STAMFORD – Adam Blank, a partner at the Stamford-based law firm Wofsey, Rosen, Kweskin & Kuriansky, has been appointed to serve as one of 11 members of the newly-formed State of Connecticut Task Force to Study Fully Autonomous Vehicles. Joining the team will be heads of relevant Connecticut state departments.

“It’s exciting to think about bringing this type of futuristic technology to our state, but it comes with great responsibility. We must ensure the safety of everyone on or near our roadways,” said Blank, who is a resident of Norwark.

The legislation sets forth a pilot program for up to four municipalities to test fully autonomous vehicles. The task force will: (1) evaluate the standards established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding state responsibilities for regulating fully autonomous vehicles, (2) evaluate laws, legislation and regulations proposed or enacted by other states to regulate fully autonomous vehicles, (3) offer recommendations on how the state should regulate fully autonomous vehicles through legislation and regulation, and (4) evaluate the pilot program. After it completes its study the task force will submit a final report to the state.

“Adam brings a unique perspective, based upon his experience representing people injured by all kinds of motor vehicles,” said State Senator Martin Looney, D-New Haven, in announcing Blank’s appointment.

Blank, said Steven Frederick, co-managing partner of Wofsey, Rosen, Kweskin & Kuriansky, “understands how important it is that we ascertain whether self-driving cars are safe for passengers, motorists and pedestrians before we open the floodgates,”

A civil litigator who practices in the areas of personal injury, commercial litigation and real estate-based litigation, Blank also served for nearly 10 years on the City of Norwalk’s Zoning Commission and is well versed in municipal planning and zoning concerns, which pose critical issues to the question of self-driving cars.

A 2004 graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Law, he previously chaired Norwalk’s Zoning Commission and served on Monroe’s Board of Finance; acted as vice-chairman of the Monroe Democratic Town Committee.