The family of a Maricopa County, Arizona judge who was killed by a distracted driver while crossing the street is suing the food-delivery giant Grubhub.
First appointed to the bench in 2004, Rosa Mroz became the first Asian American woman to serve as a Maricopa County Superior Court Judge, according to Fox 10 Phoenix. She was born Peng Shao Ching in Taiwan, the daughter of a Taiwanese diplomat, according to her obituary in AZCentral.
Raised in the United States, Mroz naturalized when she turned eighteen, later saying the words of the judge who presided over her naturalization sparked her interest in the same career.
She served as a judge for 18 years. Her contributions were regularly honored. Recognized as a transformative leader of the Probate and Mental Health Department from 2010 to 2013, Mroz received awards from the National Association of Court Management and the National Association of Counties.
Personally, she won the Arizona Supreme Court’s Judicial Achievement Award alongside others from Arizona State University, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and the Maricopa County Superior Court.
On February 2nd, Judge Rosa Mroz was hit in the crosswalk at the intersection of 56th Street and Camelback Road in suburban Phoenix by a Grubhub delivery driver, leaving her with extremely severe injuries. She passed away in the hospital on February 5th.
Police say the Grubhub delivery driver was looking at his phone when he ran a red light. The lawsuit alleges delivery services promote such distracted driving, making them liable.
“Distracted driving among food delivery app drivers is an increasing problem that continues to threaten the lives and safety of all drivers and pedestrians in the path to their destination,” said the family’s co-counsel Robert Glassman, quoted in AZ Family.
A Grubhub spokesperson offered the company’s deepest condolences to the family. He said that they immediately suspended the driver’s account when notified of the accident. They emphasized improving safety as one of the company’s top priorities.
A scholarship fund in Mroz’s honor is being established at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. It is accepting donations from the public on the Arizona State University’s website.
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