Lawyers fly in to represent AA passengers

[evanovitch]

.Just over a week after American Airlines Flight 331 overshot the runway at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston the legal tussle has started.

With airline disasters seen as lucrative litigation,<span style="font-weight: bold"> attorneys have been descending on the island seeking to represent the over 100 passengers who were on the aircraft.</span>
Jamaican lawyers have reportedly asked for international assistance since their licenses do not allow them to practise in the United States where the airline is based.

With the aircraft wreckage removed and passengers getting over their initial shock and gratitude to be alive, attention has now turned to making legal claims.

One of the lawyers presently in the island is Manuel Von Ribbeck, whose law firm based in Chicago, Illinois has reportedly handled more than 100 aviation cases, all successfully.

Speaking on TVJ's Smile Jamaica on Thursday morning, Mr. Von Ribbeck claimed to be meeting with about 40 clients over the next couple of weeks.

He also cautioned passengers about rushing to sign off on any final settlement with the airline.

&quot;The claims are individually held, the damages are different. So if one decides to accept it, he or she would be settling his or her own claim. However at this stage of the case I would suggest that nobody accept a settlement because they do not know exactly what is wrong with them yet even with the post traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injuries that they may have, sometimes you realize that you have one later on,&quot; Mr. von Ribbeck said.

Last week local aviation attorney Anthony Hylton also cautioned passengers from rushing to settle.

He warned that the payment of US$5,000 is an initial payment for delayed luggage and passengers should not sign any documents giving up their rights to future settlements.

Meanwhile another US-based Jamaican attorney, Carlton Hume is advising passengers to consult a medical practitioner.

He says this will help them determine the extent of their injuries and the implications this could have on aspects of their lives.

He cautioned that some medical problems may take time to manifest.

Meanwhile Mr. Von Ribbeck is not ruling out a suit against the manufacturers of the aircraft.

The aviation attorney said there have been several incidents involving Boeing 737-800 models which need to be addressed.

&quot;We have had several incidents of crash landings so we need to look at the brake consistence, the deployment of the spoilers, thrust reversers are they being deployed timely, is the autopilot acting the way it should be. Is the crew being trained properly? Are they taking the number of simulation hours required? There are several factors that we need to look at including the training of the pilots of course,&quot; he said.

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Look out for 'ambulance chasers' - US attorney warns Flight

Look out for 'ambulance chasers' - US attorney warns Flight 331 victims
Published: Thursday | December 31, 2009


Ainsley Walters, Gleaner Writer


A LEADING United States attorney with vast experience in handling major aviation disasters is warning Jamaican nationals to be on the lookout for 'ambulance chasers', attorneys who globetrot, promising super payouts for damages - oftentimes to the detriment of their clients as well as other affected victims of air disasters.

Steven Marks represents the second American law firm, in as many days, to reveal an interest in representing persons who were on board American Airlines Flight 331, which overshot the runway at the Norman Manley International Airport last week. On Tuesday, it was revealed that Chicago-based attorney Manuel Von Ribbeck and his firm were in the island for discussions with passengers on the ill-fated flight.

Locally, Ambassador Anthony Hylton has said he is representing 10 of the 148 passengers from the Boeing 737-800 aircraft which ploughed through a fence and across the Port Royal main road, eventually stopping metres from the sea.

Marks made no claims about the capabilities of Ribbeck or Hylton.

Marks, a member of the Dade County Bar Association, American Bar Association (Aviation and Space Law Committee, Program Planning Committee for National Institute on Aviation Litigation), said his firm has already been contacted by five families but is concerned that other actions, if not properly handled, could affect those taken by other passengers.

Main concern

&quot;The main thing I am concerned about is that people don't take steps to negatively impact claims for everybody else, that's what I am concerned about,&quot; he told The Gleaner yesterday.

Marks, who has successfully brought multimillion-dollar claims against airlines globally, said a simple thing such as the jurisdiction in which claims are filed could affect other cases.

He said there are treaties which govern international flights and Jamaica, being a signatory, means such cases must fall in line.

&quot;Such claims must be filed in the principal place of business of the airline or where the airline is domicile and in this case, it's the United States,&quot; he argued.

Marks said it was also advisable for cases to be filed in Miami as it is one of the most &quot;jury-friendly&quot; locations in awarding significant damages.

Affected passengers, he advised, should seek all possible information before embarking on legal action.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Look out for 'ambulance chasers' - US attorney warns Flight

Pot a curse kettle!1
What is he, if not an ambulance chaser? The accident happen in a foreign country and he is chasing all the way ther and have the gall to talk about ambulance chaser..