Speiser Krause has a long, successful record in recovering for plaintiffs. In 1965, when aviation litigation was still in its infancy, we won our first million-dollar verdict - then an unprecedented amount - in a lawsuit against American Airlines. We have continued to obtain for our clients high verdicts and settlements in disaster, medical malpractice and other personal injury and wrongful death cases. Though we are proud of the results achieved, we of course realize they cannot begin to replace the lives and relationships that have been lost. In addition, the privacy of our clients is of paramount concern and as a result, we do not publicize our results in a way that could jeopardize their significant right to privacy. We do believe, however, that our ability to extract significant awards carries a strong message to defendants - and that they may go a long way toward preventing similar, avoidable tragedies in the future. Indeed, we have found that the vast majority of our clients believe that preventing a similar tragedy from occurring again is an important part of the litigation process. Although we do not release specific details of our clients’ recoveries, below are some examples of results that we have obtained over the past 65 years.
| | Settlement: personal injury action involving the crash of a Beechcraft Bonanza
| $2,000,000
| | | Settlement: wrongful death action against fixed base operator involving the crash of a Beechcraft Bonanza.
| In excess of $20,000,000
| | | Settlement: wrongful death action involving crash of a Piper.
| $17,500,000 | | | Settlement: wrongful death action involving crash of an Embraer Phenom.
| $8,550,000
| | | Settlement: wrongful death action involving crash of a Learjet.
| $1,850,000
| | | Settlement: aviation crash involving the wrongful death of a husband and father. | $20,000,000 |
| | Settlement: aviation crash involving the wrongful death of a husband and father. | $9,500,000 |
| | Settlement: aviation crash involving the wrongful death of a divorced, non-custodial father. | $4,500,000 |
| 2010 | Settlement: motor vehicle accident involving the wrongful death of a divorced, non-custodial father. | $4,000,000 |
| | Settlement: General Aviation crash in Florida where we represented four individuals--three burn victims, one death. Each case was settled for multi-million dollar amounts. | (confidential) |
| Jury Verdict: Record setting verdict in Louisiana Parish for the death of a married pilot with two adult children after suffering an engine failure in a Beech Baron.
| $4,000,000
| | | After twenty years of fighting for our Pan Am Lockerbie clients' rights, the Government of Libya was held responsible for the act of terrorism which brought down the Pan Am plane when it exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland. A New York jury held Pan Am responsible and, once that case was completed, our firm fought to hold Libya accountable. Libya agreed to pay each decedent's family $10 million (in addition to what was recovered from Pan Am's insurer). The final payment was made near the 20th anniversary of the tragedy. Our 60 clients were thankful that justice finally prevailed. Their efforts were instrumental in not only punishing a terrorist act, but in forcing Libya to denounce terrorism and in forging better relations with the United States. |
| | | Settlement: Two Comair Flight 5191 settlements, both multi-million. | (confidential) | | | Settlement: Three Comair Flight 5191 settlements, all multi-million (names and amounts are subject to confidentiality agreements). | (confidential) | | | Jury Verdict: Trial of medical malpractice wrongful death case by Kenneth P. Nolan and Jeanne M. O'Grady in Supreme Court, Nassau County. Because of factual and legal circumstances, the only issues were malpractice and, if found, the amount that a jury would award for predeath pain and suffering. The jury in this suburban area awarded the family of the decendent $700,000 for predeath pain and suffering, an excellent result. | $700,000 | | | Settlement: 53 year old handyman killed in American Airlines Flight 587 crash in Belle Harbor, NY leaving a wife and two adult children from prior a marriage. | $2,400,000 | | | Settlement: 50 year old businessman killed in American Airlines Flight 587 crash in Belle Harbor, NY leaving a wife and two children one of whom is a minor. | $5,100,000 | | | Settlement: 33 year old ensign in Navy killed in American Airlines Flight 587 crash in Belle Harbor, NY leaving a wife and three children. | $3,500,000 | | | Settlement: 45 year old home attendant killed in American Airlines Flight 587 crash in Belle Harbor, NY leaving husband and minor child. | $2,800,000 | | | Settlement: 54 year old killed in American Airlines Flight 587 crash in Belle Harbor, NY leaving two children, one of whom is a minor. | $2,700,000 | | | Settlement: Husband, wife and handicapped daughter killed in American Airlines Flight 587 crash in Belle Harbor, NY leaving four adult children. | $4,900,000 | | | Settlement: Husband and wife, 58 and 53, killed in American Airlines Flight 587 crash in Belle Harbor, NY leaving three adult children. | $4,800,000 | | | Settlement: 43 year old home attendant killed in American Airlines Flight 587 crash in Belle Harbor, NY leaving husband and one minor child. | $2,500,000 | | | Jury Verdict: 51-year-old adult male pilot killed when his helicopter fuel transfer system failed. | $9,000,000 | | | Settlement: Death of adult male in South America commercial jet crash leaving wife and two adult children. | $6,500,000 | | | Settlement: KAL Flight 801 crash in Agana, Guam. Firm represented 56 families - Settlements exceeded. | $70,000,000 | | 2000 | Settlement: Obstetrical malpractice during the labor and delivery of an infant girl. | $5,000,000 | | | Settlement: Deaths of husband, age 63, and wife, age 59, in KAL 007 Shootdown. | $4,800,000 | | | Settlement: 56-year-old executive killed in Pittsburgh 737 crash leaving a wife and two adult children. | $4,925,000 | | | Settlement: Two married couples without children killed in ValuJet crash in the Florida Everglades. | $5,600,000 | | | Settlement: 48-year-old executive killed in USAF Dubrovnik crash leaving a wife and two adult children. | $6,000,000 | | | Settlement: Plane crash survivor with severe burns. In excess of | $20,000,000 | | | Settlement: For the deaths of 23 students in the Pan Am 103 Lockerbie Air Disaster. These settled after jury selected in 1st case to be tried. | $32,500,000 | | | Settlement: Death of 33-year-old government worker in Pan Am 103 Lockerbie Air Disaster, survived by wife and 2 children | $4,500,000 | | | Settlement: Canadian family suffered injuries as a result of a van roll-over on a Georgia highway | $3,600,000 | | | Settlement: 50-year-old executive's death in mid-air collision | $3,500,000 | | | Settlement: Death of 2 police officers in helicopter crash. This case settled after 2 weeks of trial. | $8,000,000 | | | Settlement: Cargo loss | $4,500,000 | | | Verdict: Wrongful death and personal injuries due to helicopter crash in Mexico; Pain and suffering only (no economic or medical) | $8,100,000 | | | Settlement: Helicopter instructor suffered burns following a crash of a McDonnell Douglas 300 Helicopter | $3,200,000 | | | Settlement: Helicopter crash, Bolivia, South America; reached prior to trial in cases of 3 decedents. Exact amounts are confidential. Bolivian attorneys inform they are the highest amounts ever known to be recovered in Bolivia for wrongful death action |
| | | Verdict: Corporate aircrash for 39-year-old chemical engineer, earning $40,000 per year, survived by wife and 3 daughters. (Settlement offer before trial was $1,200,000) | $7,500,000 |
| Verdict: Awarded to parents of a young married couple. No earnings history, but evidence of Japanese cultural norms, including likelihood of parental support by adult children, was admitted | $2,200,000 | | | Settlement: Sightseeing helicopter crash, East River, NY, where father was passenger with 14-year-old son. Father survived and son drowned. Settlement on eve of trial, primarily for father's emotional distress | $3,500,000 | | | Settlement: El Al 747-200F cargo plane crash into apartment buildings, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Firm represented 196 Dutch citizens and one American citizen. Settlement terms are confidential. |
| | | Settlement: S.A.M. Airline crash, Medellin, Colombia, South America; Firm represented 14 families. Suits filed in Florida State Court. Settlements exceeded | $11,000,000 | | | Settlement: Perris Valley Parachute Crash; Fund arranged for the heirs of decedents and those injured in the crash of a sky diver club flight near Perris, CA on April 22, 1992 | $13,500,000 | | | Verdict: Korean Air Lines Flight 007 shot down by soviet fighter in 1983. Jury verdict found KAL guilty of wilful misconduct. Verdict affirmed on appeal. Firm represented 30 victims |
|
| Verdict to widow, 3 children and parents of a 32-year-old civil engineer (with pre-judgment interest) | $4,000,000 |
| Settlement: For 46-year-old businessman earning approximately $60,000 per year, who owned a computer refurbishing company; left widow, age 45 and 2 daughters, ages 11 and 13 |
$3,600,000 | | | Verdict: USAir Fokker F-28 crash, LaGuardia, NY, due to wing icing; 3 month trial in Cleveland resulted in liability verdict on behalf of plaintiffs |
