Here are two articles posted on the Cyprus Mail Internet edition today. Both discuss the litigation already commenced, with a suit filed in the U.S. courts on 27 January.
More law experts to meet Helios relatives
By John Leonidou
RELATIVES OF the Helios crash victims will be meeting with officials from two of the world’s leading aviation law firms next Wednesday in what looks to be another class action launched against the major companies involved in the crash.
A class action suit is already heading for civil courts in the US. The US-based legal team was in Cyprus yesterday informing clients about recent developments surrounding the case.
Aviation law specialist Stephan Eriksson of Advokatfirman Stephan Eriksson in Stockholm yesterday told the Cyprus Mail that he would be coming to Cyprus on Monday to speak with the relatives, along with a team of experts made up by a historic joint-venture of two of the world’s leading aviation law firms.
“I am currently working with two of the biggest aviation litigation firms in the world, Miami-based Podhurst Orseck and New York-based Kreindler & Kreindler. These two rival firms have decided to team up for the first time and send a team to Cyprus to meet with the Helios victims’ relatives”, said Eriksson.
He added, “They will be arriving on the island next Monday along with officials of a leading crash reconstruction firm and a Boeing 737 specialist. We will hold a presentation for the relatives next Wednesday, where we will try and give them some technical information that they need before talking some law with them. As far as we know, there is need for information from the relatives and we intend to give them that information.”
Although not confirmed by Eriksson, reports suggest that the teaming up of the two leading firms could only mean one thing – a massive criminal law suit is to be filed against Boeing.
Kreindler & Kreindler, for example, only undertake large law suits and in the past have represented the largest group of families of passengers killed in the July 1996 TWA Flight 800 disaster off Long Island, New York. They went on to file the first suit in October 1996 against the airline and manufacturer.
They were also the leading law firm in the Pan Am Lockerbie disaster. Their seven-year effort resulted in the largest total recovery for a single disaster in the history of aviation. The firm still continues to pursue claims on behalf of the families against the Libyan government.
They were also involved in the Avianca disaster of 1991 and the Korean Airlines disaster of 1983.
A reliable legal source told the Cyprus Mail that it was hardly surprising that other American firms would be interested in joining the race, especially companies that see a chance to take legal action against such a major firm like Boeing.
“It has now got to the stage where it has become a cut-throat business. We now see local law firms, international law firms and local firms working with international law firms and they are all trying to get in on this event.”
Meanwhile the head of Helios Victims’ Relatives Committee Nicolas Yiasoumis confirmed to the Cyprus Mail that “they are aware of their arrival and they will be meeting them.”
Yiasoumis added that the relatives were allowed to join any law firm that they wanted. He was not sure about the legal status of the same parties participating in two separate cases.
Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2005
US lawyers return for Helios lawsuit update
By Alexia Saoulli
TRIAL LAWYERS from two American law firms representing the families of Helios Airways victims in last summer’s tragic crash, yesterday confirmed they had instigated litigation proceedings against Boeing.
Owen, Patterson & Owen, Girardi & Keese and Servicios Legales de Mesoamerica are three firms who have filed civil action claims against Boeing, Helios Airways Inc, Libra Holidays Group Public Ltd and Olympic Airlines as well as any other parties believed to be responsible for last summer’s tragic air accident involving a Boeing 737, which left 115 passengers and six crew dead.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Greg Owen of Owen, Patterson & Owen said its purpose was to communicate to all interested parties the recent developments in the case and to provide written documentation pertaining to the civil action which had been filed in a US court last month.
Specifically on January 27 a wrongful death and survival action was filed in a Los Angeles Superior Court. Owen said the parties had 30 days to respond but that Boeing had already filed its general appearance with the court and denied all charges. Both sides have asked for jury trials, he said. Whether the case goes to trial or not, the lawyers’ 50 clients could be awarded millions of pounds worth of damages if the court rules in their favour.
Owen said: “We made three promises to the victims’ families. One, that that we would file a lawsuit in the US to bring the defendants to justice. Two, that we would force Boeing to take steps to fix their aircraft, whether it takes one or 10 years to do… they have openly stated they know there is a problem with their warning system and are recalling planes. And three, we would seek adequate compensation for the victims’ families.”
The lawyer said they had already kept two out of three promises and that all that remained was the issue of compensation, pointing out that among other things it was their aim to secure enough money to ensure the education and welfare of orphaned children was taken care of.
Owen said the court would only hear evidence relevant to the case, “what caused the accident on this particular day”.
Vincent Carter, a principal in Girardi & Keese added: “Through this action we will have access to documents and witnesses… new venues of thought and possibilities of how the accident happened may arise and we will follow those avenues.”
They were answering questions regarding whether or not the Civil Aviation Authority would be held responsible for the August 14 crash. Grief stricken relatives looking for answers have blamed lax Civil Aviation Authority inspections for contributing to the crash that occurred just 40 kilometres from Athens.
But “right now in this current investigation we don’t see it (the Civil Aviation Authorities responsibility)”, said Owen.
According to Carter it was not uncommon for lawsuits to be resolved in a year, however, this case was likely to take longer as it involved over one hundred deaths.
“Litigation like this should take about two years,” he said.
Owen said the firms would be available for contact around the clock until all claims were resolved. A local number has been set up for this purpose, which he said is “open 24-hours to help with the litigation”.
“Anyone can call at any time. Current clients, lawyers, the media and we’ll get back to you immediately,” he said.
The number is 99250122
Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2005