Rockwell v. Knott

NEALON, J.,

Defendants’ motion for partial summary judgment in this motor vehicle litigation raises a novel issue of apparent first impression in this Commonwealth: whether a motorist, who is involved in an accident while looking downward at the display screen of a global positioning system (“GPS”) application1 on a cell phone, rather than at the roadway, may be liable for punitive damages? A motorist arguably may engage in recklessly indifferent conduct, and thereby be potentially liable for punitive damages, if [s]he completely diverts his or her attention from the roadway to observe a low…