| | | Settlement: Avianca Boeing 707 crash, Cove Neck, NY; for 19-year-old | $3,000,000 |
| Settlement: For 29-year-old mother | $3,250,000 |
| Settlement: For 30-year-old woman who lost her 2-month-old child. Mother was holding child at time of crash. Settlement was primarily for emotional distress of mother |
$3,500,000 |
| Settlement: For 56-year-old woman, comatose for 5 weeks | $3,000,000 |
| Settlement: For 30-year-old short order cook, who sustained fractures of both legs | $3,000,000 |
| Settlement: For 48-year-old man who fractured both his legs
and his 10-year-old son suffered a displaced fracture to the arm | $2,500,000
$600,000 |
| Settlement: Death of father/husband, leaving wife, three minor children, and two adult children | $3,500,000 | | | Settlement for personal injuries of 35-year-old lawyer burn victim, Houston, TX - Honduras air disaster | $3,500,000 | | | Settlement for multiple deaths in crash of Independent Air B-707 in Azores | $34,000,000 | | | Settlement for death of husband, age 34, in aircrash | $2,500,000 | | | Settlement for death of father and teenage child in Aeromexico DC-9 crash | $3,300,000 | | | Settlement of ground cases: Pan Am 103/Lockerbie bombing; Liability against Pan Am affirmed on appeal | $26,000,000 | | | Settlement: United DC-10 crash, Sioux City, IA;
One for death of a 14-year-old student
and one for death of a 25-year-old single attorney with one year practice | $1,600,000
$1,600,000 | | | Settlement: Aeromexico crash, Cerritos, CA; to widow with 3 children | $3,300,000 | | | Settlement with manufacturers and FBO: MU-2 crash at Juarez Airport in Mexico (1987) - Family members killed | $9,650,000 | | | Settlement for death of 28-year-old lawyer, survived by wife and two children, Houston, TX - Honduras air disaster | $5,600,000 | | | Recovery for motorcycle accident victim. Structured settlement will pay out $60 million over the life of the insured. One of the highest recoveries ever in Connecticut | $4,600,000 | | 1990 | Verdict: for deaths of father and two teenage children. Aeromexico DC-9 crash | $5,685,000 | | | Settlement after trial commenced in U.S. airline disaster: (31-year-old man, survived by wife and 4 minor children) | $6,000,000 | | | Infant brain-damaged from fetal distress at birth (total payments if child reaches life expectancy: $11.5 million) | $1,600,000 | | | Punitive damage verdict against Korean Airlines for loss of Flight 007 | $50,000,000 | | | Verdict: Electrical burn injuries to both hands, loss of hearing, physiological injuries, loss of consortium with wife | $2,720,000 | | | Verdict: Private plane crash, death of husband, age 35, survived by wife and four children | $3,400,000 | | | Settlement: Arrow Air crash (1985)-10 death cases of young military personnel ranging from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 |
| | | Automobile collision; paraplegic injuries (age 26, 2 minor dependent children) | $2,000,000 | | | Settlement: military Bell Helicopter crash; products liability case (structured, guaranteed payout for 33-year-old major survived by wife and four children) | $4,800,000 | | | Oil rig disaster off coast of Newfoundland (1982); 58 estates of victims. Highest award: | $1,600,000 | | | Verdict: Helicopter crash; 40-year-old businessman (with interest, near $3 million) | $2,090,000 | | | Settlement: Air Canada DC-8 crash Highest award was for death of a 54-year-old executive, survived by wife and 3 minor children | $4,600,000 | | | Settlement: Air Florida B-737 crash on takeoff from Washington National Airport (1982). Guaranteed payments to families of:
a.39-year-old man, survived by wife and two minor children
b.46-year-old man, survived by wife and two minor children |
$2,800,000
$2,600,000 | | | Settlement: Stouffer's Hotel Fire in Westchester, NY (1980). Highest award was for death of a 37-year-old man, survived by wife and two children | $3,650,000 | | | Settlement after trial commenced: Medical malpractice at birth, brain-damaged baby. Paid over lifetime | $14,000,000 | | 1980 | Structured settlements: American Airlines DC-10 crash, Chicago, IL (1979) (guaranteed payments):
a.55-year-old surviving wife
b.47-year-old wife and 3 children
c.50-year-old surviving wife |
$1,960,000
$2,640,000
$2,780,000 | | 1970 | Settlement: 15-year-old boy, brain-damaged after fall from a truck bed while attending camp (settlement provided $128,000 per year tax free) | $2,250,000 | | 1965 | Verdict: Our first million-dollar verdict in a passenger case against American Airlines | $1,172,000 | *Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome
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