Google is facing a lawsuit from the family of a man who tragically drowned after driving off a collapsed bridge. The family alleges that Google’s failure to update its maps led to the man’s death. The incident occurred in September 2022 in Hickory, North Carolina, when the man, Philip Paxson, attempted to drive over the damaged bridge. The family claims that Google negligently did not show that the bridge had fallen nine years earlier. Google is currently reviewing the allegations.

According to the lawsuit filed in civil court, Mr. Paxson, a father of two, was driving home from his daughter’s birthday party when the accident happened. He was in an unfamiliar neighborhood at the time and relied on Google Maps to guide him home. Unfortunately, he followed outdated directions and drove into the collapsed bridge, crashing into Snow Creek and drowning. The family’s lawyers stated that Mr. Paxson drove cautiously in the darkness and rain, unaware of the bridge’s condition.

The lawsuit also claims that local residents had repeatedly contacted Google to update their online maps after the bridge collapsed in 2013. The suit argues that three local companies should also be held responsible for maintaining the bridge. Mr. Paxson’s wife, Alicia Paxson, expressed her grief and frustration, stating that she is at a loss for words to explain to her daughters how and why their father died.

A spokesperson for Google expressed condolences to the Paxson family and stated that their goal is to provide accurate routing information in Google Maps. They assured that the company is reviewing the lawsuit. The case highlights the importance of regularly updating navigation systems and the responsibility of companies to ensure the accuracy of their mapping services.

In conclusion, the family of Philip Paxson is suing Google over his death, claiming that the company’s failure to update its maps led him to drive off a collapsed bridge. The incident occurred in 2022 in North Carolina, and Mr. Paxson relied on Google Maps to navigate an unfamiliar neighborhood. The lawsuit also alleges that local residents had informed Google about the collapsed bridge, but no action was taken. Google is currently reviewing the allegations and expresses sympathy for the Paxson family. This case emphasizes the need for accurate and up-to-date navigation systems and the responsibility of companies to ensure the safety of their users.

Original news source: Google accused of directing motorist to drive off collapsed bridge (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Instruct them to read the article individually and then summarize the key points in their own words. They can take turns sharing their summaries with their partners or group members.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Ask the students to form pairs or small groups. Assign each group a role (e.g. Google representative, family member, local resident) and have them discuss their opinions on the lawsuit. They can create a list of questions to ask each other and then conduct a poll to gather opinions. Afterward, each group can present their findings to the class.

– Synonym Challenge
Instructions: Write a list of words from the article on the board (e.g. lawsuit, tragedy, negligence, allege). Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Instruct them to come up with as many synonyms as they can for each word. After a set amount of time, have each group share their synonyms with the class. Encourage discussion about the different words and their nuances.

– Sketch It
Instructions: Provide each student with a blank piece of paper and a pen or pencil. Instruct them to sketch a scene from the article, such as the collapsed bridge or a person using Google Maps. After a set amount of time, have the students share their sketches with a partner or the whole class. They can explain their drawings and discuss any connections to the article.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Instruct them to imagine they are in the year 2030 and Google Maps has undergone significant updates and improvements. Have them discuss and make predictions about what features or changes they think might exist in the future. They can present their ideas to the class and engage in a discussion about the potential advancements in navigation technology.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the basis of the lawsuit against Google?
2. Where and when did the incident occur?
3. How did Mr. Paxson rely on Google Maps?
4. Why did the family claim that Google was negligent?
5. Who else does the lawsuit claim should be held responsible for maintaining the bridge?
6. How did Mr. Paxson’s wife express her grief and frustration?
7. How did Google respond to the lawsuit?
8. What does this case highlight in terms of navigation systems and company responsibility?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Google is facing a lawsuit from the family of a man who tragically drowned after driving off a collapsed (1)______. The family alleges that Google’s failure to update its maps led to the man’s death. The incident occurred in September 2022 in (2)______, North Carolina, when the man, Philip (3)______, attempted to drive over the damaged bridge. The family claims that Google negligently did not show that the bridge had fallen nine years earlier. Google is currently reviewing the allegations.

According to the lawsuit filed in (4)______ court, Mr. Paxson, a father of two, was driving home from his daughter’s birthday party when the accident happened. He was in an unfamiliar neighborhood at the time and relied on Google Maps to guide him home. Unfortunately, he followed outdated directions and drove into the collapsed bridge, crashing into Snow (5)______ and drowning. The family’s lawyers stated that Mr. Paxson drove cautiously in the (6)______ and rain, unaware of the bridge’s condition.

