1.   On first sight, this story was about simple negligence.

2.   States are allowed, the court ruled, to permit lawsuits for simple negligence, or some other standard that puts more responsibility on bank officials.

3.   The high court agreed with the basic conclusion of the Philadelphia appeals court -- that suits under a simple negligence standard are permitted.

4.   The ruling is a setback for banking industry trade groups, which had argued against permitting tougher legal sanctions, such as suits for simple negligence.

5.   The states, however, do have the leeway to forbid lawsuits under the easier-to-prove simple negligence rule, the court said.

6.   There is also a blurry line between simple negligence and gross negligence or reckless misconduct.

7.   Negligent homicide involves establishing simple negligence.