Überlingen Mid-air Collision of Two Commercial Aircraft Over Germany

Represented avionics manufacturer in litigation involving mid-air collision of Bashkirian Airlines Flight 2937, a Tupolev TU-154M passenger jet and a Boeing 757 cargo jet over southern Germany.

North American P51 Mustang Mishap During Air Race in Reno, NevadaDefense of air race organizer in claims for eleven deaths and multiple injuries arising from a crash of a modified North American P51 during National Championship Air Races.

Numerous Claims Against Insured Manufacturer of Products that Allegedly Contained Vinyl ChlorideSuccessfully represented commercial liability insurer in connection with numerous claims throughout the country against insured, which allegedly manufactured and distributed products containing a harmful chemical component over a 30-year period.

Alleged Inhalation of Toxic Fumes Onboard AircraftSabatino v. Boeing Corp., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 48613 (N.D. Ill. June 5, 2009).Represented aircraft lessor in litigation arising out of passengers' alleged inhalation of toxic fumes on aircraft.

Mass Toxic Tort Case Involving Municipal AirportRepresented defendant airport in a mass toxic tort case. Successfully defeated attempt to certify a proposed class of 189,000 plaintiffs for personal injury and medical monitoring.

Domestic Airline Mishap at O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, IllinoisRepresented airline in litigation brought by over 50 passengers arising out of 1998 crash landing of a Boeing 727 at O'Hare International Airport.

Kenyan and Tanzanian Embassy Bombings

Owens v. Republic of the Sudan, Nos. 05-5173, 06-5079, 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 30008 (D.C. Cir., Dec. 27, 2007); Owens v. Republic of the Sudan, Nos. 05-5173, 06-5079, 2008 U.S. App. LEXIS 2515 (D.C. Cir., Jan. 30, 2008).

Represented U.S. Government employees injured in 1998 Kenyan and Tanzanian Embassy Bombings.

Tort Reform Statute Modifying Joint and Several Liability Dispute Involving the Tucson Airport Authority

Yslava v. Hughes Aircraft Co., 188 Ariz. 380, 936 P.2d 1274 (Ariz. 1997). 

Represented party before Arizona Supreme Court in question certified by federal court regarding tort reform statute modifying joint and several liability.

Runway Collision at Quincy Municipal Airport, Quincy, Illinois

Johnson v. United Airlines, 203 Ill. 2d 121, 784 N.E.2d 812 (Ill. 2003); Reliance Nat. Ins. Co. v. Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd., 12 F. Supp. 2d 854 (C.D. Ill. 1998); Reliance Nat. Ins. Co. v. Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd., 430 F.3d 412 (7th Cir. 2005); Reliance Nat. Ins. Co. v. Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd., 340 F. Supp. 2d 936 (C.D. Ill. 2004),rev'd, 430 F.3d 412 (7th Cir. 2005).

Represented airline and flight crew in litigation arising out of a 1996 runway collision between a Beech 1900C airliner and a Beech King Air A90 at Quincy Municipal Airport in Quincy, Illinois. Represented the interests of airline and flight crew in various appeals before the Illinois Appellate Court, the Illinois Supreme Court, and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Boeing 737 Accident Near Sulawesi, IndonesiaIn re Air Crash over Makassar Strait, 626 F. Supp. 2d 1354, 1355 (J.P.M.L. 2009); 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2647 (N.D. Ill. Jan. 11, 2011).Obtained dismissal based upon forum non conveniens grounds for U.S. aircraft component part manufacturer in consolidated action involving Indonesian domestic airliner crash in Indonesia.

Boeing 737 Accident at Douala International Airport, Douala, Cameroon

Pettitt v. Boeing Co., 606 F.3d 340 (7th Cir. 2010), remanded to 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 102235 (N.D. Ill. Sept. 28, 2010).

Obtained dismissal on forum non conveniens grounds for U.S. aircraft component part manufacturer in litigation involving crash of Kenyan airline operated  Boeing 737 at Douala International Airport in Cameroon.

McDonnell Douglas MD-82 Accident at Madrid-Barajas Airport

Represented component manufacturer in Multi District Litigation arising out of the fatal crash of a Spanish airline's McDonnell Douglas MD-82 at Madrid Barajas International Airport in Madrid, Spain.