Declarations
Egregious Fallony
“The Fallons’ alleged theft from injured workers is particularly egregious. By stealing from injured workers who depend on the funds for future care, the Fallons may have left many victims without the resources they need for medical treatment.”
— Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones had harsh words for Tom Fallon, 63, and his daughter, Christina Fallon, 28, who allegedly embezzled $273,954 from injured workers who trusted him to invest settlement funds from workplace accidents.
Not Blaming Tesla
“I did not intend to put the blame on Tesla or the auto pilot system as I am aware that I need to be in control of the vehicle regardless if the auto pilot system is engaged or not.”
— David Clark, 58, in an email to Minnesota’s Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Department. Clark was driving a 2016 Tesla when it was involved in a crash in Minnesota on July 16. According to the sheriff’s department, Clark previously said that when he engaged the Autopilot system, it caused the vehicle to suddenly accelerate and then roll over. In the email recently released by Tesla, Clark said instead he believed he had disengaged the Autopilot system at the time of the crash.
Massachusetts Marijuana
“We feel confident this will bring in enough revenue to properly implement and regulate this new marketplace, and allow us to invest in key areas such as substance abuse.”
— Rep. Mark Cusack, after Massachusetts House and Senate negotiators reached an agreement on a revamped version of Massachusetts’ voter-approved marijuana law that would allow retail pot sales to be taxed at a maximum 20 percent rate. Cusack led the House in the talks, which carried on well past the June 30 deadline.
Dust Storm Pileup
“Everybody hit everybody.”
— Upton County (Texas) Sheriff Dan Brown said a zero-visibility dust storm caused a 10-vehicle pileup in West Texas that left eight people hurt, including one in critical condition. Brown said dirt from recently plowed fields blew across the highway and that nobody could see. The accident happened Sunday afternoon on Highway 349, near Rankin, about 275 miles northwest of San Antonio.