Declarations

Drunk Driving Suit

“It’s crazy that they have the ability to do this behind bars. Inmates have too many rights. They’re the ones who committed the crimes, not us. And we’re the ones who suffer more.”

—Joanne Kenney, a Connecticut mother being sued by the drunk driver who killed her son. David Weaving, a repeat drunk driver, was convicted of manslaughter for killing Matthew Kenney, 14, in a 2007 drunk driving accident. Weaving is serving a 10-year sentence for the crime. Weaving is countersuing Joanne and her husband, Stephen, for contributory negligence for letting their son ride without a helmet. Weaving is also seeking more than $15,000 in damages.

Hold on for Deer Life

“Out of nowhere she hit me. They are everywhere, and you never know when they will hit.”

—Paula Reid, of Roanoke, Virginia, whose car suffered $3,500 in damage when she struck a sex-crazed doe as it darted erratically across a highway. With deer mating season in full swing, authorities are warning drivers to watch for the animals.

Clearing the Aftermath

“This settlement is a fair and just resolution of these claims, protecting those who came to the aid of this city when we needed it most.”

—New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, commenting on the completion of settlement worth at least $625 million that ends most lawsuits against the city related to the cleanup and aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. More than 10,000 construction workers, police officers and firefighters who cleared the World Trade Center site joined the settlement. Only 520 said no or failed to respond.

Hurricane Dodgers

“The Atlantic hurricane season was one of the most active on record, although fortunately most storms avoided the U.S. For that reason, you could say the season was a gentle giant.”

—Jack Hayes, director of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service, commenting on the end of hurricane season last month. The 19 named storms that formed in the Atlantic basin this year were among the third-highest total on record, although the storms very little damage to land.