U.S. Court Throws Out Lawsuit in Sibir Crash
Legal World
[##_1L|1361778947.jpg|width="100" height="112" alt=""|_##]A U.S. federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit against Sibir filed on behalf of victims of a July 9, 2006 crash in Irkutsk on the condition the company concede liability if sued in Russian courts. The suit was filed on behalf of passengers who were injured or killed when Sibir's Airbus A310, on a domestic flight from Moscow, crashed on landing. The airliner was carrying 195 passengers and a crew of eight. A total of 124 people were killed, according to the ruling.
U.S. District Judge Denise Cote in Manhattan granted a motion by Sibir, now known as S7, to dismiss the complaint under a doctrine used when the choice of court is inconvenient, according to the ruling dated Thursday.
"In addition to the translation costs, plaintiffs, witnesses and counsel will have to travel to the United States, approximately 6,000 miles from Sibir's headquarters and the scene of the accident," Cote wrote.
But Cote conditioned the dismissal on Sibir's conceding liability if the plaintiffs sued it in Russia within six months and paying any damages determined by courts there. Sibir has already agreed to those terms, according to the ruling.
The lawsuit also named Airbus Leasing II, an affiliate of Airbus. Airbus Leasing owned the aircraft and leased it to Sibir. The judge ordered the entire case to be closed.
Airbus Leasing's lawyer, Thad Dameris, declined to comment. The lawyers for the plaintiffs could not be reached immediately.
Related listings
-
Israeli president to quit amid sex scandal
Legal World 06/28/2007Moshe Katsav was expected to step down as Israel's president after agreeing today to plead guilty to sexual harassment rather than face more serious charges that he raped female staffers.Under the plea agreement announced by Atty. Gen. Menachem Mazuz...
-
EU Takes Germany to Court Over Telekom
Legal World 06/27/2007EU regulators took legal action against Germany on Wednesday for Berlin's refusal to change a law shielding Deutsche Telekom AG's high-speed Internet network from rivals.The European Court of Justice will now have to decide if Germany can keep a law ...
-
Ariel Sharon's Son Sentenced to 7 Months in Prison
Legal World 06/25/2007A Tel Aviv court today sentenced the eldest son of coma-stricken former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to seven months in jail for corruption, reducing his original sentence by two months. While handing down the reduced prison term, Judge Yehudi...
New York Commercial Litigation Law Firm - Woods Lonergan PLLC
Founded in 1993 by Managing Partner James F. Woods, Woods Lonergan PLLC has built a strong reputation as a resourceful and industrious firm that provides clients with clear, concise, and straightforward answers to their most challenging legal issues. Partner Lawrence R. Lonergan, who joined the firm in 2008, has been a friend and colleague to Mr. Woods for over 40 years and shares the same business philosophy. Woods Lonergan PLLC’s collective experience and expertise enables the firm to expeditiously and effectively analyze the increasing challenges clients face in an evolving business and legal world, in many instances, avoiding unnecessary time and expense to our clients. Our mission is simple: provide cutting-edge expertise and sound advice in select areas of the law for corporate and business clients. We thrive on providing each client with personalized attention, forceful representation, and a collaborative team effort that embraces collective knowledge.