SQ006 Wrongful Death Suit against Singapore Airlines Starts
May 03, 2004 09:19 PM US Eastern Timezone
Wrongful Death Suit against Singapore Airlines Starts Tuesday
--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
WHAT: The first wrongful death case against Singapore Airlines for
the crash of its Flight SQ006 will start on Tuesday, May 4,
2004 at 9:30 AM in Los Angeles Federal Court, 312 North
Spring Street, Room 7, Los Angeles, CA before the Hon.
William D. Keller. Opening statements will begin at
approximately 11:00 AM on Tuesday, and the trial is expected
to last one week. Plaintiffs are represented by Brian J.
Panish and Kevin Boyle with the Santa Monica, CA law firm
of Greene, Broillet, Panish & Wheeler, LLP. The Estates of
Ching Ying Wu and Richard Tzuen Ren Wu vs. Singapore
Airlines Incorporated, Case No. CV-01-1752 WDK.
WHO: Plaintiffs Sidney and Christina Wu filed suit on February
23, 2001 against Singapore Airlines for the wrongful deaths
of their parents, Richard Tzuen Ren Wu and Ching Ying Wu,
who were killed when Singapore Airlines Flight SQ006 crashed
before take-off on October 31, 2000 at Chiang Kai Shek
International Airport in Taipei, Taiwan. Plaintiffs seek
general damages for Defendants' alleged negligence.
The Wus, both executives with Ameripec, Inc., had been in
the region on a business trip and were returning to their
home in Irvine, CA. The Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet was headed
to Los Angeles International Airport with 159 passengers and
20 crew members on October 31, 2000 when the pilot attempted
to take off on a closed runway and slammed into some
construction equipment, causing the plane to burst into
flames. The Wus were two of the 83 people killed and 64
injured in the accident.
"Singapore Airlines has done everything in its power to
avoid appearing before an American tribunal," said Brian
Panish, "and to face those passengers it has injured or who
have lost a family member. The airline has fought us tooth
and nail throughout the course of this litigation, from
refusing to turn over the cockpit voice recorder tape to
flouting a court order allowing the Plaintiffs to question
the pilots of Flight SQ006. Singapore Airlines can no
longer avoid facing an American jury. It is now time for
the airline to be held accountable for its actions."
Panish noted that: "A March 2003 Time magazine article
reported that Singapore Airlines is expanding its business
in the United States, and that the airline spent $9.4
million on high-end wine that it is letting age in its wine
cellar. Despite this, Singapore Airlines still refuses to
fairly compensate Americans Sidney and Christina Wu, whose
parents were killed by the airline's negligence. Our legal
team is one-hundred percent prepared to see that justice is
served for our clients."
Mr. Panish and Mr. Boyle represent the Wus and the
plaintiffs in 14 other wrongful death or negligence cases
against Singapore Airlines as they pertain to the crash of
Flight SQ006. In September 2003, the attorneys went to
trial in Los Angeles Federal Court in Linke vs. Singapore
Airlines, which was the first case to be tried in the United
States against Singapore Airlines. At Singapore Airlines'
behest, the parties entered into a confidential settlement
for a substantial sum of money after one day of trial.
WHEN: Tuesday, May 4, 2004 at 9:30 AM
WHERE: Los Angeles Federal Court
Room 7, The Hon. William D. Keller
312 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012