Over $13 Million for Victims of Swissair Disaster

February 27, 2002 - On September 2, 1998 Swissair Flight 111, an MD-11 aircraft, crashed into the ocean off the coast of Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia en route from New York City to Geneva, Switzerland. All 229 passengers and crew, primarily American, Canadian, Swiss and French citizens, perished. Chief Judge Giles of the United States District Court for Eastern District of Pennsylvania ruled that punitive damages could not be sought in the case involving the crash of Swissair Flight 111.

Rapoport Law Offices, P.C. attorneys, who represented a group of families of passengers that died, advised clients early in the case that the prospect of punitive damages was rather limited because of the Warsaw Convention and Death On The High Seas Act. The firm successfully settled cases for all of these clients. While the terms of each individual settlement cannot be disclosed because of confidentiality agreements, the aggregate amount of the payments to the firms clients exceeded $13 million.

When asked to comment about this case, attorney David E. Rapoport noted, "We are not surprised that Boeing and Swissair admitted liability in this case. Flammable insulation fueled a fire that resulted in such extensive damage, that the pilots could not control the airplane. In our opinion, this tragedy will be remembered as one of the worst aviation disasters in history."

Email the aviation litigation 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.