Boeing settles with families in Ethiopian Airlines crash case

Boeing has reached a settlement with the families of victims in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines jet crash, resulting in the halt of a trial set to begin on Tuesday, according to a lawyer representing Boeing. Winston & Strawn LLP’s Dan Webb informed US District Judge Jorge Alonso that the number of cases related to the crash has reduced from 157 passengers to 68.

Discussions between Boeing’s lawyer and the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Robert Clifford of Clifford Law Offices, have taken place regarding the drafting of a mediation proposal to resolve the remaining cases. It is anticipated that the first trial could commence in November. Alonso praised the efforts to streamline the process and has given lawyers until July 11 to file briefs about a trial schedule for the remaining cases.

Boeing has agreed to accept liability for compensatory damages but not punitive damages in the crash. The focus of the cases will be on determining appropriate compensatory damages, as stated in a November 2021 order. Each plaintiff from Ethiopian Air will negotiate their own deal with Boeing. The discussions between lawyers indicated that multiple trials will likely take place, starting this year and continuing into 2024, with a focus on grouping similar cases together.

The crash involved a Boeing 737 Max aircraft operated by Ethiopian Airlines, which crashed shortly after takeoff on March 10, 2019, resulting in the loss of all lives on board. The aircraft had been manufactured and delivered by Boeing to Ethiopian Airlines in November 2018. This incident occurred a few months after another 737 Max jet crash in Indonesia, where all 189 passengers aboard a Lion Air flight were killed.