For decades the firm has specialized in the representation of victims and their families arising from general aviation accidents, and members of the firm have developed a unique capability in this specialized area of the law. A lawsuit arising from the general aviation accident presents complicated questions of fact and law ranging from the cause or causes of the crash, choice of law issues which impact both liability and damages, implication of federal statutes and regulations which will undoubtedly affect the litigation, as well as a host of other issues. Through our dedication and experience we have become recognized in this field and have obtained significant victories against general aviation aircraft, engine and component manufacturers, fixed base operators, flight schools, pilots and owners of aircraft, maintenance facilities, and the United States of America for the failures of air traffic control. Indeed, oftentimes the firm is called upon to review the findings of the National Transportation Safety Board as at times, the official investigation is unable to reach a conclusion as to the cause of a general aviation accident. This type of analysis requires a specialized knowledge which the firm has gained over decades of experience in this field. Working with well-known experts partners at the firm have been able to determine the cause of an accident when the official inquiry was unable to do so. The firm specializes in fixed and rotary wing accident litigation, and presently, the firm is working on a number of high profile general aviation accidents, including, but not limited to: The crash of an Embraer 500 Phenom 100 model aircraft on December 8, 2014 that crashed into a home in Gaithersburg, Maryland, killing a mother and her two children who were in the home at the time of this terrible tragedy; The crash of a Lear Jet Model 35A that crashed on November 9, 2014 during its approach to the Freeport International Airport in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas. The firm represents the only United States citizen who was killed in the crash; The crash of a Piper Lance aircraft on April 27, 2014 into a wind turbine in South Dakota. The firm represents the families of the three passengers who were killed in the accident; The crash of a Columbia Helicopters (Boeing Vertol) 234 model helicopter that crashed on January 7, 2013 in Peru. These are just a few of examples of cases that the firm is currently working on. As a result of its unique and extensive experience in this field, the firm has litigated against the most well-known fixed and rotary wing aircraft and component manufacturers, including: - Beechcraft;
- Bell Helicopters;
- Bombardier;
- Embraer;
- Gulfstream Aerospace;
- Piper Aircraft;
- Sikorsky Aircraft;
- Continental Motors;
- GE Aviation;
- Honeywell;
- Jeppesen;
- L3 Communications;
- Lycoming Engines; and
- Pratt & Whitney.
Partners of the firm have worked on the following cases, among numerous others, arising from general aviation accidents: - Bell Helicopter crash near Kapuskasing Airport, Ontario, Canada, November 2, 2011;
- Bell Helicopter crash near Coolbough Township, Pennsylvania on October 9, 2012;
- Midair collision over the Hudson River between a Piper 32R-300 aircraft and a sightseeing tour helicopter operated by Liberty Helicopters, Inc. on August 8, 2009;
- Crash of Cougar Helicopters Flight 91, a Sikorsky S-92A helicopter, off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, March 12, 2009;
- Crash of Raytheon Bonanza B36TC near North Garden, Virginia on June 14, 2006;
- Crash of Cessna 172S at Coney Island, New York on May 21, 2005;
- Crash of Piper Saratoga aircraft near Waterbury Oxford Airport, Connecticut on December 20, 2002;
- Midair collision between a Mooney M10 aircraft and Piper Lance aircraft at Essex County Airport, New Jersey on November 15, 2002;
- Crash of Sikorsky S61L helicopter near Wendle Creek, British Columbia, Canada on August 8, 2002;
- Crash of Beech A36 Bonanza in Nassawadox, Virginia on April 30, 2000;
- Crash of Cessna 310N near Old Forge, Pennsylvania on January 6, 2000;
- Crash of Learjet 35 that killed golfing legend Payne Stewart near Mina, South Dakota on October 25, 1999;
- Crash of Beech A36 Bonanza in Middletown, Rhode Island on May 25, 1998;
- Crash of Chinook 234 helicopter near Comox Lake, British Columbia on October 30, 1997;
- Crash of Cessna 172P in Morristown, New Jersey on May 12, 1997;
- Crash of a BK117 helicopter into the East River in New York City on April 15, 1997;
- Crash of CT-43 that killed U.S. Commerce Secretary Ron Brown near Dubrovnik, Croatia on April 3, 1996.
The partners at Speiser Krause would be happy to assist you in any way that we can. |