$7.1 Million Jury Verdict for Family of Comair Flight 5191 Airplane Crash Victim
December 7, 2009 - (Lexington, Kentucky) . Following a four day jury trial which took place at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky at Lexington, an eight member jury returned a verdict of $7.1 million in favor of the family of Mr. Bryan Keith Woodward, who was killed in the Comair airplane crash at Blue Grass Airport in Kentucky.
The aviation attorneys at Rapoport Law Offices, P.C. represent the family of Mr. Woodward, a 39 year old from Lafayette, Louisiana, who was a passenger on Delta Connection/ Comair Flight 5191 when the airplane crashed. In the early morning hours of August 27, 2006, the Comair regional jet attempted to take off on the wrong runway, one that was too short. The airplane ran off the end of the runway into the grass, hit a berm, went briefly airborne, crashed through an airport perimeter gate and then crashed into a row of trees after which it slid on the ground crashing into more trees before coming to a rest in flames.
Mr. Woodward was returning home from a business trip to Kentucky. According to David E. Rapoport, Michael L. Teich and Paul D. Richter, the Rapoport Law Office aviation attorneys that represented Mr. Woodward's family, "Mr. Woodward was an outstanding father and family man who was also hard working and uniquely talented. The airline insisted that Mr. Woodward and the other passengers did not suffer conscious pain and suffering prior to their deaths. The jury disagreed."
Forty-seven passengers and two of the three crew members on board were all killed in the airplane crash. The copilot survived with severe injuries. Senior United States District Judge, Karl S. Forester ruled that the question of punitive damages will be decided by a different jury at a later time.
The family is relieved to have this phase of the litigation behind them.
The lawyers at Chicago based Rapoport Law Offices, P.C. have experience representing clients with aviation lawsuits spanning a broad range of commercial, corporate and recreational aircraft incidents. Veteran aviation attorney David Rapoport and his team have represented aircraft disaster victims and their families in legal venues across the country. Email the aviation negligence lawyers at Rapoport Law Offices for further information about legal services, or call Rapoport Law Offices at 800-545-6437 (toll free) or 312-327-9880.