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Offloaded Pax Reaches Settlement with United
Will the attorneys now sue the City of Chicago?
Passenger dragged from plane reaches settlement with United Airlines United Airlines has reached a settlement agreement with the passenger who was bloodied and dragged down the aisle of a plane after refusing to give up his seat, attorneys for the passenger said Thursday. Dr. David Dao, 69, of Elizabethtown, Ky., suffered a concussion, broken nose and sinus injury during the April 9 incident on a plane at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, according to his attorney, Thomas Demetrio. Demetrio praised United for accepting responsibility for the incident and announcing policy changes aimed at preventing similar incidents. "For this acceptance of corporate accountability, United is to be applauded," Demetrio said. Dao's attorneys declined to disclose the amount of the settlement. |
Didn't take long, did it?
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Out of nosey curiosity I am intrigued as to the value of the settlement. Pity, but not surprisingly, it has a non-disclosure clause.
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Two first class upgrades (lower 48 only).
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Those upgrades will be on a Gulfstream
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United's statement on the settlement:
Statement from United Airlines Regarding Resolution with Dr. David Dao April 27, 2017 CHICAGO, April 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- We are pleased to report that United and Dr. Dao have reached an amicable resolution of the unfortunate incident that occurred aboard flight 3411. We look forward to implementing the improvements we have announced, which will put our customers at the center of everything we do. The attorneys' statement: April 27, 2017 2:00 pm News Release Dr. David Dao has reached an amicable settlement with United Airlines for the injuries he received in his April 9th ordeal, which was captured on video and viewed worldwide. The settlement was negotiated by Dr. Dao’s lawyers, Thomas A. Demetrio of Corboy & Demetrio and Stephen L. Golan of Golan Christie Taglia, and the legal representatives for United. A condition of the settlement includes a provision that the amount remain confidential. Dr. Dao and his attorneys agreed to that condition. Demetrio praised Mr. Oscar Munoz: ‘Mr. Munoz said he was going to do the right thing, and he has. In addition, United has taken full responsibility for what happened on Flight 3411, without attempting to blame others, including the City of Chicago. For this acceptance of corporate accountability, United is to be applauded.’ The settlement was reached on the same day United Airlines announced multiple positive changes to improve the customer experience. According to Demetrio, ‘Dr. Dao has become the unintended champion for the adoption of changes which will certainly help improve the lives of literally millions of travelers.’ In addition, Demetrio stated, ‘I sincerely hope that all other airlines make similar changes and follow United’s lead in helping to improve the passenger flying experience with an emphasis on empathy, patience, respect and dignity.’ |
It must be a pretty large settlement considering they indemnified the City of Chicago and Republic, the contractor AND praised UA.
My question, if I were Mr. Dao, "UA, how much is that confidentiality agreement worth to you?" |
Smart move. Lawyers fees alone would have cost UA a large amount over & above the final settlement in a protracted battle. The UA lawyers lost out sone good fees here. End amount must have been extremely juicy for Dr Dao to agree so fast. "I am goong to make you an offer you can't resist"
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Originally Posted by Airbubba
(Post 9754520)
Will the attorneys now sue the City of Chicago?
Demetrio said Dao does not plan to pursue a separate lawsuit against the city of Chicago or the officers employed by the Chicago Department of Aviation. “No one else in the entire world is going to be sued by Dr. Dao,” said the attorney, who has been involved in several high-profile personal-injury settlements. “United has stepped up to the plate and hit a home run.” |
I would venture to say the pay off is not counted by the thousands, but rather counted by the millions.
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Single or double digit?
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What sort of figure would have made it worthwhile for United?
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Originally Posted by hunterboy
(Post 9754921)
What sort of figure would have made it worthwhile for United?
I suppose all was handled by Dr. Dao's attorneys, under Dr.Dao's CONDITIONS. Worthwhile? The shorter this case was on the spot, the better for United. Figures aren't (IMHO) important in the long range of business...:cool: |
Leaving the merits of this case aside, Airlines better brace themselves for emboldened passengers doing what they like and when challenged by the crew demanding recompense.
I see it's already started on a LGW KIN. |
Airlines better brace themselves for emboldened passengers doing what they like and when challenged by the crew demanding recompense Mr. Dao was quite within his legal rights and did absolutely nothing wrong to receive what he ended up getting aboard the aircraft. Once he said he wasn't volunteering that should have been the end of the matter, and the airline should have found another individual who would have been happy to take whatever was on offer to give up his/her seat. |
First movers advantage. I suspect the amount would have been to the tune of $50+ million as a good defence would have cost UA about that much with a chance of a higher Punitive payout from the Jury & a protracted PR nightmare cost.
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Originally Posted by Wannabe Flyer
(Post 9754626)
End amount must have been extremely juicy for Dr Dao to agree so fast. "I am going to make you an offer you can't resist"
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I see as normal there is the usual no disclosure on the amount but how do you stop it??
A very large amount of money must go through the system so why would banks or investment services not know or even neightbours ?? |
Neighbors maybe, but funds transfers that large go thru the ACH as numbered accounts. Probably his local bank would only know thru their personal knowledge of him and his accounts. Blabbing could expose one to substantial penalties, I suspect.
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I can see how this is going to play out now. Once a person boards (quite when that actually is is subject to another argument)'they can insist that they are taken to their destination, no ifs, no buts. Any attempt to deplane them afterwards for whatever reason will now involve a fight. The passenger can not lose. If they are whacked they claim, if they are ejected they claim. The grasping public will not believe airlines when they are told an aircraft is unserviceable, weather is out of limits or passenger X has misbehaved. Over the years I've beeen accused of discrimination, lying, stupidity, over-reaction and so forth. It looks like more fun in the coming years.
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