Survivors of Hudson River air crash consider suing airline

[teacher]

What a joke, who are they gonna name in the suit? The geese, Airbus for not building geese proof engines, Canada for sending our birds south for the winter and maybe Sully for not making it back to the airport? WTF!!!!!!!!! People are unreal, this is just sad.

Survivors of Hudson River air crash consider suing airline
Tom Baldwin in Washington

Some of the 150 passengers whose lives were saved in the “miracle of the Hudson” last month are considering suing US Airways for the emotional distress they suffered.

The pilot received an ovation from both Houses of Congress on Tuesday when President Obama praised Chesley B. Sullenberger’s heroism by bringing the aircraft safely down in the river on January 15. The airline, however, appears set to receive a writ.

In apparent confirmation that America remains the most litigious society in the world, Kreindler and Kreindler, a New York law firm, says it has been contacted by passengers of Flight 1549 about claiming damages for post-traumatic stress disorder.

The airline has sent the passengers a letter of apology, a $5,000 (£3,500) cheque to assist with “immediate needs”, reimbursement for their tickets and a promise to be upgraded to first class on flights until March 10.

Tess Sosa, who escaped with her husband and two small children, told the New York Post that US Airways were seeking to “exonerate themselves as much as they can” by offering passengers “a small token”.

Others, however, insist they are just grateful to be alive. One, Dave Sanderson, said the airline had “treated me like gold since the incident”.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/w ... 804900.ece

[Epsilon]

.

[Jastapilot]

I was wondering how long it would take...

[linecrew]

In apparent confirmation that America remains the most litigious society in the world...

Seriously! I don't understand how the hell these people have the nerve to show their faces shamelessly in public. Opportunistic bunch of oxygen takers!

[MrWings]

Give them each a seat cushion, throw them back in the Hudson and have Sulley piss on them from the river bank.

[Doc]

Wait till the class action suit is actually filed. Then, take the names on the suit, and place them on the National "no fly" list. That will @#$! them for life! It's what the slimy bastards deserve! Do it.

[Human Factor]

"Thanks for saving my life, I'll see you in court!"

Sometimes Americans really suck.

[WHIPPER]

Absolute horse$hit. I think Doc has the right idea, fuk em...

[yfly]

Kreindler and Kreindler, a New York law firm, says it has been contacted by passengers of Flight 1549

The lying starts! Nearly all class action law suits are started by the law firm who then seeks a lead plaintiff. Once they have one, papers are filed and all possible plaintiffs are contacted. Rarely do they go to court as most are settled with you know who (lawyers) coming out the big winner.

[. ._]

UN... FUCKING... BELIEVABLE!

[Guido]

The sad thing is, I'm not surprised in the least...

To play devil's advocate for a moment, I wouldn't be shocked to learn that some people are suffering from PTSD, and if they are, I'm sure their health plan (if they have one) is balking at paying the psychologist bills. That being said... a class action suit would be a bit much.

[canadafreak]

This tells me (again) why I don't like americans

The nerve indeed!!!!!

And they call themselves a civilised country........

[mcconnell14]

reminds me of what my HS law teacher told the class: Americans Sue for a hobby, for fun, and for the chance for winning huge amounts in damages etc. do some reserch of casses in the US..some are worth a good laugh tho.

[canadafreak]

In my opinion, those people who are doing such things are a sad excuse for a human being!!!!! I know some cases are indeed pretty funny, but in this one they are way out of line.

[props ahead]

Im not surprised in the slightest!!
Stupid Americans!!
I was surprised to have not heard anything about the lawsuit yet!
I agree though stick them on a no fly list.....Its bad that i feel like I want to screw these dumbasses for even having the nerve to sue! Bird strike leads to a lifesaving, perfectly executed situation and all these ungrateful americans see is dollar signs! Cant they be grateful for the fact that some 10,000 people still have their mom, dad, uncle, aunt, daughter, son and so on that they can still sit down and talk to or FLY about the country to go see!

