As reported by the Associated Press for Bloomberg and other news sites, a widow has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the manufacturers and designers of a plane that crashed on June 3, leaving his wife among one of approximate153 people that died.
The lawsuit was filed on June 7 in Chicago's U.S. District Court, just four days after the Nigerian airliner, Dana Air MD-83, crashed in Lagos, Nigeria. Kansas City attorney, Gary Robb, filed the suit on behalf of D.C.A.
D.C.A.'s wife, J.C.A., was on board the plane when it crashed.
Named in the over 50-page lawsuit are the U.S. businesses Boeing Co. and Pratt & Whitney. Boeing, based in Chicago, bought the McDonnell-Douglas manufacturer of the plane. Whitney & Pratt, based in Connecticut, made the engine.
Robb states that the companies were culpable in the accident as there were reports made of the plane's engine failing just as it approached Lagos, Nigeria. Nigeria's Aviation Minister Stella Oduah corroborated this information. On June 6 Oduah said that that the flight captain had radioed that both engines had failed in the MD-83. After declaring an emergency, the plane crash landed into two apartment buildings, a printing business and a woodshop.
The exact number of fatalities has yet to be determined.
Robb said, "…Engines do not fail unless something goes dramatically wrong."
The suit states that Pratt & Whitney "engines used a defective and unreasonably dangerous design" that allegedly led to the accident.
Pratt & Whitney released a statement that read, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of all those involved in this incident. Pratt & Whitney is cooperating fully with investigating authorities and we are unable to offer any further comment …"
J.C.A., a mother of a one-year-old baby, resided with her family in Lagos where she worked for Federal Express.
The damages sought are yet to be specified.
Robb told reporters that he was filing now to allow time to determine the exact cause of the engine failure and ensure that his investigators had the legal recourse to gain access to the voice and data recorders, as well as any other evidence.
An overseer for Dana Air, F.O., noted in his defense of the airline that their chief engineer also perished in the crash. Additionally, F.O. told reporters that the MD-83, just like other planes that the company owns, goes through strict checks.
F.O. said that the chief engineer "certainly would not have allowed that aircraft to take off" if he knew of a problem.
Emergency officials called off the search for victims on June 6. At least seven Americans were onboard the plane.
A plane crash, car accident, or a beating in a jail are similar scenarios that can lead to the wrongful death of a loved one. If your family member died as a result of any of these or other situations, contact a personal injury lawyer to file your lawsuit right away!