NY Times sued over car crash
A New York Times writer and Pulitzer finalist allegedly nearly killed her best friend in a car crash, by swerving down the wrong side of the road in Scotland, leading to a head-on collision.
Sarah Maslin Nir — who wrote a controversial exposé alleging exploitation in New York nail salons, which led to protests — was behind the wheel in the September 2015 smash that left her close friend Leah Epstein seriously injured, according to a lawsuit first reported by Heat Street.
Epstein, who suffered a fractured spine, damaged lungs and perforated bowels, is seeking $4.75 million from the Times because Nir was working on a story about the trip for the travel section, according to the suit. The papers, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, said horseback-riding instructor Epstein was in the back seat and wearing a seat belt when the car “turned into the right lane . . . and into oncoming traffic, before colliding head-on with another motor vehicle.” Another source said Nir had swerved to avoid another car in the middle of the road, turned to the right and crashed. No charges were filed against her.
Epstein — an owner of Ithilien Stables in New Jersey who was on the trip so Nir could write about horseback riding in Scotland — required multiple abdominal surgeries, several blood transfusions and was unable to work. Epstein has since recovered; she and Nir remain close friends and are planning a return trip to Scotland.
The lawsuit argues that Nir was acting as an employee for the Times, which should pay out, because the paper paid for flights, hotel accommodations and rental car. Lawyers for the Times deny “allegations of negligence [and] liability.” A rep for the paper said: “The company has no firsthand knowledge of the facts. As in any accident case, discovery will determine whether the complaint is accurate or not.”
Nir suffered a broken hand, wrist and foot, but tweeted about her nail exposé days later, saying, “If only I wasn’t in Scotland!” The story accused salons of exploiting manicurists, exposing them to toxins, and led to new national regulations.