Lawyer Drops Appeal in N.J. Text Sender Liability Case

The lawyer for a Florida couple has dropped an appeal of a New Jersey texting while driving ruling.

Attorney Stephen Weinstein represents a couple who each lost a leg in 2009 when their motorcycle was struck in New Jersey by a teenager who was driving and texting. The couple sued the driver and the then teenage girl who had texted him.

A state appeals court ruled texters can be held legally responsible for an accident if they know the recipient is driving. But the court found there was no proof the girl knew the young man was driving.

Weinstein tells The Star-Ledger of Newark he decided against appealing to the state Supreme Court.

The couple settled their lawsuit against the driver for $500,000.