What is it in the states that makes it so easy to sue for ridiculous reasons? Why doesnt it happen in Canada? Is it simply that we are better people or is there some difference in the judicial system that makes it this way?

[Cat Driver]

Im not surprised in the slightest!!
Stupid Americans!!

That is a very strong statement.

Are you suggesting that Canadians are a superior culture?

[Flybabe]

Well, they're not necessarily stupid - they see an opportunity to make a few bucks off of this. I think there's a LOT of people out there that would capitalize on the opportunity.

Not saying it's right, just saying it's plausible.

[props ahead]

My statement may have been a little broad....but is the least I could say for the people who are suing.

[Widow]

Why doesnt it happen in Canada? Is it simply that we are better people or is there some difference in the judicial system that makes it this way?

Different judicial systems.

From this article: http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/cjm_25.htm

In my view, three primary factors account for these differences. First, the United States is the only country that still routinely uses juries for civil cases, including cases of great complexity. In other countries, judges alone hear the majority of civil cases. Second, the United States is the only country lacking some version of a loser-pays rule. And, third, the United States, unlike most jurisdictions, allows unlimited use of contingent legal fees.

In Canada, there are also limitations on how much you can sue for, exampled by the Family Compensation Act. (see here: http://www.articlesbase.com/personal-in ... 44499.html)

[Flaps 1 Billion]

These slimey bastards. I loved how they all gathered at a hotel to thank the crew for bringing back to to earth safely, and then a few weeks later they turn and sue. The comment from the lawyer's office is great too, bullshit someone came to you, as soon as you saw the accident $$ signs lit up in your eyes.

Here's a chance for a few idiots to cash in and think they can walk away with a few million, of which they will of course waste on sub-prime mortgages to buy their new toys. Of course in a few years that money will be gone and now what will they do? I suppose play the lottery.

The US has killed themselves through un-savoury and un-healthy practices such as this. A few people making millions off the backs of others, I wonder if they'll ever figure out that this sort of thing is exactly what's hurting them.

Karma's a bitch, be careful folks.

I wonder how they'll prove negligence of the crew and US Airways on this one? I suppose Airbus should've installed those birds grates over the intakes, fools. I wonder how many billed man hours will go into finding the families of the geese that were involved. Obviously ATC will be sued cos they were controlling the airplane. OH and the cities of NY and NJ for not having enough airports close enough together to allow the a/c to return to pavement. Hmmmmmm.

[LegoMan]

Perhaps they would have prefered to be on the Colgan Dash 8 Q400 that day (no disrespect intended to those victims).

It only takes one greedy lawyer to brainwash a dumb american and the rest will follow. If the judge has any brains, he'll throw this one out.

[righthandman]

here is the statistic on that:

1 in 4 American's will sue or be sued during their lifetime.

[crazy_aviator]

I was going to go into a great dissertation about american society and lack of ideals and morals and INTEGRITY, and then i gave up and now i will simply say one word ; SCUM !

[Meatservo]

That is a very strong statement.

Are you suggesting that Canadians are a superior culture?

I think so, in some ways. Our banking system is certainly superior (by better of course, I mean better for us, not necessarily rich banking fat cats). Our legal system is superior (by superior of course I mean for us, not whiney victims of misfortune who see an opportunity to get rich by suing other victims of misfortune). Our public education system is reputedly superior, (although I admit my evidence of this is anecdotal), I personally enjoyed it two years ago when I was injured and was able to go to the hospital and not worry about insurance. Speaking of insurance, I hear it was an American agency that wrote that annoying "Grey Power" commercial.

I think it was Americans who just destroyed the world economy, was it not? I don't know, I've been trying to ignore it, but it seems to me the whole thing originated over there.

Yeah, I guess I have to say, on the whole, I like Canada better. Although, I suppose it would be fun to become wealthy after being scared for less than an hour. I like free money. On the OTHER other hand, I suppose I like beer too. I really like beer. The beer is better here.

[altiplano]

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