I didn’t want to start this on the Rememberance thread because it didn’t seem appropriate but Ren made an interesting comment enquiring as to our views on litigation being taken against the Airlines and Boeing involved on that dreadful day.
Are those who lost loved ones right to sue the airlines and Boeing for compensation?
A thorny question. We must remember that the families have had two years to come to terms with their loss. Their grief will be lifelong but they will be coming to terms with the fact that their loved one is gone. Now they have to face the practicalities of life, for many, without the family breadwinner.
So, is there a case for litigation against the airlines? One could say yes. Doesn’t the airline have a duty of care to do their utmost to ensure their passengers arrive safely? Were all measures practicable taken to ensure the passengers safety? With the massive increase in security since, one would have to say no. Is that the fault of the airline? Or that of the airport security Provider? In the wider sense is it not the fault of the US Government and intelligence agencies who it seems might have been aware of a significant terrorist threat but failed to act?
I see no way in which Boeing could be sued, the aircraft were not at fault.
What do you all think?
Regards,
kev35
By: wysiwyg - 12th September 2003 at 14:30
Re: September 11th. Litigation?
Originally posted by kev35
I see no way in which Boeing could be sued, the aircraft were not at fault.
In the late 80’s and early 90’s the US GA manufacturing scene was literally brought to it’s knees by a ruling known as ‘Product Liability’. Armed with this ruling many bereaved families sued manufacturers for having built the aircraft in which their relatives died. Almost all of these occurances weree the result of gross incompetence by the pilots themselves and yet the aircraft manufacturers were sued (and lost) because they had provided the tool for the incompetence to occur!!! At the same time gun manufacturers were being sued in similar circumstances for making the weapons that were subsequently being used in crimes.
The last few years have seen a small amount of common sense being applied to these rulings but if they still stood it would have pretty certainly been the end of Boeing.
By: KabirT - 12th September 2003 at 09:38
Getting damages from Boeing??? That is plain pathetic!
By: SOFTLAD - 12th September 2003 at 00:51
I agree with you on all the points. How on earth Boeing can be held liable is beyond me ? The airlines i can half see where the family members are coming from sort of.Without sounding too heartless why not look to the insurance companys for the airlines as thats the kind of thing they were meant to cover.Nothing can replace what all these people have lost but i do think they all deserve some form of pay out.
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September 11, 2003 at 11:06 pm