While leаding а quаlity cоntrоl study, the nurse researcher ensures that nо harm comes to the patients participating in the study. This behavior is an example of which ethical principle in nursing?
On Jаnuаry 2, 2022, Mаry Mоtt and her five-year оld child, Claire, were riding in a vehicle that was hit when the driver оf a cable company truck failed to stop at a red traffic light. As a result of the accident, Mott was seriously injured, but Claire was not physically injured. Following the accident, Mott contacted her neighbor, Lance Larson. Although Larson was a real estate attorney, Larson indicated that he could help Mott pursue an action against the truck driver and the cable company. On April 2, 2023, Mott signed a fee agreement indicating that Larson would represent Mott and Claire in filing claims against the driver and the cable company. Shortly after Mott executed the fee agreement, Larson asked Paul Payne, a personal injury attorney, to assist in pursuing the claims against the driver and the cable company. Larson selected Payne on the basis of his reputation for obtaining millions in judgments and settlements for personal injury plaintiffs. Larson did not personally investigate Payne’s record. Had he done so, he would have learned that Payne had two public reprimands from the state disciplinary authority. Payne agreed to handle the action on behalf of Mott and Claire in exchange for 60% of the fee that Larson would receive. Shortly after Payne filed a lawsuit in state court in West Dakota on July 2, 2023, the insurer for the cable company offered to settle claims against the cable company and its driver for one million dollars, the remaining limits of liability under its vehicle liability insurance policy. On August 1, 2023, Payne and Larson jointly met with Mott to communicate the settlement offer. Payne urged Mott to accept the settlement because the cable company was close to bankruptcy and did not have assets other than the insurance policy. Mott reluctantly accepted the settlement offer that allocated $950,000 to her and $50,000 to Claire. The settlement was finalized and presented to the court on September 1, 2023. On that day, the court dismissed all claims with prejudice to refiling. On December 1, 2025, Claire’s father, Fred Flint, filed a legal malpractice action as Claire’s new guardian. Flint sued both Larson and Payne, asserting the following claims: (1) conflict of interest in representing both Claire and Mott, (2) negligence in failing to assert a negligent infliction of emotional distress claim on behalf of Claire, and (3) negligence in obtaining an inadequate settlement. After being served with the legal malpractice complaint, Larson called Payne to ask Payne about the negligent infliction claims. Payne’s response was that at the time that he filed the lawsuit against the driver and cable company that courts in other jurisdictions had recognized the claim, but that the highest court in West Dakota had not done so. Analyze the legal malpractice claims, defenses, and related issues. Student response should not exceed 2,000 words.