Aviation Negligence Lawyers
At Rapoport Law Offices, P.C., the firms aviation negligence lawyers have represented aircraft disaster victims and their families in legal venues across the country. Our attorneys' experience with aviation litigation spans a broad range of commercial, corporate and recreational aircraft incidents. Our aviation negligence lawyers' understanding of aviation safety regulations, operation, maintenance, procedure, structure and design facilitates our ability to effectively represent our airplane accident clients. The firms aviation litigation team includes a former Deputy Director of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and a licensed private pilot. David E. Rapoport was the lead trial attorney in both of the last two contested commercial air disaster liability trials against airlines in the United States. In both cases the jury ruled against the airline Mr. Rapoport has been selected as a Leading Lawyer in Aviation Law by the Law Bulletin Leading Lawyer Network.
Read Frequently Asked Aviation Accident Lawsuit Questions and Answers for information about your rights following an airplane crash or aviation accident.
Representative Commercial Aviation Negligence Cases:
American Airlines Flight 331 (Kingston, Jamaica December 23, 2009) The aviation lawyers at Rapoport Law Offices, P.C. have been retained by multiple passengers injured aboard American Airlines Flight 331, which crash-landed in Kingston, Jamaica on December 23, 2009. While attempting to land in heavy rain at Norman Manley International Airport, Flight 331 skidded its way down the runway and across a road, coming to rest on a beach just feet from the ocean, with its fuselage cracked apart. More than 40 passengers were injured, many sustaining serious personal injuries.
Continental Airlines Flight 1404 (Denver, Colorado December 20, 2008) Rapoport Law Offices has been retained by a passenger who was injured when Continental Airlines flight 1404 crashed following takeoff from Denver International Airport in Colorado.
Comair Flight 5191 (Lexington, Kentucky August 27, 2006) Rapoport Law Office aviation attorneys obtained a $7.1 million jury verdict for the family of a thirty nine year old man who was killed when this regional jet crashed while attempting to take off from the wrong runway at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky.
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. 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) An Airbus A300-600 crashed shortly after take-off from New York's Kennedy International Airport. Rapoport Law Office attorneys represented the family of the first officer. The terms of the settlement remain confidential.
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. Rapoport Law Offices, P.C. settled cases on behalf of the families of four victims of this air disaster for an undisclosed amount
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.
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. The MD-11 airplane 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.
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. The verdict was three times the pre trial settlement offer.
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.
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. While individual settlement 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 Negligence Cases:
Cirrus SR22 (Rock Springs, Wyoming - August 8, 2008) The family of a cardiac surgeon from Chicago retained Rapoport Law Offices to investigate and if warranted prosecute those responsible for his untimely death following a midair collision of two single-engine planes.
Piper PA-32R-301T (Wheeling, West Virginia - July 8, 2004) Rapoport Law Offices 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) Rapoport Offices, P.C. 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.