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Aviation Negligence

Airplane Crash and Aircraft Accident

At Rapoport Law Offices, P.C., the firms aviation litigation attorneys are well known and represent clients in airplane crash cases in legal venues across the country. Our attorneys' experience spans a broad range of commercial, corporate and recreational airplane crashes and aircraft accidents. Our lawyers' understanding of aviation safety regulations, operation, maintenance, procedure, structure and design is vast, and facilitates our ability to effectively represent our clients. Our team of aviation attorneys includes a former Deputy Director of the National Transportation Safety Board and a a licensed private pilot.

Click here for detailed information about our experience representing victims of aircraft disasters.

Representative Commercial Aviation Disaster Cases

Southwest Airlines Flight 1248 (Chicago, Illinois December 8, 2005) A  confidential settlement was reached on behalf of eleven passengers who were on-board Southwest Airlines flight 1248, a Boeing 737 airplane bound for Chicago's Midway Airport during a snowstorm on December 8, 2005. After landing, the aircraft ran off the end of the runway crashing through fences and colliding with vehicles before coming to a stop. Passengers suffered fear, pre-impact terror, distress, and physical harm.

Air Midwest/ U.S. Airways Express Flight 5481 (Charlotte, North Carolina - January 8, 2003) A settlement, subject to confidentiality, was reached in this case in which Rapoport Law Offices P.C. represented the family of the co-pilot who was killed when the Beech 1900 aircraft crashed shortly after take off from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

American Airlines Flight 587 (Belle Harbor/Queens, New York - November 12, 2001) The firm represented the family of the first officer in this case resulting from the crash of an Airbus A300-600 shortly after take-off from New York's Kennedy International Airport. All 251 passengers, the crew of nine and five people on the ground were killed.

EgyptAir Flight 990 (Nantucket Island, Massachusetts - October 31, 1999) David E. Rapoport was a member of the Plaintiffs' Executive Steering Committee in this case resulting from the crash of a Boeing 767 airplane into the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Nantucket Island, while en route from New York to Cairo. All 217 people aboard perished. Rapoport Law Offices, P.C. represented the families of four victims.

American Airlines Flight 1420 (Little Rock, Arkansas - June 1, 1999) As a member of the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee in this airplane crash case, David E. Rapoport, who was assisted by Paul D. Richter, obtained a $14 million aggregate settlement for the victims and families that the firm represented. The terms of each individual settlement are confidential. Of the 145 crew and passengers on board the MD-82 aircraft, 11 died.

Swissair Flight 111 (Nova Scotia - September 2, 1998). David E. Rapoport served as a member of the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee in this case and was assisted by Paul D. Richter. A $13 million aggregate settlement was obtained for the victim's families the firm represented. The terms of each individual settlement are confidential. All 229 people aboard the MD-11 airplane perished when it crashed off the coast of Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia while en route from New York to Geneva.

United Express Flight 5925 (Quincy, Illinois - November 19, 1996) Representing the family of a pilot who died in this Beech 1900C airplane crash, the firm obtained a $3 million jury verdict. The firm's trial team consisted of David E. Rapoport and Paul D. Richter.

USAir Flight 1016 (Charlotte, North Carolina, July 2, 1994) David E. Rapoport was lead trial attorney and a member of the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee in this case resulting from the crash of a DC-9 aircraft. A $10 million aggregate settlement was reached for the victims and families he and Paul D. Richter represented. Of the 57 people on board, 37 died.

American Eagle Flight 3379 (Morrisville, North Carolina - December 13, 1994) Mr. Rapoport was a member of the Lead Counsel Committee in multi-district litigation arising from the crash of a British Aerospace Jetstream aircraft.

USAir Flight 405 (LaGuardia Airport, New York - March 22, 1992) Mr. Rapoport obtained an $8.1 million verdict in the first damages case tried arising out of the crash of a Fokker 28 aircraft which slid off the runway at LaGuardia Airport. This verdict set a record in Ohio at the time.

United Flight 232 (Sioux City, Iowa - July 19, 1989) Mr. Rapoport was selected as lead trial attorney in the consolidated federal cases arising from this DC-10 airplane crash. The firm represented eight crew members and one passenger, each of whom suffered personal injury. Settlements were eventually reached on behalf of all nine clients, and while the individual dollar amounts are confidential, the aggregate settlements totaled more than $5 million.

United Flight 811 (Hawaii - February 24, 1989) Mr. Rapoport represented the three pilots in this case involving the failure of a cargo door on a 747 aircraft, causing explosive decompression at 23,000 feet off the coast of Hawaii. The case was eventually settled for an amount that is confidential.

 

Representative General Aviation Cases

Piper PA-32R-301T (Wheeling, West Virginia - July 8, 2004) Rapoport Law Offices, P.C. has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the family of a woman who was killed, along with four other passengers, when this aircraft crashed on approach to Wheeling Ohio Airport.

Sino-Swearingen SJ30-2 (Loma Alta, Texas - April 26, 2003) The firm settled a case for the family of a test pilot who was killed testing a prototype of this aircraft

Gates Learjet 25C-XR (Lexington, Kentucky - August 30, 2002) The firm represented the family of a woman who died, as well as her husband who sustained serious personal injury, when an air ambulance overran the runway at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky.

Piper PA-32RT-300T (Valparaiso, Indiana - April 19, 2002) The firm is representing a passenger who sustained serious personal injury as a result of a single engine airplane crash at the Porter County Airport.

Swearingen SA227-AT Crash (Beaver Island, Michigan - February 8, 2001) The firm is represented the family of a man who died when an air taxi crashed as it circled to land at the Beaver Island airfield.

EMS (Quincy, Illinois - January 22, 2001) Lawyers from the Rapoport law firm obtained a $1.5 million verdict for the family of a hospital security guard who was struck and killed by the rotor of an Air Evac medical helicopter.

Big Island Air Flight B157 (Hilo, Hawaii - August 25, 2000) The firm has reached a settlement of $2.325 million in this case involving the crash of a Piper PA-31-350 (Piper Navajo Chieftain) scenic tour aircraft.

Socata TB-9C "Tampico" Crash (Cahokia, Illinois - March 18, 1999) The attorneys at Rapoport Law Offices, P.C. represented a flight instructor who was involved in a single engine airplane crash during take off and landing practice with a student pilot. The aircraft crashed as a result of wake turbulence from a Chinook military helicopter. The case was settled for $1.375 million.