The lawsuit also claims that (7)______ residents had repeatedly contacted Google to (8)______ their online maps after the bridge collapsed in 2013. The suit argues that three local companies should also be held responsible for maintaining the bridge. Mr. Paxson’s wife, Alicia Paxson, expressed her grief and frustration, stating that she is at a loss for words to explain to her daughters how and why their father died.

A spokesperson for Google expressed condolences to the Paxson family and stated that their goal is to provide (9)______ routing information in Google Maps. They assured that the company is reviewing the lawsuit. The case highlights the importance of regularly (10)______ navigation systems and the responsibility of companies to ensure the accuracy of their (11)______ services.

In conclusion, the family of (12)______ Paxson is suing Google over his death, claiming that the company’s failure to update its maps led him to drive off a collapsed bridge. The incident occurred in 2022 in North (13)______, and Mr. Paxson relied on Google Maps to navigate an unfamiliar neighborhood. The lawsuit also alleges that local residents had informed Google about the collapsed bridge, but no action was (14)______. Google is currently reviewing the allegations and expresses sympathy for the Paxson (15)______. This case emphasizes the need for accurate and up-to-date navigation (16)______ and the responsibility of companies to ensure the safety of their users.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What do you think about the family’s decision to sue Google over this incident?
2. How would you feel if you were in Mr. Paxson’s situation, relying on Google Maps and driving into a collapsed bridge?
3. Do you think Google should be held responsible for not updating their maps? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever had a negative experience using a navigation system? Can you share what happened?
5. What steps do you think companies like Google should take to ensure the accuracy and reliability of their mapping services?
6. How important do you think it is for navigation systems to be regularly updated? Why?
7. Do you think the local companies responsible for maintaining the bridge should also be held accountable? Why or why not?
8. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to rely on a navigation system to find your way in an unfamiliar neighborhood? How did it go?
9. What precautions do you think drivers should take when using navigation systems to avoid accidents or dangerous situations?
10. How do you think this incident could impact Google’s reputation and the trust users have in their mapping services?
11. Do you think incidents like this could have been prevented if people relied less on technology and more on their own intuition and common sense? Why or why not?
12. What responsibility do you think individuals have in ensuring their own safety when using navigation systems?
13. How do you think this lawsuit could potentially affect the way companies like Google update and maintain their mapping services in the future?
14. Do you think incidents like this one are isolated cases or do you believe there may be other instances where outdated or inaccurate information in navigation systems has caused harm? Why?
15. What measures do you think should be in place to hold companies accountable for the accuracy and reliability of their navigation systems?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. lawsuit
2. drowned
3. bridge
4. Google
5. update
6. maps
7. accident
8. negligence

Meanings:
(a) An unfortunate event that causes damage or injury
(b) Legal action taken against someone in court
(c) Died by being submerged in water
(d) Failure to take proper care in doing something
(e) A multinational technology company
(f) A structure that allows people to cross over an obstacle
(g) Make something more current or modern
(h) Visual representations of geographical information
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the main reason the family is suing Google?
(a) Google’s failure to update its maps
(b) Google’s inaccurate routing information
(c) Google’s negligence in maintaining the bridge
(d) Google’s lack of response to local residents’ concerns

2. When did the bridge collapse?
(a) 2022
(b) 2011
(c) 2019
(d) 2013

3. How did Mr. Paxson rely on Google Maps?
(a) To find the nearest gas station
(b) To navigate an unfamiliar neighborhood
(c) To check the weather forecast
(d) To locate nearby restaurants

4. What was the weather like when the accident happened?
(a) Sunny and clear
(b) Snowy and cold
(c) Dark and rainy
(d) Windy and stormy

5. Who else does the lawsuit claim should be held responsible for maintaining the bridge?
(a) Three local companies
(b) The local government
(c) The state transportation department
(d) The bridge construction company

6. How many daughters did Mr. Paxson have?
(a) Three
(b) Two
(c) One
(d) Four

7. What did the spokesperson for Google express to the Paxson family?
(a) Frustration
(b) Sympathy
(c) Anger
(d) Condolences

