining an accidental injury arising out of the employment. 820 ILCS 305/6(c).  If the employee does not notify his employer that he was injured, the failure to give notice will bar the claim.  Ristow v. Industrial Commission39 Ill.2d 412 (1968).

Help Stop Nursing Home Neglect

Long term care facilities and nursing homes need to provide reasonable and standardized care to patients, and the civil justice system is the key to ensuring that they do.  Illinois passed The Nursing Home Care Act in 1979 to address concerns of poor, inadequate and degrading care of elderly patients in nursing homes and long- term care facilities.  While this legislation was passed with honorable intentions in mind, and with the sincere desire to correct a dire situation, Illinois nursing homes and long-term care facilities continue to offer substandard care, in some instances.  While Illinois continues to monitor nursing homes, and investigate their actions, the state cannot correct this concerning situation on its own.

FLORIDA PERSONAL INJURY PROTECTION (“PIP”): A Guest Blog by Damian Sullivent

The provision was created with the hopes of reducing insurance fraud, thus reducing insurance premiums. Whether or not such reductions in premiums has occurred is still left to be determined as PIP insurance premiums have continued to increase over the past several years since the statute was created.

HOW BAD DOES AN INDIVIDUAL NEED TO BE INJURED TO GET DAMAGES: A Guest Blog by Damian Sullivent

Florida, like most no-fault states, does not hold an individual liable for another’s personal injuries unless those injuries meet a certain medical threshold. If the injury does not meet this threshold, then the injured party may not recover for the injuries themselves, or the pain, suffering, mental anguish, or any inconvenience that might have arisen from said injuries.