With so many landmark lawsuits emerging around artificial intelligence, it can be easy to lose sight of the other high-tech cases shaping the world as we know it.
One major suit with important implications just emerged out of Phoenix. The case revolves around a 2023 incident involving a 73-year-old named Trudy Perez and a delivery robot at Arizona State University. The woman — who was working as a parking garage attendant at the time — alleges a delivery robot operated by the company Starship Technologies repeatedly ran into her, throwing her to the ground and clobbering her again while she was down.
Now, the woman is proceeding with a civil suit targeting Starship for liability and negligence, local station KJZZ reported.
As if working outdoors in Phoenix at the age of 73 isn’t rough enough, a police report from the incident notes Perez suffered a four-inch gash on her arm as a result of the beat-down, in addition to back pain and mobility problems. Per KJZZ, she’s now seeking compensatory damages related to medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages caused by the altercation.
The lawsuit further alleges that, like similar automated robots, the experimental Starship unit was being piloted by an off-site employee. Per the filing, this unnamed employee neglected to “exercise control” over the delivery bot throughout the incident, resulting in Perez’s injuries.
Of course, the company is doing everything it can to soften the blow and limit its liability. As KJZZ reports, Starship Technologies has a laundry list of excuses: not only were Perez’s injuries caused by her own negligence, but they were pre-existing as well, the company’s attorneys claim.
With the first court date set for next February, it’ll be some time before the jury reaches a verdict. When they do, they could set some major precedent when it comes to holding companies responsible for mayhem caused by their delivery robots — an increasingly important issue as the gadgets spread to more cities across the US.
More on delivery robots: Large Area of Chicago Bans Delivery Robots After Resident Outcry
The post Startup Sued After Delivery Bot Clobbers 73-Year Old Woman appeared first on Futurism.