8. What does the article emphasize as a result of this case?
(a) The need for stricter regulations on mapping services
(b) The responsibility of individuals to check their routes before driving
(c) The importance of accurate and up-to-date navigation systems
(d) The danger of driving in unfamiliar neighborhoods

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The family does not allege that Google’s failure to update its maps led to the man’s death.
2. The man, Philip Paxson, was driving home from his daughter’s birthday party when the accident happened.
3. The case highlights the importance of regularly updating navigation systems and the responsibility of companies to ensure the accuracy of their mapping services.
4. Google is not facing a lawsuit from the family of a man who drowned after driving off a collapsed bridge.
5. The incident occurred in September 2022 in Hickory, North Carolina.
6. Local residents had repeatedly contacted Google to update their online maps after the bridge collapsed in 2013.
7. Mr. Paxson did not rely on Google Maps to guide him home in an unfamiliar neighborhood.
8. The lawsuit does not claim that Google negligently did not show that the bridge had fallen nine years earlier.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What is the basis of the lawsuit against Google?
2. How did Philip Paxson rely on Google Maps before the accident?
3. What were the conditions in which Philip Paxson drove into the collapsed bridge?
4. Who else does the lawsuit hold responsible for maintaining the bridge?
5. How has Google responded to the lawsuit?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. The basis of the lawsuit against Google is their failure to update their maps, which led to a man driving off a collapsed bridge and drowning.
2. The incident occurred in September 2022 in Hickory, North Carolina.
3. Mr. Paxson relied on Google Maps to guide him home while driving in an unfamiliar neighborhood.
4. The family claimed that Google was negligent because they did not show that the bridge had fallen nine years earlier, leading Mr. Paxson to drive into it.
5. The lawsuit claims that three local companies should also be held responsible for maintaining the bridge.
6. Mr. Paxson’s wife expressed her grief and frustration by stating that she is at a loss for words to explain to her daughters how and why their father died.
7. Google expressed condolences to the Paxson family and stated that they are reviewing the lawsuit.
8. This case highlights the importance of regularly updating navigation systems and the responsibility of companies to ensure the accuracy and safety of their mapping services.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) bridge
(2) Hickory
(3) Paxson
(4) civil
(5) Creek
(6) darkness
(7) local
(8) update
(9) accurate
(10) updating
(11) mapping
(12) Philip
(13) Carolina
(14) taken
(15) family
(16) systems
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. lawsuit
Answer: (b) Legal action taken against someone in court

2. drowned
Answer: (c) Died by being submerged in water

3. bridge
Answer: (f) A structure that allows people to cross over an obstacle

4. Google
Answer: (e) A multinational technology company

5. update
Answer: (g) Make something more current or modern

6. maps
Answer: (h) Visual representations of geographical information

7. accident
Answer: (a) An unfortunate event that causes damage or injury

8. negligence
Answer: (d) Failure to take proper care in doing something
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the main reason the family is suing Google?
Answer: (a) Google’s failure to update its maps

2. When did the bridge collapse?
Answer: (d) 2013

3. How did Mr. Paxson rely on Google Maps?
Answer: (b) To navigate an unfamiliar neighborhood

4. What was the weather like when the accident happened?
Answer: (c) Dark and rainy

5. Who else does the lawsuit claim should be held responsible for maintaining the bridge?
Answer: (a) Three local companies

6. How many daughters did Mr. Paxson have?
Answer: (b) Two

7. What did the spokesperson for Google express to the Paxson family?
Answer: (d) Condolences

8. What does the article emphasize as a result of this case?
Answer: (c) The importance of accurate and up-to-date navigation systems
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The family does not allege that Google’s failure to update its maps led to the man’s death. (Answer: False)
2. The man, Philip Paxson, was driving home from his daughter’s birthday party when the accident happened. (Answer: True)
3. The case highlights the importance of regularly updating navigation systems and the responsibility of companies to ensure the accuracy of their mapping services. (Answer: True)
4. Google is not facing a lawsuit from the family of a man who drowned after driving off a collapsed bridge. (Answer: False)
5. The incident occurred in September 2022 in Hickory, North Carolina. (Answer: True)
6. Local residents had repeatedly contacted Google to update their online maps after the bridge collapsed in 2013. (Answer: True)
7. Mr. Paxson did not rely on Google Maps to guide him home in an unfamiliar neighborhood. (Answer: False)
8. The lawsuit does not claim that Google negligently did not show that the bridge had fallen nine years earlier. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